Since nine-ball queens Pan Xiaoting and Chen Siming achieved a series of brilliant achievements in American nine-ball, the sport of nine-ball has quickly become popular in China, especially for girls who like billiards.
Although there are many women who like billiards, most female players are still slightly less powerful than male players. Therefore, in this case, nine-ball has become the most suitable choice for women to play billiards.
Compared with nine-goal, it is rare to see outstanding female professional players in Snooker. After all, it is difficult for Snooker to even score goals, and while scoring goals, you have to use your strength and movement. For
For many people, it is an impossible task.
The difficulty of scoring goals in Chinese eight-ball is slightly easier than that of Snooker, but there are still not many female players.
The only exception is Nine Ball.
The bottom pocket and top pocket of the nine-ball table can almost accommodate two balls being scored at the same time, while the middle pocket is wider than the other four pockets.
Therefore, the difficulty of scoring a nine-ball goal is low, which makes it easier for female players to focus more on controlling the white ball.
However, since this nine-ball competition is nominally a Citizen Cup, anyone, regardless of gender, can participate.
However, previous tournaments have only held Chinese eight-ball singles matches, and this year a nine-ball match was added, so the organizers do not have much experience.
If the rules of the middle eight singles match are followed, then in theory the female players will be given the last one. But in the nine-ball match, both players have to hit the ball from No. 1 to No. 9. There is no one who can miss one ball.
The problem.
Therefore, after repeated discussions, the organizers chose to play without conceding the ball.
Ling Zhi scanned the whole place. Although there were many women present, he didn't know if they were contestants, so he could only wait and see what happened.
However, Ling Zhi is not afraid. Even if he has to give up the ball, he will not feel that he is at a disadvantage, because in the nine-ball game, if he scores one more or one less ball, the difference is not big to him.
The game officially started soon.
First is the group stage. The group stage adopts a double-elimination format, with 8 teams in each group. That is to say, you need to win at least two games to advance to the top 32.
I don’t know if it was Ling Zhi’s illusion or if it was really the case. Although all the opponents he and Chang Cuo faced were male players, their level was average, and some members of some teams even did not leave.
They seemed to be a hastily formed team.
Although Chang Cuo didn't care about the result of the game, it was better to win than lose, so with his game experience and Lingzhi's not too bad performance, the two quickly broke through the group stage.
"Brother, you can play well! Not bad at all. Have you practiced ball somewhere?"
After the group stage, Chang Cuo asked Ling Zhi.
"It's not that great, but when it comes to training, I practiced with coach Xingchen from Huacheng for a while."
"Coach Xingchen? Are you talking about coach Liu Xingchen?"
"Yeah, that's right, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong! Don't you know how difficult it is to learn football from Coach Xingchen? The year before last, one of my buddies tried to learn football from Coach Xingchen. He almost knelt down before him, but Coach Xingchen still wouldn't accept his offer."
"Now, he has fewer and fewer apprentices, especially those who don't want to play professionally in the future, or who don't practice football themselves after learning the game. He doesn't want to take care of them at all. Oh, by the way, brother, you have plans for the future.
Do you want to play professionally?"
"I haven't made up my mind yet, I'm still considering it."
"So you see, he doesn't care whether you play professionally or not, but he agrees to teach you how to play. This shows how much he values you. Cherish it, brother!"
Chang Cuo smiled and patted Ling Zhi on the shoulder and said to him.
Speaking of which, it's not that Ling Zhi doesn't know that coach Xingchen is very good. On the contrary, the fact that the coach can bring out a professional Snooker player like Zhang Sijun just shows that the coach is very capable.
Coupled with his own personal experience, Ling Zhi has no doubts about coach Xingchen's ability.
However, Ling Zhi didn't know that the coach's standards for accepting apprentices were so high, which made him a little flattered.
Since the coach loves you so much, you must practice well and never let down the coach's expectations!
After secretly making up his mind, Ling Zhi looked around the scene, found the table where Zhao Shiyan and Liu Lili were, and walked towards them.
…
After all, Zhao Shiyan had little experience in participating in competitions, so she listened to Liu Lili's arrangements throughout the process and did whatever Lili asked her to do.
"Shi Yan, you go first."
In the first game, the two faced off against two male players. After one of the male players kicked off, Liu Lili said this to Zhao Shiyan.
Although Zhao Shiyan didn't know why, the game had already started, and Lili herself didn't talk much, so she didn't ask any more questions and went up to fight first according to Lili's arrangement.
After a few shots, Zhao Shiyan himself discovered some clues.
The male player who appeared behind her was slightly weaker, and Zhao Shiyan could tell this from the way he held the pole. This was probably the reason why Lili arranged for her to appear first.
But how does she know the strength of her opponent? Oh, by the way, she was watching the match here in the morning, and there might be players playing singles matches here, so she knows her opponent very well, so it’s not strange.
.
So, under Liu Lili's leadership, and Zhao Shiyan himself being very cautious, not leaving too many opportunities for his opponent to miss, the two finally won the game after a fierce battle.
But at this time, Zhao Shiyan saw that Ling Zhi had been standing nearby watching the battle for a long time. She happily jumped in front of Ling Zhi and pretended to be surprised:
"Nephew, how is your battle going? Ah! You must have lost so quickly."
Ling Zhi pursed his lips, snorted slightly, and said:
"You dare to underestimate me? I hugged Brother Chang's lap and won two games cleanly. This is your first game, so you are too slow."
This time Zhao Shiyan was really surprised:
"What? You've already advanced? Well...what's so big about it? I also have thighs to hug. Who's to be afraid of? Good things come in a long way."
Pretend! Keep pretending!
The envious expression on your face has already betrayed your inner thoughts, and you are still being stubborn here, huh!
But thinking about it, Ling Zhi did not expose the girl and save her some face. After all, her game is not over yet.
Since Zhao Shiyan's first game took a long time, he was immediately assigned to the second game as soon as the game ended.
Zhao Shiyan stopped talking to Ling Zhi and followed Liu Lili to his next competition table.
Ling Zhi, Li Mengyao and Ren Yushi were sitting nearby, quietly watching their second game.
In the second game, the two opponents were still two male players. One of the male players wearing a blue competition vest preached to his companion:
"Brother, it seems that our luck is good. We actually got two girls. It seems that we are sure to break through the group stage this time."
"Yeah, I thought there were quite a lot of women participating in the competition at first, but I didn't expect most of them to come to watch the game. Now that I think about it, I'm afraid they are the only team where both members are women."
"Then we must seize the opportunity and not let the victory slip away."
"Isn't that right?"
The two of them were standing next to Ling Zhi and the others talking, and their whispers still reached the ears of Ling Zhi and the others.
Ren Yushi didn't react at all, while Li Mengyao covered her mouth and snickered, feeling amused by their ignorance.
Ling Zhi originally had the intention to go up and refute a few words, but then he thought that since they underestimated the enemy, it should be a good thing for Zhao Shiyan, so he gave up the idea of going forward to argue.
Half an hour later, the combination of Liu Lili\Zhao Shiyan already led 4:0.
At the end of the fifth game, Zhao Shiyan saw a long low shot. Without any hesitation, he directly scored the No. 9 ball and successfully won the entire game.
Zhao Shiyan originally wanted to celebrate with Lili, but looking at Lili's cold look and looking at Ling Zhi who had already stretched out his hands on the seat, she still ran to Ling Zhi and gave him a high-five to celebrate.
"Congratulations, Miss Zhao."
"Hahahaha, we are each other, and with Lili helping me, the game feels so easy. And this table is quite good. I feel that I have a good offensive touch today. It is worthy of being a high-end billiards club..."
Zhao Shiyan chattered and shared her victory speech with Ling Zhi. While Ling Zhi listened, he glanced at the blue vest and his companions with his peripheral vision, and secretly rejoiced in his heart.
"This...is it over? So soon?"
Blue Vest and his companions exclaimed.
"It feels like I haven't even hit a few shots yet. It's too exaggerated, especially the woman with the ponytail. If I didn't look carefully, I would have thought she was a man."
"The one with the short hair is pretty good too. His accuracy is no worse than the two of us. Alas, it's unlucky. Why did he run into some tough trouble?"
The two of them went to the front desk to pay the fee dejectedly, blaming themselves on their bad luck.
As everyone knows, without strength and luck, you will never go far.
Soon after, all group matches ended. Next, it was time for the exciting draw.
Ling Zhi thought silently in his heart, don't draw Zhao Shiyan, don't draw Zhao Shiyan, as long as he doesn't draw her, it doesn't matter whether he loses or wins.
Soon, Zhao Shiyan's name was read at the front desk. Ling Zhi's heart tightened and he pricked up his ears, waiting for the announcement of Zhao Shiyan's and Liu Lili's opponents.
"Peng Lin."
Fortunately, it had nothing to do with him. Ling Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, Chang Cuo next to him hurriedly pulled him in and said to him:
"Brother, it's our turn."
"Ah? Isn't it called Peng Lin? It's not us."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, the temporary companion of mine is called Peng Lin."
"What did you say!!!"
…
Standing in front of the game table, Ling Zhi looked at the table with a sad face, suddenly feeling that things in the world are unpredictable, and he was really afraid of what would happen.
"Lingzhi, stop thinking about what you have and what you don't have! Just fight normally, but don't let us do it on purpose."
Zhao Shiyan patted Ling Zhi and said with a "hehe" smile.
Although Zhao Shiyan didn't care, Ling Zhi didn't think so.
If he "accidentally" won, he could definitely imagine how resentful this girl would be afterwards.
After all, from Zhao Shiyan's point of view, she was the one who came to participate seriously. And her boyfriend didn't even plan to participate, but in the end he accidentally won against her? This is a bit ridiculous to say the least.
Forget it, you can think of a way to let them know without leaving any trace, and they will never notice it.
But Zhao Shiyan seemed to know what Ling Zhi was thinking. She pinched the flesh on Ling Zhi's waist and threatened him:
"Lingzhi, did you hear that? Why didn't you say anything? You must not let us go, or see how I deal with you."
"Oh, I know, I know!"
It would be strange if you knew, and you would be punished if you didn't let me.
Lexus complained secretly.
The game starts soon.
Under Liu Lili's careful arrangement, Zhao Shiyan lined up behind Ling Zhi to hit the ball. After 4 sets, the two sides tied at 2:2, evenly matched.
Seeing that the two sides could not close the gap, Ling Zhi thought of finding an opportunity in the fifth game to sell a flaw so that Zhao Shiyan could clear a few more shots with peace of mind.
In the fifth game, Chang Cuo kicked off the ball.
After scoring a goal from the kick-off, Chang Cuo continued to hit ball No. 1. However, because the white ball was too close to ball No. 1, the trajectory of the white ball after the shot was a bit strange. It actually followed ball No. 1 in the same direction.
The speed is almost the same.
But Chang Cuo didn't notice it. After scoring the No. 1 ball, he was ready to hit the No. 2 ball. However, at this moment, Ling Zhi interjected:
"Brother Chang, it seems like you hit a combo with this shot."