By Kyle Richard
July 11, 2024
The Americas Heyball Tournament is over for me. I finished in 17th-24th place out of 64 players with $500. I lost my last match 4-3 to make it into the final 16 single elimination redraw.
In that match my opponent made one of the lowest % shots I have ever seen(especially on this table) to make the score 2-2 instead of potentially 3-1 for me. In the next game he made another extremely difficult cross corner and got excellent position on the 8 ball. These are extremely hard losses to take but I know the shots I left him were the absolute best positions that I could come up with(both times the cue ball was on the rail too). I know if I keep playing the correct shots that the odds are in my favor.
These were the most difficult conditions I have ever played on. The rounded pockets were 3 3/8” (shown below). You could not plan on making a frozen ball straight down a long rail. The rules were no called shot(I had a fluked 8 ball that went 3 rails and off my ball happen against me when my A side match at 3-3 too), intentional fouls were not allowed(1st attempt was loss of game and second attempt was loss of match). On top of all that the break rules were super tough too. You had to break from the side box(roughly 5” from side rail) hitting the front ball and there was a combination 4 ball passed the head string rule(including balls pocketed). If you had 3 illegal breaks in a match the penalty was loss of one game as well. Then the final straw was a 100 minute time limited match which totally changed the game if you fell behind with the score. If the score was tied the game went to a shootout with the CB on center spot on head string and the OB about 5” from the end rail on the center line.
On a promising note, I had one break and run which should be a routine thing but it is definitely not on these tables. At the time I turned in my score sheet there were only 9 for the entire tournament.🤯
Special shout to fellow Canadian Xudong “Bill” Yang for his 3rd/4th place finish and Corey Deuel for winning the event.
Thanks to all of the Joy Team and the BCA for putting this event together!
Thanks to all of the pros for the practice time and great discussions!
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