Forums Home / Tournaments and Challenges / Houston Tournament: Storylines (
View Older Thread |
View Newer Thread)
First |
1 |
Last
| Q
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 497
|
With the Vegas Worlds now in the books, where there were a lot of stories to come out of it (Billy's 2nd title, Ehab showing that he is a force so shortly after his surgery, Dan finishing Master for the first time, Lazaro's & Travis' performance throughout the tournament, etc.), what are the biggest headlines leading into the next tournament in Houston. Expand on these or create your own:
1) Will Billy win number 3?
2) How will Danny respond/will Danny win number 11?
3) Ehab showed the surgery did not slow him down in Vegas by finishing 3rd but if his arm only gets better between now and then, does that make Ehab a favorite to make the finals?
4)How will Davis respond? His only losses this last tournament were to Billy and Ehab. Will we see Davis in another Houston tournament finals?
5) Assuming the top 4 are the New Guard (BS, DH, ES, DLH)...who will round out the Master Elite? The Masters? (BA?, Travis?, Anthony?, Tim?, Q?, Dan?, Syed?, Pedro?, Auggie?, Laz?)
6) The ratings ... used for seeding again! How awesome is that?
7) The Venezuelan Invasion. Pedro has said he's ready to win a title again. Will he? How will the rest of the people from Venezuela do in the tournament?
8) Travis was just a few points away from beating Billy and Nizzi in the Vegas main draw. With two months more to practice, will he crack the top 5? the top 3?
9) Lazaro: Very impressive tournament in Vegas taking down some veterans in Phil and Stucky. Will he be our next newest Master?
10) Dan: He found himself this last tournament...does that mean another Master finish?
|
|
|
| Mike C
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 459
|
- Can Pete follow up his 3rd place finish in Illinois with a master finish
- Don't forget Albert, he's a master working hard on his game
- Ramiro has also put a lot of time on the table this year, is he master material.
- Breaking the top 25 in Houston will be a good finish, can a certain 13 year old do it.
|
|
|
| Pedro Otero
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 269
|
My personal questions;
- Could i beat Jose in a big tournament finally (if he shows)? Our record actually is 0-9 in national-level tournaments, including 4 finals  But this year, i expect be a lot more in practice than him
- Could an american player beat me in the loser bracket and put me out of the tournament by first time in a national tournament? My record is 15-0
- Could Javier Pulido make top 10? maybe top 5? Can Javier be enough strong mentally to become a real option to win the tournament?
- How i will feel after 11 years without play a National level tournament?
|
|
|
| TWeissman
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 210
|
To me the biggest story will actually be the Tale of Two Tournaments...
What will be the difference between the two "World" Championships held 2 months apart? How will players perceive the turnouts? The strength of the fields? The professionalism of the administration and execution of the events? Which event will go down in history as the big Air Hockey experience for the year? Which event will bring more new players in to Air Hockey?
One suggestion I have for the Ustream is to have dedicated commentators for the viewers. That way, if a new player logs in to watch, they can be introduced to the sport more effectively.
Take care...
Tim
|
|
|
| Davisl
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 168
|
TWeissman said: To me the biggest story will actually be the Tale of Two Tournaments...
What will be the difference between the two "World" Championships held 2 months apart? How will players perceive the turnouts? The strength of the fields? The professionalism of the administration and execution of the events? Which event will go down in history as the big Air Hockey experience for the year? Which event will bring more new players in to Air Hockey?
One suggestion I have for the Ustream is to have dedicated commentators for the viewers. That way, if a new player logs in to watch, they can be introduced to the sport more effectively.
Take care...
Tim
|
wow....everytime i get the tiniest inklings of wanting to go compete just for the sake of competing, i get reminded why i do not. thanks.
|
|
|
| drftwd
- 31 May 2012
Total Posts: 70
|
Davis
wow....everytime i get the tiniest inklings of wanting to go compete just for the sake of competing, i get reminded why i do not. thanks. |
I agree!!! Too much drama just burns me out in wanting to play. Think i might sit this one out and watch ... said:
|
|
|
|
|
- 01 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 658
|
Come on everybody lets be nice.
Weissman is awesome and iron dragon is hands down the best doubles player today AND Pedro is returning!
|
|
|
| stubbs7
- 01 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 582
|
Q said: With the Vegas Worlds now in the books, where there were a lot of stories to come out of it (Billy's 2nd title, Ehab showing that he is a force so shortly after his surgery, Dan finishing Master for the first time, Lazaro's & Travis' performance throughout the tournament, etc.), what are the biggest headlines leading into the next tournament in Houston. Expand on these or create your own:
1) Will Billy win number 3?
2) How will Danny respond/will Danny win number 11?
3) Ehab showed the surgery did not slow him down in Vegas by finishing 3rd but if his arm only gets better between now and then, does that make Ehab a favorite to make the finals?
4)How will Davis respond? His only losses this last tournament were to Billy and Ehab. Will we see Davis in another Houston tournament finals?
5) Assuming the top 4 are the New Guard (BS, DH, ES, DLH)...who will round out the Master Elite? The Masters? (BA?, Travis?, Anthony?, Tim?, Q?, Dan?, Syed?, Pedro?, Auggie?, Laz?)
6) The ratings ... used for seeding again! How awesome is that?
7) The Venezuelan Invasion. Pedro has said he's ready to win a title again. Will he? How will the rest of the people from Venezuela do in the tournament?
8) Travis was just a few points away from beating Billy and Nizzi in the Vegas main draw. With two months more to practice, will he crack the top 5? the top 3?
9) Lazaro: Very impressive tournament in Vegas taking down some veterans in Phil and Stucky. Will he be our next newest Master?
10) Dan: He found himself this last tournament...does that mean another Master finish? |
I'm pretty sure that Davis is not attending.
I'm interested to see how Houston's youth perform. Any year now one of them is going to break out. Also excited to see the Venezuelans. I predict at least one (or more) of them will be in the top 10.
|
|
|
|
| Mike C
- 01 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 459
|
5) Assuming the top 4 are the New Guard (BS, DH, ES, DLH)...who will round out the Master Elite? The Masters? (BA?, Travis?, Anthony?, Tim?, Q?, Dan?, Syed?, Pedro?, Auggie?, Laz?)
I like this one as these 4 have been the same top 4 the last few years. I would like to think that someone is getting their game in good enough shape to pierce this top 4. Brian has logged the time and effort and continues to play great air hockey and has the ability to beat each of the top 4 in a set at any given time. Watching Nizzi and Keith Fletcher it will be interesting to see if either of these guys can break through. The Venezuelan's? It's going to be exciting!
|
|
|
| ajflanagan
- 01 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 509
|
drftwd said: Davis
wow....everytime i get the tiniest inklings of wanting to go compete just for the sake of competing, i get reminded why i do not. thanks. |
I agree!!! Too much drama just burns me out in wanting to play. Think i might sit this one out and watch ... said: |
That's hilarious coming from you.
|
|
|
|
|
- 01 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 658
|
Story lines...
Can Billy win again this year, and against a deeper field?
Danny and Tim going for 11th world championship title. Will either of them even make at least the finals?
Ehab? He's always making the finals, and i think he's only missed a couple in the last 4 years. '10 and '12? Can't be surprised to see him there again.
Will Fletcher be able to make a finals appearence again? Will he conquer the criticisms of D.J.? Will Don James come to Houston and be talked into at least playing doubles??? C'MON DON!! I want you and Tim to take on Snow Flake and the Paper Dragon! :)
Pete L.: He keeps on winning! Can this guy break into the top 16 or better yet, top 10?
Anthony Marino, does he have what it takes to make the top 3 still?
Chicago boys (outside of Billy)? The masters! Can Q. maintain his masterhood? Can Dan "Love Pump" Meyer, facing an enlarged field, keep it up and going? What will Goran do? Top 10?
Will Davis and Nizzi even go, and if they do, will they only play doubles? ;)
Will Accrocco pull any upsets?
Pedro Otero: Would you be in shock if he slaughtered the competition? I wouldn't. Be warned!
Javier: He is hungry! I consider him a 50/50 shot to beat both currently top ranked Colorado players, and a favorite to beat most 5-10 masters the last few years has produced in tournaments.
Jacob and Colin: Will these guys make some good progress for themselves this tournament?
Lazaro: He finished 11th. Can he make the top 16 in this upcoming tournament?
Syed and August: Will they get their master rankings back?
On another note, i just watched the airhockey.tv clips. Seeing myself on the interviews, it's amazing, and it's like they say, "TV really does add 100 pounds."
I just bought a juicer. So how much weight will i shed for this tournament? What's the point in losing weight anyways, when you're heading to Houston? :)
-Nizzi
|
|
|
| sjrbat
- 02 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 527
|
Billy dominated the last tournament. His practice and hard work paid off. He has shown that there can be new blood at the top. So I have heard around town that there are players who will be practicing more for the Houston tournament then ever before.
So, the storylines .....
1. Can Billy repeat? He will not have to face Danny or Ehab until the winner's bracket finals. Huge advantage over the other bracket.
2. Can Danny find enough time from his work and family life to get in the form we are used to? He will be an odds on favorite to make the finals again, but his play against Billy recently has not even been close.
3. Can Ehab get past Danny to possibly play Billy in the finals? Ehab is in great physical shape, so the endurance will not be a factor.
4. Is Davis coming?
5. Can anyone crack the current top 4? Pedro, Nizzi, Fletcher, Brian, Q, Dan, Tim, Jose, Albert, Travis, Anthony etc....
6. Colin, Jacob, Avery, and Anthony. They are not to be overlooked.
7. Can any of the Old Guard even finish top 25 in this deep tournament? Phil, Mark, Stucky, etc....
8. Pros to watch out for....Mike C, Mike P, Pete L, Andrew, Evan, Fern, Laz, Alex....any of these players can pull off an upset.
9. I expect Pedro to make the top 10, but how about the other Vs?
10. Can August redeem himself? Again?
That is just of the few I can think of. This tournament will be exciting to play in.
|
|
|
|
| Mike C
- 03 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 459
|
A great story line may be who decides to play. Looking at the current ratings, there is a chance that we'll have the following:
8 of the 10 current top 10 rated players
16 of the top 20 rated players
26 of the top 30 rated players (especially with the Venezuelans coming)
30 of the top 40 rated players
37 of the top 50 rated players
There are also a number of high caliber players rated outside the top 50 that will be playing. If my estimation comes through, I will be seeded 26 in the tournament and will have to work hard to break the top 25.
|
|
|
|
|
- 11 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 658
|
| Any chance we can get Jesse Douty to play in this tournament? Do any air hockey players still actively talk with him?
|
|
|
| JustinFlores
- 11 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 120
|
marknizzi said: | Any chance we can get Jesse Douty to play in this tournament? Do any air hockey players still actively talk with him? |
With the large number of younger players such as myself, getting the chance to meet a legend like Jesse Douty would be pretty awesome.
|
|
|
|
|
- 11 Jun 2012
Total Posts: 658
|
| I agree JustIn, it would be great! :) You people down there in houston should go knocking on his door and give him a personal invite. It would also be a real treat to see Don James play again too.
|
First |
1 |
Last
Forums Home / Tournaments and Challenges / Houston Tournament: Storylines
|
|
