Category: Tournaments
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Beyond the Roar: The Mosconi Cup Debate
The Mosconi Cup has always lived in that strange space between sport and spectacle, part golf, part boxing match, and part Las Vegas residency show. And in a way, that’s what makes it fun. But this year’s result, an 11–3 win for Europe, raised a different kind of conversation. Not about who’s better on paper,…
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On Kindness, Identity, and the Future of Pool
Recently, the finals of the Ultimate Pool women’s tournament featured two transgender women–Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith. That fact alone seems to upset a lot of people. Social media comment sections lit up with cruelty, accusations, and worse. As a lifelong player and someone who cares deeply about this sport, I’ve been thinking a lot…
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Play Hard. Play Fair: The Line Between Gamesmanship and Sharking.
Pool is a beautiful game: equal parts precision, psychology, and composure. And when money’s on the line or pride is at stake, it’s easy to justify doing whatever it takes to win. But there’s a line between playing smart and playing dirty. Some players know exactly where that line is, and spend most of their…
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Empathy in Sports: Understanding the Human Behind the Athlete
In the high-stakes world of professional sports, emotions can run exceptionally high, and even the most seasoned athletes may experience moments of intense frustration. Recently, renowned pool player Mika Immonen faced such a moment during the final day of The Pennsylvania Open in a gripping 9-ball match against Skylar Woodward. With the score tied and…
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A Memorable Weekend at the Brendan Crockett Memorial Tournament
This past weekend, I had the privilege of participating in the Brendan Crockett Memorial Pool Tournament at Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento. As always, Oscar and Desiree Dominguez orchestrated a flawless event that drew in 157 players—all eager to honor the memory of a remarkable young man and support a great cause. My first match…