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Lessons learned from a UK OPEN newbie.

Lickashot

Registered
5Years
Joined
May 8, 2020
Messages
1,022
Location
Worcestershire
This was my first UK Open, and I have to admit, it was a real eye opener. Having never competed in an event on this scale, I knew coming into it, I wanted to use it as a learning experience and hopefully take something from it which would improve my game going forward.
I read up on how the games would be set up but then actually playing them I wasn't prepared for how tough they would be. I also wasn't prepared for what a real grind the format is, it is very mentally draining.
So I decided to use my initial three cards as a "feeling out" for how all the games were playing. One of the real challenges is adapting to each game. First impressions, if I'm being honest, were "these games feel unplayable" So how do we adapt to changing that mentality and getting some sort of decent score out of them?
You need to know that playing with a certain set of skills that you have will only get you so far. As obvious as this sounds, the reading of the ball and the decision making need to be turned up as the games were playing so much faster. You have to anticipate much sooner and then make the right decision.
After a number of attempts I then started to make the necessary adjustments which brought me more success and gave me a lot more confidence. I did void plenty of cards later on but like I said, initially it was a feeling out period so did submit some .
You need to trust your judgement, I think this is essential in finding improvement. I also think that by watching the top players there that also improved my ability to keep the ball in play.
So my takeaway from this is that I am really glad I have now experienced machine set ups which are brutal and have watched some of the world's best players as this has given me even more confidence going forward. Next big tournament for me will be Hungary in October, I can't wait !!!
 
The grind is real.

It's a really tiring format, especially when you have to produce your absolute best in every single game on a ticket to have any chance of qualifying.
 
Its a brutal format on brutally setup machines... I much prefer matchplay and really loved the volunteers tournament last night having a laugh, couple beers and playing with everyone :D

I only managed to put one card into the main due to working the majority of event but I managed to qualify for the b finals on one card with four games (5th game JP2 had a 0) Hadn't realised I had qualified after removing the top 500 players out the b finals so had a lie in... and found out 5 mins before the match started so I had to get dressed and run over! I was so tried and still asleep to do much good lol

so was super pumped about that and I'm still able to play even though I rarely do tournaments anymore :D

Screenshot 2025-09-29 at 17.54.35.webp
 
Yup it’s a tough school! I had a pretty anonymous weekend, 64th in Classics which I was fairly pleased with but then 99th in PBR and 110th in main, not a disaster by any stretch but just “meh”. Several improving cards spoiled on game 5, sure everybody else could say the same though, and didn’t have any excellent cards going beyond game 3 at any point really.

Card really teaches you how good (or not) you are. It’s a difficult skill to be consistent on one machine playing it over and over, but then to be able to do it switching from game to game and on five games in a row is levels above!

The final in main was amazing, if you only have time to rewatch one game from the weekend then Timber and Alexandre’s games on Jaws were incredible. Alexandre’s ball 1 in particular was an almost shot-perfect masterclass.
 
I'm not a fan of card format at all, I appreciate it's purpose and why the IFPA consider it the best way to gauge skill. It's also great for prize money and can handle a lot of players.

But for most of us it's brutal. I don't like spending money to play a couple good games which then mean nothing when you have house balls or terrible games on others.

Yet if I play a cards I can easily find myself addicted...I put a lot of tickets in on classics and PBR because I got a few top scores on some games which drove me to keep trying to replicate those games on better cards. It's brutal and I'm just not good enough 🤣

I only did two cards on main, I'm not sure why, if it was the games, queues or because I was either at the front desk or scorekeeping.
 
I'm not a fan of card format at all, I appreciate it's purpose and why the IFPA consider it the best way to gauge skill. It's also great for prize money and can handle a lot of players.

But for most of us it's brutal. I don't like spending money to play a couple good games which then mean nothing when you have house balls or terrible games on others.

Yet if I play a cards I can easily find myself addicted...I put a lot of tickets in on classics and PBR because I got a few top scores on some games which drove me to keep trying to replicate those games on better cards. It's brutal and I'm just not good enough 🤣

I only did two cards on main, I'm not sure why, if it was the games, queues or because I was either at the front desk or scorekeeping.

Oh wow, didn't know you got any top scores! What games were they?? Can't believe you didn't mention it 😁
 
Great thread! I’m a total noob and it’s really intimidating for me, but I want to get better and it’s wonderful to hear you did it :)
 
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