Minnesota Fats: The Quiet Thrashing

This is the first of a series of posts written in coordination with other online pool writers. It's part of the Pool Synergy project at www.poolstudent.com. Our first topic relates to pool strategy. Look for more installments in the future.

Strategic thinking is often associated with men and women of great dignity. Think Kasparov wordlessly sacrificing a rook for checkmate in three moves, or Napoleon – without panic – wedging his army between two opposing forces in order to defeat both. Pool also has had its share dignified strategic thinkers -- players like the unflappable Allison Fisher, for instance, who was named in 2005 as one of the world’s 50 smartest people. Or there’s the great Efren Reyes, the reserved one-pocket genius.

But what about the loud-mouthed and the brash? Pool has plenty of those sorts too. And believe it or not some of the greatest strategic moves in pool – especially with regards to getting action — have been executed not by men of quiet deliberation, but by those oafish players who so commonly dot our history.

Take for instance Minnesota Fats, one of pool’s great gasbags, a man who never made it through high school and may even have been illiterate. (You can get a sense of Fats' ridiculous schtick in the video at the top of this post.) At least outwardly Fats exhibited none of the reserved grace typically associated with great minds. However, one of my favorite examples of strategic thinking is attributed to Fats.

Here’s the story. Back in 1970 Minnesota Fats was in Johnston City, Illinois making games with Richie Florence, a young player then considered one of America’s best. Florence was flush with cash from a recent score in Alabama. He would have been about 25 years old. Fats was pushing 60.

Witnesses recall that the two players started cheap, maybe $100 or $200 a game, with Richie giving Fats weight. They said Richie was probably beating Fats to begin with, but not by much. That's because every time Richie got hot, Fats would interrupt his shooting by insisting on a bathroom break or by getting a sandwich. Fats also whined incessantly about the spot, about the playing conditions, and about the knucklehead railbirds. Anything to interrupt Richie's concentration.

After a few hours of playing like that, Fats quit, declaring he’d had enough. But he also promised to come back the following night. This, then, was where the real hustle would begin. Because instead of showing up at the appointed hour, Fats called in the next night with some bullshit excuse. He wouldn't be making it in, said Fats -- but maybe he'd come by the following night.

Now, Fats would have known when he placed that call that Richie, then in the spring of his youth, would not simply go back to his motel room to sleep. The wise and sage Fats knew with something close to 100 percent certainty that Richie would instead continue partying, possibly for the entire night.

The next night Fats left Richie waiting again. It was only after a delay of some hours, only after letting Richie drink and gamble unchecked for a while longer, it was only then that Fats showed up again to demand a game. And even then Fats kept interrupting Richie's shotmaking with his multitude of bathroom breaks and phone calls and white bread sandwiches.

Witnesses said this went on for two weeks, with Fats coming in at unpredictable intervals, fresh as a baby. The older player may have even been calling his poolroom spies to discreetly get a handle on Richie's shape. If Richie was playing too strong, Fats would wait a bit longer. When Fats came in it was a simple matter to taunt the less experienced player back into the trap.

Every night Fats won several hundred dollars, but generally no more than a $1,000 or so. For high rollers, it didn't seem like much. But by the end of it, Fats had extracted $20,000 from Richie Florence. “Fats played him like a child, that’s what happened,” recalled Ed Kelly, an eyewitness to the quiet thrashing. “He got Richie doing what he wanted Fats to do, see? Fats was a champion of it.”

Billiards Digest on the Galveston World Classic

Just got my new Billiards Digest, which includes an article I wrote about the Galveston World Classic. I was amazed that Immonen won the event, given that just a month later I went to Virginia to watch him also win at the U.S. Open. Somehow -- I don't know how -- Ralf Souquet is still above him on some of the points lists. I also see that the Mosconi Cup roster is filling out, and on the European side it includes Immonen, Souquet, Niels Feijen and Darren Appleton. The American team will include Shane Van Boening, Johnny Archer, Oscar Dominguez and Corey Deuel. The competition is set this year for Dec. 10-13 in Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand.

2009 U.S. Open: Mills vs Immonen

Here's footage of Mika Immonen's final shots against Donny Mills in the loser's bracket finale at the 2009 U.S. Open. Mills surprised the field by making it through the prestigious nine-ball tournament almost undefeated. He finished third after taking both second-place finisher Ralf Souquet and first-place finisher Immonen to the hill. Mills and Shane Van Boening will be featured in an upcoming match presented by The Action Report.

Mika Immonen warms up before the U.S. Open finals

Mika Immonen warms up during the final day of the 2009 U.S. Open. He would end up beating American Donnie Mills, Filipino Lee Van Corteza and German Ralf Souquet during his final march to victory.

Nick Varner congratulates Mika Immonen during U.S. Open

Nick Varner, the last man before Mika Immonen to win the U.S. Open Nine-Ball tournament in two consecutive years, congratulates Mika for repeating the stunning accomplishment shortly after the Finnish player beat German Ralf Souquet in the finals on Oct. 24. Hall of Famer Varner won the U.S. Open in 1989 and 1990. Until Immonen's victory this month, Varner had been the only man in history to have won in Virginia during two consecutive years. Immonen said he hoped to one day join Varner in the Hall of Fame.

Video: 1-9 carom wins U.S. Open

Here's video of Mika Immonen's final 9-ball shot in the 2009 U.S. Open. It was a tricky carom, and it was unclear at first whether the Finnish player would take it. My wife took this video from the stands. You can see Immonen fall to the ground after he pockets the ball. Then it looks like there's an earthquake, there's so much camera shaking. That's because folks started standing up and streaming down to the arena to congratulate Immonen, which jostled the camera. Immonen agonized through most of the final match. Ralf Souquet, true to form, belied very little emotion at all -- although his disappointment was palpable afterward.

Archer & Fisher feted during Hall of Fame banquet at 2009 U.S. Open

In other U.S. Open news: Johnny Archer and Allison Fisher were inducted into the Billiards Congress Hall of Fame during a banquet on Thursday. It was a truly charming affair, with both Archer and Fisher tearing up as they accepted their awards. Archer's friend and business partner Kim Davenport gave the introductory speech for Archer. (The two are co-owners of a pool hall in Georgia.) Ironically, it would also be Davenport who would eliminate Archer during the U.S. Open on Friday. That loser-side battle went hill-hill, with Davenport coming from behind. He beat Archer after pocketing the nine ball on the break in the 21st game. That's a picture on top of this post of Archer at the Hall of Fame banquet with his parents.

Another guest at the event, sitting right next to Allison Fisher at the grown-up table, was none other than Jean Balukas, the one woman who some say would rival Fisher as the best ever. They shared a toast before the ceremony and signed plenty of autographs afterward.

Mika Immonen: 2009 U.S. Open Champion

Wait. Did I say that Mika Immonen was a long shot to win the U.S. Open? Well, I was wrong. He dropped a game in just the second round, and then proceeded on a terrifying march through the loser's side. He played 12 to 14 hours, at least, on Friday but remained undefeated all the way. On Saturday, the last day of the tournament, Mika finished off Lee Van Corteza from the Philippines, Donnie Mills from the U.S. (it went hill-hill) and then polished off Ralf Souquet of Germany. Mika is only the second man in U.S. Open history to win the prestigious tournament twice in a row. Nick Varner was the first, and he was feted at this year's U.S. Open for having accomplished the feat 20 years ago.

U.S. Open 9 Ball and the Hall of Fame Banquet

I'm heading out to the U.S. Open this week, both for the nation's most prestigious nine-ball event but also for Johnny Archer's and Allison Fisher's Hall of Fame induction banquet. Seats are still available for the Oct. 22 ceremony and dinner, and I encourage anyone who's going to Virginia for the tournament to join us in this fete for these two great players. Tickets are $60 each, or $500 per table. All proceeds go to the cost of hosting the banquet, which is being sponsored jointly by U.S. Open promoter and founder Barry Behrman and the United States Billiards Media Association. Because the BCA is providing more limited support this year, it's up to us to honor our greats. Fisher and Archer have devoted their lives to the sport. This is our opportunity to show our appreciation.

And now, with that PSA aside, here's a bit of U.S. Open news. I see from AZ Billiards that Mika Immonen was bounced to the one-loss side in his second round match against veteran road player Chris Bartram. Immonen won the event last year, but with a loss so early he must now be considered a long shot to repeat in 2009.

USA shut out from Galveston Pro Events

What has happened to the once mighty Americans? At the Galveston World Classic U.S. players were shut out on their home turf in every major professional event. Much has been written about the pool powerhouse that is the Philllipines. But U.S. players also faced overwheliming competition from Korea, Finland, England, Norway and even ... Belgium.

Here's the rundown of the final winners (and payouts) in the Galveston pro events:

Open 8-Ball

1st Ronnie Alcano $15,500 (Phillipines)
2nd Johnny Archer $8,000 (USA)
3rd Robert Gomez $4,500 (Phillipines)

Open 10-Ball

1st Mika Immonen $25,000 (Finland)
2nd Warren Kiamco $12,000 (Phillipines)
3rd Mike Dechaine $6,500 (USA)

One Pocket

1st Efren Reyes $15,000 (Phillipines)
2nd Shannon Daulton $7,500 (USA)
3rd Cliff Joyner $4,000 (USA)

Women's 9-Ball

1st Yu Ram Cha $6,000 (Korea)
2nd Allison Fisher $3,000 (England)
3rd Line Kjorsvik $1,500 (Norway)

Americans placed as high as second in eight-ball (Johnny Archer) and one-pocket (Shannon Daulton). In the 10-ball division, American Mike Dechaine placed third. The Americans were shut out altogether from the top three spots in the women's professional 9-ball event, with Korean Yu Ram Cha taking first.

Even in the wheelchair event, the winner was Kurt Deklerck, hailing from Belgium. Top ranked American Shane Van Boening (pictured above, signing an autograph outside the tournament hall) was shut out from the top spots in each of the major divisions. Veteran Nick Varner, also of the USA, placed fourth in eight-ball.