I woke up the next day and got ready. I got my cues and went downstairs to the tables. For this tournament, we were playing 9-ball. Not too many people know how to play, but all of the juniors, which the entire tournament was made of, knew how to play. Basically, there are the first 9 balls on the table (big surprise!), and you have to get them in order. You always go for the lowest ball, or it is a scratch. To win a rack, you get the 9-ball in. 

      One thing that is special to pool tournaments is that you don’t have to call the 9-ball. One rule that completely changes the game is that as long as you hit the lowest ball on the table first (the object ball) and you get the 9-ball in, you win the rack. This means you can hit the 1-ball on the first turn on the game, hit the 9 in, and win the rack (not the game. A game comprises of many many racks. Like one usual game can be up to 15 racks, which will take like 3 hours.) Since you don’t have to call the 9, this rule was much easier to pull off. I knew this rule, so I took advantage of it as much as I could. 2/3 out of the 7 racks that I won were because of this rule (not sure, could be 2 or 3, don’t remember. )

     For my first match, I faced a player much better than me. The first couple of racks, I was down. I was losing hope. I remembered that if I lose hope, I had already lost. To win you must act as you have already won. I tried doing this. Then I started playing better and getting some luck. One of the shots was so lucky, I can barely describe it. The balls all started to scatter, and the 9-ball just rolled in a pocket. I eventually beat him. I felt so proud of myself. 

      I faced another player, who was also much better than me. He cleaned me out. He ran all 7 racks, winning without giving me a chance. I was ok with losing to him, because I di my best, and he was obviously the better player. I had only been playing for 2 years, which is nothing for pool. Most kids at the tournament had been playing for at least 5 years. Since the tournament was double elimination, I had another chance. 

     The last player I played was much worse than me. I had known him because he played in my league that I practice at every Sunday in Ayer. When we played, I started off beating him. I was up by 3 - 0. I was really confident, which when I look back at now, I realize that I should have been. I started playing worse. I think this is because it was relaxing because I thought I had the game in the bag. He took advantage of this and upped his game. We were eventually tied. At this point, I was furious, mostly at myself. I was so upset that I let someone who I could beat 10 times over tie me. This anger messed with my game. On a side note, I think pool is one of the hardest mental and physical games out there. You have to be fine-tuned to the millimeter on shooting. You also have to be focused for as long as 3 hours STRAIGHT. I am not too skilled in keeping focus for long, but I am really good at working under pressure. 

     Back on track now, I was getting even more frustrated because that tiny little voice in the back of my mind that was squalling “He’s gonna beat you!” Was growing louder. I didn't want to believe it. I was in denial. He started leading ahead o me. At this time, I was totally off track because I was so furious that this player might beat me. I started playing aggressively, which don’t work in pool. Pool is mainly about keeping your cool. He eventually beat me. I was so frustrated and embarrassed I wanted to do some really bad things. I needed to calm down, so I went to my room. I ate some dinner, then slept for a while. I eventually got over that. I learned a good lesson that you must keep your cool in pool. I placed 33rd in the country, and the kid who beat me placed 16th. This was an experience I would like to remember for a long time. Sorry for this being so long, I just got in the groove, and didn't want to stop writing. 

     I am actually enjoying these journal entries. I hope I can do some more.