2018 Qualifiers - Analysis

After a 35-game-day qualifying season, we've got all the available data to analyze. I will try to get all the charts in here, but this may turn into a multiple piece post. With the league expanding to 180 players now, even more data is available to cross-examine to find out how players did. We'll begin with the continuing analysis of the impact of a ball on the break. Presenting, chart 1:

	7ball	8ball	9ball	10ball	12ball	Rotation	15ball	Accuracy	Combined
Valid	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
AVGY	7.7	20.8	12.8	14.9	20.3	25.9	21.7	17.9	142
AVGN	11	23.2	15.1	17.5	21	28	26.7	19.3	161.8
SPB	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.7	1.7	1.8	1.7	1.3	1.575
DIFF	3.3	2.4	2.3	2.6	0.7	2.1	5	1.4	2.475
EFF	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes, marginal	Yes, significant	Minimal	Yes
CY	60	63	90	58	117	58	61	54	561
CN	120	117	90	122	63	122	119	126	879
PY	33.33%	35.00%	50.00%	32.22%	65.00%	32.22%	33.89%	30.00%	39.00%
PN	66.67%	65.00%	50.00%	67.78%	35.00%	67.78%	66.11%	70.00%	61.00%

Last year, we had a mix of results for our data. That is not present this year, despite the shots per ball statistic overall remaining even. While there are more questions for validity, which can be explained by a 3.5% drop in breaking success, the games that did occur with balls on the break led to a massive boost of approximately 0.9 shots less per game than their counterparts. Individually, only 12-ball and Accuracy could be said to have a lack of improvement by making a ball on the break. Still, compared to last year, 12-ball has improved in this regard, no longer being negative in effect. In Rotation, the effect is mitigated likely due to a slightly higher error count (examined later). However, in the similar event of 15-ball, the results are massive, likely aided by the twin stunners by Vincent and Jason V. late in the qualifying season. Even 9-ball made a huge improvement in equal sample sizes. Overall, breaking success rates are not all that different from the center, which was the rule this year, compared to an angular approach. For a recap of last year's data, the first few paragraphs here can explain the various measures used.

Now for an in-depth look at the player measures in chart 2.

Rank	Player	Total	Grade	Errors	Raw Total	Error prop	Revised rank	Change	Revised Grade	Expected score	Relative	Difficulty rank	Performance	Total Rank	Rank by TR
1	Jason N.	105	A+++	4	101	3.81%	1	0	A++	154.83	-49.83	83	1	86	3
2	Fuchsia	112	A++	3	109	2.68%	3	-1	A++	151.77	-39.77	172	2	179	30
3	Cleo	112	A++	6	106	5.36%	2	1	A++	151.35	-39.35	177	3	185	32
4	Jason V.	117	A++	5	112	4.27%	4	0	A+	153.40	-36.40	137	4	149	23
5	Kirstin	126	A+	9	117	7.14%	7	-2	A+	154.02	-28.02	112	5	129	17
6	Goatee	128	A+	12	116	9.38%	5	1	A+	154.11	-26.11	110	6	127	14
7	Violetta	129	A+	8	121	6.20%	11	-4	A	153.37	-24.37	141	8	167	27
8	Smokey	129	A+	11	118	8.53%	9	-1	A+	153.40	-24.40	138	7	162	25
9	Dewey	131	A+	11	120	8.40%	10	-1	A	154.46	-23.46	97	11	127	15
10	Vincent	131	A+	14	117	10.69%	8	2	A+	155.15	-24.15	71	9	98	6
11	Graham	132	A	6	126	4.55%	16	-5	A-	155.03	-23.03	76	12	115	11
12	Niki	132	A	8	124	6.06%	13	-1	A	155.54	-23.54	47	10	82	2
13	Nightfur	132	A	9	123	6.82%	12	1	A	153.20	-21.20	148	14	187	33
14	Fluffina	133	A	9	124	6.77%	14	0	A	154.71	-21.71	87	13	128	16
15	Roxy	135	A	11	124	8.15%	15	0	A	151.72	-16.72	174	22	226	47
16	Hershey	136	A	5	131	3.68%	26	-10	B+	154.71	-18.71	88	15	145	20
17	Juno	137	A-	6	131	4.38%	27	-10	B+	155.41	-18.41	55	16	115	12
18	Cubby	137	A-	21	116	15.33%	6	12	A+	154.00	-17.00	114	20	158	24
19	Gradley	138	A-	7	131	5.07%	28	-9	B+	156.29	-18.29	22	17	86	4
20	Nikolai	138	A-	9	129	6.52%	22	-2	A-	155.90	-17.90	37	18	97	5
21	Celestia	139	A-	5	134	3.60%	41	-20	B+	155.78	-16.78	41	21	124	13
22	Leandra	139	A-	5	134	3.60%	42	-20	B+	154.61	-15.61	92	27	183	31
23	Cobalt	139	A-	7	132	5.04%	32	-9	B+	155.40	-16.40	58	23	136	19
24	Cassandra	139	A-	8	131	5.76%	29	-5	B+	153.48	-14.48	134	28	215	45
25	Patches	139	A-	11	128	7.91%	19	6	A-	155.30	-16.30	62	25	131	18
26	Twilight	140	A-	7	133	5.00%	38	-12	B+	156.36	-16.36	19	24	107	8
27	Misty	140	A-	8	132	5.71%	33	-6	B+	154.16	-14.16	109	31	200	40
28	Taylor	140	A-	11	129	7.86%	23	5	A-	153.10	-13.10	151	32	234	50
29	Summer	140	A-	12	128	8.57%	20	9	A-	155.83	-15.83	38	26	113	10
30	Delila	140	A-	14	126	10.00%	17	13	A-	157.37	-17.37	6	19	72	1
31	Wild Thing	141	A-	7	134	4.96%	43	-12	B+	152.25	-11.25	166	39	279	63
32	Hughbert	142	B+	8	134	5.63%	44	-12	B+	154.94	-12.94	80	33	189	34
33	Zach	142	B+	15	127	10.56%	18	15	A-	156.33	-14.33	20	29	100	7
34	Ms. Puppy	143	B+	6	137	4.20%	58	-24	B	155.49	-12.49	52	34	178	29
35	Shawn	143	B+	8	135	5.59%	50	-15	B	153.81	-10.81	124	41	250	54
36	Snuggle	143	B+	12	131	8.39%	30	6	B+	155.31	-12.31	61	35	162	26
37	Twinkie III	143	B+	15	128	10.49%	21	16	A-	153.05	-10.05	155	43	256	55
38	Kayla	144	B+	5	139	3.47%	66	-28	B	155.41	-11.41	56	38	198	38
39	Chelsea	144	B+	8	136	5.56%	53	-14	B	154.85	-10.85	82	40	214	44
40	Beth	144	B+	9	135	6.25%	51	-11	B	155.53	-11.53	48	37	176	28
41	Jasmine	144	B+	10	134	6.94%	45	-4	B+	154.74	-10.74	85	42	213	43
42	Katelynn	144	B+	12	132	8.33%	34	8	B+	158.21	-14.21	2	30	108	9
43	Lexi	144	B+	12	132	8.33%	35	8	B+	156.07	-12.07	31	36	145	21
44	Jake	145	B+	9	136	6.21%	54	-10	B	153.23	-8.23	146	48	292	66
45	Pounce	145	B+	14	131	9.66%	31	14	B+	154.02	-9.02	113	45	234	51
46	Brownie	146	B+	12	134	8.22%	46	0	B+	153.23	-7.23	147	53	292	67
47	Anton	146	B+	13	133	8.90%	39	8	B+	153.55	-7.55	130	51	267	57
48	Gabe	146	B+	16	130	10.96%	24	24	B+	153.00	-7.00	156	55	283	64
49	Bianca	147	B	9	138	6.12%	64	-15	B	152.22	-5.22	167	65	345	82
50	Snowball	147	B	10	137	6.80%	59	-9	B	155.73	-8.73	43	46	198	39
51	Dustin	147	B	11	136	7.48%	55	-4	B	155.59	-8.59	44	47	197	37
52	B. Chapman	147	B	13	134	8.84%	47	5	B+	154.00	-7.00	115	56	270	58
53	Yekaterina	147	B	13	134	8.84%	48	5	B+	155.23	-8.23	65	49	215	46
54	Twinkie I	147	B	14	133	9.52%	40	14	B+	153.68	-6.68	127	57	278	62
55	Salmo	147	B	17	130	11.56%	25	30	B+	156.31	-9.31	21	44	145	22
56	Lionel	148	B	9	139	6.08%	67	-11	B	153.07	-5.07	152	66	341	79
57	Shelley	148	B	10	138	6.76%	65	-8	B	151.74	-3.74	173	72	367	93
58	Oreo	148	B	11	137	7.43%	60	-2	B	153.88	-5.88	123	62	303	70
59	Puff I	148	B	13	135	8.78%	52	7	B	156.12	-8.12	30	50	191	35
60	Blizzard	149	B	6	143	4.03%	88	-28	B-	153.90	-4.90	121	68	337	78
61	Missy	149	B	9	140	6.04%	74	-13	B-	153.98	-4.98	116	67	318	75
62	Briana	149	B	10	139	6.71%	68	-6	B	151.57	-2.57	175	76	381	97
63	Prism	149	B	12	137	8.05%	61	2	B	156.05	-7.05	32	54	210	41
64	Spirit	149	B	12	137	8.05%	62	2	B	156.55	-7.55	16	52	194	36
65	Dani	149	B	17	132	11.41%	36	29	B+	154.98	-5.98	78	60	239	52
66	Mr. Snowman	150	B	5	145	3.33%	104	-38	C+	155.83	-5.83	39	63	272	59
67	Ruby	150	B	8	142	5.33%	83	-16	B-	151.39	-1.39	176	86	412	113
68	Sprinkles	150	B	10	140	6.67%	75	-7	B-	150.82	-0.82	180	87	410	112
69	Americus	150	B	13	137	8.67%	63	6	B	155.96	-5.96	35	61	228	48
70	Spot	150	B	16	134	10.67%	49	21	B+	152.62	-2.62	161	75	355	88
71	Gal	151	B	5	146	3.31%	109	-38	C+	155.57	-4.57	45	70	295	68
72	Goldy	151	B	6	145	3.97%	105	-33	C+	153.39	-2.39	140	81	398	106
73	Peach	151	B	7	144	4.64%	95	-22	B-	155.79	-4.79	40	69	277	61
74	Sparkles	151	B	7	144	4.64%	96	-22	B-	157.01	-6.01	13	59	242	53
75	Watermelon	151	B	7	144	4.64%	97	-22	B-	155.14	-4.14	72	71	315	74
76	Hoot	151	B	12	139	7.95%	69	7	B	157.30	-6.30	8	58	211	42
77	Sage	151	B	12	139	7.95%	70	7	B	153.41	-2.41	136	80	363	90
78	Lize	152	B-	7	145	4.61%	106	-28	C+	155.08	-3.08	74	74	332	77
79	Waluigi	152	B-	10	142	6.58%	84	-5	B-	157.43	-5.43	5	64	232	49
80	Shiny	152	B-	12	140	7.89%	76	4	B-	154.20	-2.20	107	82	345	83
81	Acorn	152	B-	13	139	8.55%	71	10	B	154.03	-2.03	111	83	346	84
82	Bear	152	B-	13	139	8.55%	72	10	B	152.60	-0.60	162	88	404	110
83	Shadow	153	B-	9	144	5.88%	98	-15	B-	155.53	-2.53	49	77	307	71
84	Panda	153	B-	12	141	7.84%	79	5	B-	156.18	-3.18	27	73	263	56
85	Puff III	153	B-	17	136	11.11%	56	29	B	155.46	-2.46	54	79	274	60
86	Quincy	153	B-	17	136	11.11%	57	29	B	154.94	-1.94	81	84	308	72
87	Chris	153	B-	21	132	13.73%	37	50	B+	152.50	0.50	163	90	377	95
88	Daisy	154	B-	10	144	6.49%	99	-11	B-	156.48	-2.48	18	78	283	65
89	Stinky	154	B-	10	144	6.49%	100	-11	B-	155.93	-1.93	36	85	310	73
90	Jeremias	155	B-	14	141	9.03%	80	10	B-	154.30	0.70	104	91	365	91
91	Whiskers	155	B-	14	141	9.03%	81	10	B-	151.19	3.81	178	103	453	123
92	Neopolitan	155	B-	15	140	9.68%	77	15	B-	153.27	1.73	144	94	407	111
93	Melissa	156	B-	12	144	7.69%	101	-8	B-	155.10	0.90	73	93	360	89
94	Rainmane	156	B-	16	140	10.26%	78	16	B-	153.06	2.94	154	100	426	116
95	Bells	157	C+	8	149	5.10%	125	-30	C+	157.03	-0.03	12	89	321	76
96	Hoppy	157	C+	10	147	6.37%	113	-17	C+	154.48	2.52	96	95	400	107
97	Slinks	157	C+	13	144	8.28%	102	-5	B-	152.32	4.68	164	111	474	127
98	Dominic	157	C+	15	142	9.55%	85	13	B-	154.17	2.83	108	98	389	102
99	Stripes	157	C+	15	142	9.55%	86	13	B-	153.55	3.45	131	102	418	115
100	Charli	157	C+	16	141	10.19%	82	18	B-	156.29	0.71	23	92	297	69
101	Wings	158	C+	10	148	6.33%	120	-19	C+	153.55	4.45	132	107	460	125
102	Kiwi	158	C+	11	147	6.96%	114	-12	C+	154.72	3.28	86	101	403	109
103	Chimpy	158	C+	12	146	7.59%	110	-7	C+	155.17	2.83	68	99	380	96
104	Steven	158	C+	15	143	9.49%	89	15	B-	155.29	2.71	64	96	353	87
105	Mario	159	C+	8	151	5.03%	137	-32	C	154.70	4.30	89	106	437	120
106	Cassie	159	C+	11	148	6.92%	121	-15	C+	153.98	5.02	117	113	457	124
107	Rosalina	159	C+	14	145	8.81%	107	0	C+	154.55	4.45	94	108	416	114
108	Jennifer	159	C+	17	142	10.69%	87	21	B-	154.77	4.23	84	105	384	98
109	Sydney	160	C+	11	149	6.88%	126	-17	C+	157.26	2.74	9	97	341	80
110	Vladimir	160	C+	16	144	10.00%	103	7	B-	156.14	3.86	29	104	346	85
111	Kyle	160	C+	17	143	10.63%	90	21	B-	155.35	4.65	59	109	369	94
112	Nibbles	160	C+	21	139	13.13%	73	39	B	154.70	5.30	90	115	390	103
113	Bandit	161	C+	9	152	5.59%	142	-29	C	154.28	6.72	105	123	483	130
114	Starlight	161	C+	9	152	5.59%	143	-29	C	155.17	5.83	69	119	445	122
115	Sierra	161	C+	11	150	6.83%	131	-16	C	156.00	5.00	34	112	392	105
116	Max	161	C+	18	143	11.18%	91	25	B-	155.20	5.80	66	117	390	104
117	Gizmo	162	C	11	151	6.79%	138	-21	C	155.53	6.47	50	121	426	117
118	Bright	162	C	12	150	7.41%	132	-14	C	155.32	6.68	60	122	432	118
119	Mitchell	162	C	14	148	8.64%	122	-3	C+	154.23	7.77	106	126	473	126
120	Sugar	162	C	15	147	9.26%	115	5	C+	157.35	4.65	7	110	352	86
121	Citrus	162	C	16	146	9.88%	111	10	C+	156.50	5.50	17	116	365	92
122	Midnight	162	C	19	143	11.73%	92	30	B-	156.76	5.24	15	114	343	81
123	Boots	163	C	10	153	6.13%	149	-26	C	154.51	8.49	95	128	495	132
124	Strawberry	163	C	13	150	7.98%	133	-9	C	157.19	5.81	10	118	385	99
125	Cowzart	163	C	15	148	9.20%	123	2	C+	152.28	10.72	165	135	548	148
126	Precious	163	C	15	148	9.20%	124	2	C+	156.20	6.80	26	125	401	108
127	Chicky Phil	163	C	16	147	9.82%	116	11	C+	153.17	9.83	149	131	523	138
128	Easter	163	C	16	147	9.82%	117	11	C+	153.89	9.11	122	130	497	133
129	Luigi	163	C	18	145	11.04%	108	21	C+	156.27	6.73	24	124	385	100
130	Dreamy	163	C	20	143	12.27%	93	37	B-	152.12	10.88	168	136	527	139
131	Isabella	163	C	20	143	12.27%	94	37	B-	151.95	11.05	170	138	533	141
132	Klaus	164	C	9	155	5.49%	156	-24	C-	155.30	8.70	63	129	480	128
133	Ice Cream	164	C	11	153	6.71%	150	-17	C	152.88	11.12	158	139	580	160
134	Avril	164	C	14	150	8.54%	134	0	C	155.77	8.23	42	127	437	121
135	Noelle	164	C	14	150	8.54%	135	0	C	152.96	11.04	157	137	564	153
136	Dusky	164	C	15	149	9.15%	127	9	C+	157.61	6.39	4	120	387	101
137	Marsell	164	C	15	149	9.15%	128	9	C+	153.40	10.60	139	133	537	142
138	Pauline	165	C	13	152	7.88%	144	-6	C	155.16	9.84	70	132	484	131
139	Debby	165	C	16	149	9.70%	129	10	C+	153.17	11.83	150	142	560	151
140	Mams	166	C	8	158	4.82%	165	-25	C-	154.33	11.67	101	141	547	147
141	Potter	166	C	11	155	6.63%	157	-16	C-	153.34	12.66	142	145	585	164
142	Katharine	166	C	14	152	8.43%	145	-3	C	153.32	12.68	143	146	576	159
143	Leonardo	166	C	19	147	11.45%	118	25	C+	151.96	14.04	169	152	582	162
144	Lorde	166	C	19	147	11.45%	119	25	C+	153.07	12.93	153	148	564	154
145	Jack	167	C-	13	154	7.78%	155	-10	C	154.38	12.62	99	144	543	145
146	Rosemary	167	C-	14	153	8.38%	151	-5	C	153.47	13.53	135	150	582	163
147	Shaggy	167	C-	15	152	8.98%	146	1	C	151.94	15.06	171	156	620	176
148	Sally	167	C-	16	151	9.58%	139	9	C	155.01	11.99	77	143	507	135
149	Paps	167	C-	17	150	10.18%	136	13	C	155.41	11.59	57	140	482	129
150	Ms. Kitty	167	C-	21	146	12.57%	112	38	C+	154.32	12.68	103	147	512	137
151	Princess	168	C-	10	158	5.95%	166	-15	C-	153.26	14.74	145	153	615	172
152	Ted	168	C-	11	157	6.55%	161	-9	C-	154.33	13.67	102	151	566	156
153	Bryant	168	C-	16	152	9.52%	147	6	C	152.67	15.33	159	159	618	175
154	Josie	168	C-	19	149	11.31%	130	24	C+	155.04	12.96	75	149	508	136
155	Sleepy B.	169	C-	12	157	7.10%	162	-7	C-	153.71	15.29	126	158	601	168
156	Leonette	169	C-	16	153	9.47%	152	4	C	153.73	15.27	125	157	590	165
157	Diddley	169	C-	18	151	10.65%	140	17	C	158.36	10.64	1	134	432	119
158	Hannah	170	C-	9	161	5.29%	169	-11	D+	153.95	16.05	119	161	607	169
159	Strut	170	C-	14	156	8.24%	159	0	C-	155.18	14.82	67	155	540	144
160	A. Charlton	170	C-	19	151	11.18%	141	19	C	154.44	15.56	98	160	559	150
161	Caitlin	171	C-	16	155	9.36%	158	3	C-	156.21	14.79	25	154	498	134
162	Pedey	171	C-	18	153	10.53%	153	9	C	153.96	17.04	118	162	595	166
163	Stealth	172	D+	15	157	8.72%	163	0	C-	154.67	17.33	91	163	580	161
164	Twinkie II	172	D+	15	157	8.72%	164	0	C-	153.51	18.49	133	166	627	178
165	Stephanie	172	D+	19	153	11.05%	154	11	C	153.67	18.33	128	164	611	171
166	Dusty	172	D+	20	152	11.63%	148	18	C	153.58	18.42	129	165	608	170
167	Tigerette	173	D+	12	161	6.94%	170	-3	D+	150.91	22.09	179	170	686	180
168	Wario	173	D+	17	156	9.83%	160	8	C-	154.38	18.62	100	167	595	167
169	Smudge	174	D+	15	159	8.62%	167	2	C-	153.92	20.08	120	168	624	177
170	Puff II	176	D+	12	164	6.82%	172	-2	D+	152.63	23.37	160	171	673	179
171	Spice	177	D	15	162	8.47%	171	0	D+	156.18	20.82	28	169	539	143
172	Nicole	181	D	13	168	7.18%	176	-4	D	155.53	25.47	51	173	572	158
173	Rudolph	181	D	16	165	8.84%	174	-1	D	155.56	25.44	46	172	565	155
174	Crystal	182	D-	18	164	9.89%	173	1	D+	154.57	27.43	93	177	617	174
175	Valencia	182	D-	22	160	12.09%	168	7	D+	155.48	26.52	53	175	571	157
176	Cheddar	183	D-	17	166	9.29%	175	1	D	156.02	26.98	33	176	560	152
177	Solaris	184	D-	16	168	8.70%	177	0	D	157.63	26.37	3	174	531	140
178	Kodiak	187	F+	13	174	6.95%	179	-1	D-	157.19	29.81	11	178	546	146
179	Frosty	189	F+	17	172	8.99%	178	1	D-	154.96	34.04	79	179	615	173
180	Sweetheart	198	F	17	181	8.59%	180	0	F	156.94	41.06	14	180	554	149

We've got a lot to process here, as the statistics available for analysis are much more significant than last year. Jason N. is the runaway winner for quality in his qualifiers, helped by great scores in a number of events. Cleo, Fuchsia, Jason V., and Kirstin round out the top 5 by pure scores. The grading scale is the same as last year, thanks to the fact that the combined average is only up by about .5 shots per player, or .0625 shots per game. This comes despite the fact that 8-ball changed the rules this year to a suit-based shooting style, which added nearly two shots per game in that event. The other events, collectively, are down overall. New statistics this year are expected average and difficulty rank, which takes into a personalized account of the difficulty a player faced based on the cues used for each event. The difficulty is ranked from highest to lowest, with a maximum of 159.31 and a low of 150.29. Also new are the relative numbers, which derive from the difficulty. Performance rank indicates how well a player did relative to the average expected based on their cue set. A negative number in this regard is better, and again Jason N. leads the way. Finally, the Total Rank is a sum of all four major rankings (by shots, raw score, difficulty, and relative performance). One more sort through the chart shows that Delila had the best Total Rank, doing well despite a highly difficult cue set. On the other side of that, Tigerette failed to do well despite an easier cue set, and was at the bottom of these advanced statistics. Sweetheart was also dealt a tough hand, with a difficult expected average that she failed greatly in her attempts to overcome.

Now, for the year-to-year comparison in chart 3.

	2016	2017	2018	Change
7ball	11.6	10.47	9.9	-0.57
8ball	22.08	20.42	22.36	1.94
9ball	14.03	14.06	13.94	-0.12
10ball	17.66	16.35	16.65	0.3
12ball	21.93	21.44	20.54	-0.9
Rotation	28.91	27.51	27.34	-0.17
15ball	26.94	24.67	24.99	0.32
Accuracy	20.14	19.13	18.86	-0.27
Combined	163.29	154.05	154.58	0.53
Errors	11.4	12.05	12.43	0.38
Raw	151.89	141.99	142.15	0.16

In this case, the 2016 numbers are there for a starting reference point, but the Change column only indicates from 2017 to 2018 qualifying seasons. As mentioned above, 8-ball is significantly higher than before, leading to a .53 increase in overall scores compared to last year. Errors are again up, but by a lesser amount than last year. This helps to explain about 70% of the increase in scores, while the rest can be attributed to the 8-ball rule change. Improvements have 7-ball, 9-ball, 12-ball, Rotation and Accuracy at all time lows. On the other side, 15-ball and 10-ball made marginal raises in shots per game, but remain well below 2016 levels. An interesting thing to look for in 2019's data set is if 8-ball returns to lower levels again in the second year under the new rules.

Finally, chart 4 takes a look at the cues, which have been touched on in the expected average discussion.

	Red	Blue	Silver	Total
7-ball	561	594	627	1782
8-ball	1318	1371	1335	4024
9-ball	826	837	847	2510
10-ball	990	955	1052	2997
12-ball	1265	1210	1222	3697
Rotation	1598	1643	1680	4921
15-ball	1497	1583	1419	4499
Accuracy	1134	1130	1130	3394
Combined	9189	9323	9312	27824

The shooting rates did not really rise at all, but with more players comes more shots. Unlike last year, the red cue was the clear-cut overall winner in shots. The red cue claimed 7-ball, 8-ball, 9-ball, and Rotation as the best in those events. The 11-shot difference between the silver cue and blue cue underlies a close battle by a similar margin in 12-ball, as well as the blue cue's win in 10-ball. The silver cue won 15-ball this year, a big reversal from a brutal loss in the event last year, and the blue and silver cues split Accuracy, with red a close third in the competitive event. The distribution is much closer this year, lending confidence in a truly quality battle for each event's top rewards.

Looking forward to the Tournament and the new year, there is reason for hope that quality of play will be at its highest. The troubles plaguing the league last year are no longer present now. All games are played on a single level, giving every player a chance at the title in each event, while top qualifiers are rewarded with byes. I will spend the next two days working on bracket creation and other minor administrative tasks in the main Tournament document and career matchups document. In cricket, the United Cup first round is set for next week. I look forward to playing through the most extensive single-level Tournament yet. I may publish an early-season power rankings post based on team qualifying efforts.