Strickland Smashes Cue And Still Wins

Strickland Smashes Cue And Still WinsPool player Earl Strickland threw a tantrum on Day Three of the PartyPoker.com Mosconi Cup as he smashed his cue into three pieces.The Pearl had been 6-3 ahead of Thomas Engert when he missed a crucial brown seven and then had to use the shaft of his spare cue to complete the match, which he won 7-4.Discuss the PartyPoker.com Mosconi CupStrickland then stormed off when Sky Sports presenter Andy Goldstein tried to interview him immediately after the match but did then speak later on.
"I enjoyed it because I won but people don’t understand the pressure that sportsmen are put under and if they don’t understand they shouldn’t be watching sport," said Strickland. "Thomas didn’t play well and it was a comedy of errors at the end of the match. But I couldn’t perform like I do if I wasn’t like this. It’s good for you guys because it carries on your soap opera."Engert won the lag but immediately lost the advantage as he scratched with his first shot of the match and then did not get out of his seat again as Strickland ran through the opening rack.The American then made it 2-0 after Engert missed a shot at the green six and left it hanging over the bottom right pocket for an easy chance for The Pearl.Engert's disastrous start continued as he scratched again in the third rack, the second time from two breaks he had done so. It proved to be as costly as the scratch in the opening rack and in a very short time Strickland had moved 3-0 ahead and looked in total control.Strickland potted the seven on the break but had to push out. However, Engert misjudged his shot on the 1-ball and scratched again, the third time in four racks. This time he was not punished as The Pearl missed the 4-ball to bring Engert back to the table.But the European No.2 was having a nightmare match as he failed to pot the 5-ball and then, incredibly scratched again to bring his total up to four, all inside the opening four racks.This time there was to be no reprieve as Strickland, who could barely believe his luck, stormed into a 4-0 lead with the match looking over.Engert broke in the fifth and missed the 2-ball but luckily left the ball safe. But Strickland made his first error to give the German ball in hand and he salvaged a bit of pride by claiming the rack, although the match still looked to be over.Strickland missed the 1-ball in the next but Engert played a poor safety and then missed the same ball to give the American another ball in hand opportunity as it became 5-1.Engert won the seventh but Strickland then moved to the hill by taking the next. The German kept the game alive by securing the ninth before a length safety battle took place in the tenth.That ended when Engert left Strickland a shot at the blue and that should have been the last time the European was at the table.But The Pearl missed an attempt at the brown seven and Strickland slammed his cue on to the floor, smashing it into three pieces, before Engert took the rack to huge cheers from the home fans.However, Engert missed a black in the 11th rack and Strickland, who was now using his spare shaft, sunk the black and 9-balls to win the match 7-4.

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