2018 US Open 8-Ball Championship: Shane Van Boening vs Eklent Kaci

2018 US Open 8-Ball Championship
July 21-24, 2018
Griff's, Las Vegas, NV
Produced by CSI Media, a division of CueSports International. www.playcsipool.com
Sponsors/Affiliates:
Cyclop Balls, ACME Cases, Simonis Cloth, Diamond Billiard Products, Predator 1080 Pure Chalk

[@danielopher9594]

Man the ball placement of both these wizards is amazing

[@larrycoffey4534]

i miss Allen Hopkins commentary. he didnt feel the need to prove anything, he just did his thing

[@emmanuelgarciabarber]

Shane got the best break in the game right now.

[@user-hh9ni8su3p]

5 balls on the break during one of the games

[@tylermassey8735]

I love watching Kaci play, he's so smooth. Very strong shooter for being so young here

[@Spoodlewok]

And the reason is youuuuuuuuuu. Great game.

[@TheFlax33]

38:00 thanks CSI

[@williamnettleton3413]

I like the commentary because it teaches me. And the pace of play is perfect, the slow game of letting me try and figure it out, but also higher quality shots instead of being rushed which is idiotic to me.

[@a_canal]

Rack 10 was one of the best 8ball runs I ever seen

[@alidjelloul3027]

نار ياحبيبي نار 🎱👍

[@agustagustsson4436]

I think George T and Freddy O are great commentators from my perspective. I want to hear their thought process before the competitors shoot the ball. I'm not going to hear Shane or KK ruminating on which ball selection or pattern. So it's giving me a heads up on the challenge of the run out and teaching me how to read the table. Or I could be stuck with "no commentator" like in most Chinese matches (including no audience). That's a real bore. I do wish that the commentators would be better identified, and shown on screen so we know who they are. And better yet, these videos should have Titles and credits. But I'm nor complaining. Right now, it's just great to have access to all else matches! I

[@bmuller8359]

the video does have credits at the end.....

[@wesleysnipes1873]

These commentators suck bro.

[@gaqcfl0vv472]

the bests

[@jeromywiles2186]

shane playing and breaking with that new cuetec shaft eh

[@napochulo]

8:16 come on camera man. Let me see the break.

[@jonnycarroll6676]

Your Shanegerous Domination is not nearly extinct, focus.

[@dieukhienthongminhvnn]

Very good

[@ezgo17]

How do I mute the commentators????????

[@MrTimmyc77]

Volume button. Every smartphone and tablet has one.

[@shannonmcstormy5021]

Due to the nature of this/these games, at the highest levels, they are good enough where any one of them having an "Off Day" means that another player having a good day can win. It makes for really entertaining matches, even when one player is in the top 5 and the other in the top 20. I also appreciate that in the current batch of pro players, I haven't seen a single Strickland among them: all are super courteous, good sports, who keep any psychological games subtle to non-existent. Strickland used his temper as a psychological weapon which I didn't feel was sporting....at least in the game of pool, and I didn't appreciate that, as it wasn't a value-add for me, in fact, quite the opposite.

[@jasonmiller9738]

Why does the one commentator (George?) feel the need to argue every point the other commentator makes? it get's annoying pretty quickly.

[@larrycoffey8076]

right and he always picks the toughest patterns. his predictions suck

[@justin7080]

We all know every commentator is an 800 Fargo. "I would back-cut this ball 90 degrees and come 4 rails for perfect shape on the 8."

[@davids11131113]

He's trying to be hip and edgy.

[@billwillis4402]

George talks WAY TOO MUCH!

[@phillipwilliams2249]

@@justin7080 lol

[@camiloacosta3114]

shane, the best!!!

[@donaldhundemer5706]

Shane is a legend in his own mind!!!

[@jaypacamarra1027]

Eklent is 19 years old here??? god dayum he plays much older than he looks that's for sure

[@bgjb-r1499]

I love the game. But honestly a timer ⏱ is necessary to speed thing up. On two occasions almost 4 minutes was taken before taking a shot.

[@shuchengchao]

Either the commentators wanted Shane to win badly or they were just bad at predicting shots... I don't think they are bad players at their level. But they are definitely not thinking like the pros

[@rickvassell8349]

In 8 ball; can you carrom your object ball into the opponents ball to pocket it?

[@kentmcguigan3981]

yes

[@billiardsfun7862]

i think the Racking system is bogus and should not matter how it Rack in my opinion . as long 8 Ball in the middle .

[@thequetzalcoatl2287]

first Alex and know Eklent

[@tmangan327]

"Shooter Shane" Van Boening

[@Deoffred]

What cue is shane using, its a cuetech but is that a revo shaft?

[@bardiaarab]

You just answered both your questions 😋

[@alonzo123abc]

You're both wrong. It's a cynergy shaft made by cuetec

[@iamnobodyspecial2243]

I have said shaft. $450 retail carbon fiber. So wonderful

[@sato4kaiba]

@51:21 Mr Kaci, its 8 ball not 10 ball LOL

[@winterguitarkingyea]

I've muted the commentary, far more enjoyable for me indeed, lolllllllllllllllllll.

[@nafizrashid5365]

Can anyone please explain me why they r breaking and playing with the same Cue? I have always seen they have 3 cues. For breaking, playing and for jump shot. But why they r playing with one cue here? Can anyone shed some light on this?

[@asdasd-om8tj]

Maybe theyre not allowed to switch?

[@wesleysnipes1873]

Kaci definitely switches cues.

[@the-selfish-meme7585]

Yikes! That was SVB we saw little of.... again, Yikes!

[@wdiddy1]

53:26 how did he make the cue ball go right with the angle he was coming in from without hitting rail?

[@louiludog]

How high are you

[@Dancindazed]

Tons of top-right english. Perfect type of shot that becomes much easier with a low-deflection shaft.

[@darkhelmet4279]

@@darenvaldez I think he meant the short rail. Didn't hit the short rail

[@rubberducky1853]

Lag at 2:10

[@thequetzalcoatl2287]

bless you

[@DarianG98]

You're a God

[@phillipwilliams2249]

Ill pay a ton not to ever hear another pool commentator except ken shuman and jeremy jones...possibly mark wilson and earl..hell with the rest

[@dontevenwasteaday8983]

I didn't know player could move the ball like Eklent did in 37:52. Is it only me or anyone also think positioning a ball with just a chalk is not accurate at all? I know in snooker the referee could use something with an inward curve which fit in a ball(sorry I don't know what that is called, if you know plz tell me).

[@MrPreben8000]

If its ok with both players i don't think it is a problem :)

[@PeterTranPrime]

I believe in this tournament event accidentally touching a ball (non cueball) is not a scratch so its not that big of a deal.

[@AngrierGorilla]

In pool you just need to ask the opponent if it's ok for him to move the ball. Obviously Shane agreed.

[@johnbeard3733]

Cant some smart person design a shelf for the "rack" gadget? They are always looking for somewhere to stash it.

[@MisterColumbo]

Most places you play have a place to hang it on the lights. The command strips with a hook or something similar. It's only a problem on the tv tables

[@johnbeard3733]

@@MisterColumbo ahhh. I havn t seen them anywhere else. The light is good enough, but maybe wouldn't look good on tv

[@MisterColumbo]

@@johnbeard3733 i've always wondered why they don't put the same thing on a leg of the table. Those diamond legs have more than enough room and you wouldn't be able to see it on camera

[@jeremydyar7566]

You would think it wouldn't take too much intelligence to figure that out

[@Dancindazed]

@@johnbeard3733 What doesn't look good on TV is the players fiddling with the stupid magic rack and it lounging on the rail all the time. This is an example of how pool isn't as popular (read: TV friendly) as it used to be in the 90's/early 00's.

[@shirsendubiswasshaon2861]

Not Shane's day..unlucky

[@johnseiber4586]

I have missed 3 days of work watching this game

[@epriebe1]

I had to double tap fast forward (on my tablet) all the way through waiting for shots to happen. I thought it was painstakingly slow

[@filmkatonakino]

What is the size of the table?

[@whitexcharisma]

8

[@51Dss]

I'm pretty sure it is a 5' X 10' table.

[@AngrierGorilla]

obviously 9 ft table.

[@jordanbaucom8186]

Def 9 foot diamond.

[@dylanrapalo5795]

How many feets are this table? 9 or 7

[@josephchance2262]

9

[@davids11131113]

It has 4 legs.

[@AngrierGorilla]

Diamond 9 ft table

[@AngrierGorilla]

@@timetheory84 Actually 8 ft is not used in competitions, it's 9 or 7 ft, no other possibility. Watch this video in the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZzSmJ9taduBoJo The video I linked is an 8-ball match on a bar box (7 ft). Notice the huge difference in proportions between balls and table.

[@daniellelemond7426]

I can't believe they actually pay these commentators to second guess what the players are planning. I think 99% of us who follow pool knows the importance of position and cue ball control without being schooled from shot to shot. They may sit there and talk a good game, but could they get in there and compete with Shane VB or Kaci ??

[@johnkocian7588]

Many commentators are ayers some were professionals or are professionals for example earl Strickland and Karl Boyes also quite a few commentators play in the same tournament however I don't think they'd be commentating if they were on par with high ranking pros like svb or Kaci

[@CKC-gk2dh]

SVB = GOAT!

[@wearethiss]

HAHAHA efren reyes is the goat estupid moron

[@JohnW1711stock]

How about calling him EEK? For E.K. Maybe Albanian Slim?

[@logic368]

John W 1711 Stock what about Eklent “the Excellent”? Hahaha

[@miamiwax5504]

I looked at his early matches and he was chubby as a teenager. Lol

[@6mdm]

How is it ok to wipe your tip on the carpet? Always hated to see players do that. Use a napkin or cloth. Great match btw! 😆

[@omacshot-3419]

zxdddddds

[@kingklebold6474]

I wiped my tip on your mom's carpet

[@BillMota]

Did they change the sizes of the tables.. this seems like an 8 and not a bar

[@mikelaos2077]

The table in this match is 4-1/2' x 9'

[@steveclapper5424]

Shane way over thought that third game.

[@scotty193]

That comment made me roll @ min 34" I have been playing pool for 50 years" Yet between the both of these cluster fucks they struggle to call the correct shot or play consecutively.

[@aubreyhernandez1194]

Got a nickname: The Golden Eagle

[@phillipwilliams2249]

ON THE TOPIC OF SHOULD SLOP BE ALLOWED ? Well lets see what do you gain and what do you lose. The advocates say it adds excitement to the game.. such a statement reminds me of when ignorant people clap when they see a ball slop in, granted theirs shots that werent actually slopped in and to the unknowing eye appeared to be intentional, but the skilled player and the knowledgeable watcher USUALLY can tell the differance, as far as the added excitement, personally i never get excited over shit in balls..at least not since i had 1 month experiance in game...say when i was 13 yrs old. NOW imagine the players are hill hill for state championship... one player shits in 3 ball then proceeds to run out the easy remaining rack..whereas without the shit the opponent would have run the easy rack..what we gained in some eyes ( the ignorant few) was a bit of excitement. What the opponent lost was his bid for title, that he may have practiced for twice as hard as the lucky ass. What the spectators lost was the answer to the question who is the states champion, simply put absolutely no one knows..they can guess at best...I say the dubious excitement to the knowing is to high a price to pay....Now thats just one shit shot that could have caused this travesty of justice..in reality ive seen numerous shit shots in a few minutes, like we all have, and thats just for state title...how much more terrible for world title, And for the idiot that says its an even chance for both players to slop balls in, i say such an ignorant person is not from this planet, because everyone knows some people are luckier than others on any given day, For the retard that says well it wouldnt be 9 ball without slop, many many games and sports progress thru rule changes to better the event. I say, dont change the rule on any game unless it could change the outcome in an unfair way..say costing player or team the most important thing they have trained for for years and years...Or lets forget players/teams of countries and there hard work and let the few ignorant get some false excitement. Now we all realize ever since we were in 1st grade theres going to be some crybabies who will lay on the floor, kicking their feet, wailing etc. If the more skilled, trained or superior individual has the advantage every time. so the unskilled crybaby will lobby the teacher or parent or principle to allow in a measure of luck. then the namby pamby person of position will say..yeh lets make it more even..as if thats more important than finding the most deserving, i love pool but this one point im so tired of debating for the last twenty years..im ready to stop watching pool and instead just watch two unskilled morons flip a coin over and over to see who,s the best at flipping....how exciting

[@6mdm]

Wow! Long post but so very accurate. However, I like slopping in a ball if I’m kicking because my opponent gets out of line a ton and plays safeties at every turn. So call shot unless you are kicking. Simple rule, simple to enforce. This still punishes players that play safeties constantly. My turn shouldn’t be kicking because my opponents played poor position and there is much talent to seeing multiple shot opportunities when kicking.

[@BaconFrisbee]

Can we brainstorm a new nickname for Shane in here? He isn't a kid anymore, and we can't very well call him the South Dakota Man

[@dontevenwasteaday8983]

South Dakota Smile? Shane is always smiling to people or focusing on playing, such a legend!

[@freddieagnir3138]

I hear some people call him Captain America.... His other nickname is SVB. I guess we still call Efren “Bata,” and he’s 50 years removed from being a bata.

[@BaconFrisbee]

@@freddieagnir3138 that's true I guess. Efren is also the Magician though. The guy who really needs a better nickname is Billy Thorpe. Thorpedo is terrible

[@josephnewcomb5670]

Open after break is too easy for pros

[@sato4kaiba]

@30:15 Eklent Kaci aka The Revolver

[@sato4kaiba]

The Revolver never gets stuck even in a dirty rack LOL

[@otakurocklee]

Shane is too slow.

[@AngrierGorilla]

8 ball takes time to decide shots and patterns. Obviously you're not a player.

[@wesleysnipes1873]

Wow these commentators are the worst.

[@jestes7]

Someone is allowed to be an Albanian to play in the US Open?

[@natannatan8415]

US Open. Not US Closed lol.

[@annalisaweyerstrass3211]

*Trump intensifies*

[@leftyshaun]

Natan nataN: I know right!

[@PeterTranPrime]

Commentators are a joke. No one cares about what you think or what you would do. Focus on the players!

[@SuperSquasher]

Ok, just some of the absolute worst commentating I’ve ever heard. Except any other George T commentary

[@jamynadeau]

These are probably 2 of the worst commentators I have ever heard. All they're doing is trying to predict what each player is going to do before they do it and they're basically incorrect every time . Commentating is supposed to Provide insight by experts who inform the viewer of the high level of expertise the players are demonstrating. What they're actually doing is displaying their level of expertise and ability and its embarrassing themselves.

[@six-stringphantom1402]

I prefer it this way. It's basically the samw way they use WWE commentators.

[@tweekend]

The problem with commentators is that they don't get paid that much so they don't hire the best.

[@Kentucky_Blue]

Jeremy Jones has been commentating lately and he is correct 99% of the time because he's a top tier player in his day. He's gives options and reasons for each.

[@phillipwilliams2249]

@@six-stringphantom1402 admitting you watch the FAKE wwe makes you lose all credibility, as a matter of fact i should try to sell you something, anything....let me see...how about a pound of whats in my toilet for say....25.00 dollars..leave your address ill be right there.....boy.

[@six-stringphantom1402]

@@phillipwilliams2249 why are you so hostile towards people who enjoy WWE? It's entertaining to watch. No shit its fake, so is literally everything on TV lmao. You have some growing up to do, "boy."

[@josephnewcomb5670]

What ever happened to take what u make?

[@hawkwind769]

Bar rules usually

[@josephnewcomb5670]

@@hawkwind769 true and so is ball in kitchen

[@freddieagnir3138]

This is a CSI event. The rules are open after the break (same as World Standardized Rules) and full-table BIH after scratch on the break (World Standardized Rules is in the kitchen).

[@josephnewcomb5670]

@@freddieagnir3138 I understand & I find it is always good to clarify the rules before match starts :)

[@joshuahaynes7128]

I think take what you make should be the rule for players of this caliber it makes it tougher

[@johnseiber4586]

Need a shot clock

[@miamiwax5504]

I doubt think shane or eklent could beat top chinese players

[@davids11131113]

So?

[@that1guy186]

They Can

[@leftyshaun]

Nice comment, troll.

[@joemac999]

svb takes way too long to shoot sometimes. awful for anyone watching.

[@AngrierGorilla]

8 ball takes time to decide shots and patterns. Obviously you're not a player.

[@joemac999]

@@AngrierGorilla when they take 4 minutes to play a shot i could have played when i was 12 it's overkill. That's why no one watches pool anymore. These guys are better players than Strickland, Reyes, etc but it was 1000X better to watch then. Get rid of jump cues and for gods sake put a clock on.

[@AngrierGorilla]

@@joemac999 Shane never took 4 minutes to play a shot.

[@garysampson5258]

I always mute the sound when watching pool, because we all know the commentators are usually full of shit. Shane is a great player, but his antics showing everyone his next shot is like Babe Ruth pointing to left field, because, really.......just show me, don't brag before you do it! If you have to do that to keep your head in the game, go to a pool psychiatrist like Ronnie O'Sullivan did. Pointing your cue to say " I'm shooting from here, and the cue ball is going there and I did it, look at me......is fucking annoying!

[@johnseiber4586]

Boening is slowe r than smoke off shit

[@DEEJAYFUNKINTHEMIX]

that guy dont know what he doing

[@johnseiber4586]

Lol