Regional Player Makes His Mark at the Open
We all know the big names in pool and what they can do. And it’s always fun to follow the top player’s somewhat predictable progress across the charts into the later rounds of the Open.  But it is also fascinating to follow the progress of lesser-known players, especially those in which you have a rooting interest, as they move up the list of finishers in what, for them, must be classified as a breakthrough performance. So when Neil Fujiwara, a friend from Southern California who now lives in Florida, told me he would be playing in the Open, I was eager to follow his progress. Neil is a fine player who has recorded a number of impressive finishes in regional events with quality fields. Nevertheless, I was still pleasantly surprised to see him move to the right on the winners side all of the way to the fifth round before losing to Scott Frost (who finished 9-12), 11-8. Along the way, Neil beat Ronnie Alcano, an up and coming Philippino who recorded wins over several big name players on his way to a 7-8 placing. After a double hill win over Edwin Montal on the loser’s side, Neil’s run ended at the hands of Alex Pagulayan, who beat him 11-6 on his was to the runner-up position.

Interview with Neil Fujiwara by Phil Capelle
C: How long have you been playing pool?
F: Since I was about 16, so almost 13 years.

C: How did you get started?
F: I used to hang around a bowling alley that had pool tables. After I would get tired of bowling, I would shoot pool.  Pretty soon I was going there just to shoot pool, not bowl.

C: What do you like most about the game?
F: I was a late bloomer, small for my age, there were no link between how well you can play pool and your physique. It was something that I picked up pretty quickly so I stuck with it. I have never had any other hobbies other than pool, except for cars, but I think most men have that in their blood.

C: When exactly did you move to Florida?
F: The first day that I was in Florida was September 11th, 2001, the date of the terrorist attacks.

C: That certainly was an incredible coincidence. Is that about when you started using a Predator Cue?
F: I had tried using Predator shafts before I moved in 9/2001, but no one ever told me what to expect from the shaft. So after experimenting with it on a slight level, missing everything, I put it down, and didn't pick it up again till I learned how to use it when I joined the Predator staff.

C: Has it made a difference in your game? How?
F: Huge difference in my game from early 2001 to now. I am more confident since I know where my cue ball is going and knowing that it will get there consistently. My entire attitude has changed about the game, I am more into it and am trying to learn as much as possible.

C: Were you using their break cue at the tournament?
F: Yes I was. I was also using one of their playing cues, the Predator 2. Breaking with the break cue gives you the confidence to hit the rack and not worry about the cue ball jumping off of the table if you hit it bad, it is more forgiving.

C: Were you breaking at full speed of taking something off?
F: I have never played a tournament using the Sardo tight rack, so I started off breaking hard. Eventually I started breaking from the side rail at about 40-50% power, hitting a little more than half of the one. The one ball or the corner ball was going in about 80% of the time.

C: Was this your first U.S. Open?
F: Yes it was.  Before I started working for Predator, I had never even heard of the U.S. Open, much less entered it. The fact that the company is willing to let me play in an event like this and supporting me throughout the experience was a huge moral booster.

C: How did you prepare for the open?
F: I didn't play a whole lot, but if I did I played at work.  We have the only Diamond table in Jacksonville I believe. Mostly the preparation was mental, just focusing on what I was doing, going over my pre-shot routine, making my mental game solid.

C: What were you expectations going in to the event?
F:   I really didn't have any, I went in with my eyes wide open. I knew there were going to be a lot of big guns and a lot of good pool shooting, and I wasn't disappointed.

C:  Why do you feel you did so well?
F: I will be the first to tell you I got a favorable draw, I didn't play any big names till I played Ronnie Alcano in the 4th round. I didn't play as well as I had hoped I would, so I am a little disappointed, anyone that has seen me play know that I wasn't playing at my top game. But in the overall picture, I am happy with how I placed, I just hope to do better next year.

C: How was it playing in front of a U.S. Open crowd?
F: Concentration in front of a crowd like that is hard, you hear everything  and everyone. I was nervous in every match, but settled down in a couple of them, I was just trying to play the table, not the crowd or my opponent.

C: Did you have any family of friends in the audience?
F: I brought my girlfriend with me, so she was there every match. There was a big crowd from Jacksonville that went up there, so they were there most of my matches. A couple of people from work even drove up to watch me play on the weekend, it's amazing at how much support I received. I am really touched at the level which people encouraged me and rooted me on, friends
and strangers alike. Some matches I would receive applause for winning a game while my opponent would win a game and the crowd remained silent.

C: You prevailed in a double hill match against Ronnie Alcano, who has been billed as the next superstar from the Philippines. How did you win that final game? What were you thinking?
F: He tried to play a safety on the 2 ball, and didn't hook me, so I played the 3 ball for the side pocket. I rolled too far to shoot the 3 ball straight in the side. I could either cut it in the side or the corner, but the nine was close to the 3, and playing position on the runout looked just as hard as
the combination, so I chose the game winning hard shot. All I could think of was: keep your head down and be smooth. Most people jump up and down or pump their fist when they win; all I could do is smile this goofy grin.

C: Did you catch up, or have the lead and lose it prior to the final game?
F: I was down 1-7 in that match, I had missed several easy shots early in that match to get myself in trouble. I was taking the heat really badly. That is what happens when you play your opponent, I let HIM get to me, also it was getting deeper into the tournament, so the pressure was building with each match.

C: What other moments stand out from your matches?
F: Beating Edwin Montal after losing to Scott Frost was a little breakthrough for me. I have played well in tournaments before, lost to a good player, then lost again immediately in my next match.  Your mindset is so bleak after your first loss. Beating Edwin was a huge mental battle for me, talking to myself for motivation, and anyone who has seen me play knows that I don't say much during a match, especially to myself.

C: How do you feel about you overall performance?
F: I could have played better, and next year I will. For my first Open, I am okay with how I performed, it gives me a basis on what to work on to compete at a national level.

C: What parts of your game were strong?
F: I was thinking okay, most of the time under pressure. I can't think of the right thing to do and end up shooting a low percentage shot. I took my time and looked at my options, weighed them out and chose the best one, I was happy with that part of my game.

C: What areas could you improve upon?
F: My speed control was not as good as I had hoped. The tables and cloth were brand new, and they used this spray to keep the tables clean, which kept the bed of the table fast. I think everyone was having a little difficulty with the speed of the tables.

C: What lessons did you learn?
F: I need to bring up my level of play to compete on a national level.  The only time I compete is once a week at a local tournament and that does not cut it. The people I am playing against, this is their profession, their job, so they are under this type of pressure and situation all the time,  they are going to perform closer to their top game than I will.

C: What does this kind of performance do for your confidence?
F: People treat me differently now.  It's funny, but that makes me realize that I do have a solid game and can compete at a professional level. I am more confident now, and I also know where I have to take my game, so that gives me more drive when I play. The more I concentrate on getting better, the more confident I am since I know I am performing as close to peak as
possible.

C: Did you meet some of your favorite players and get a chance to pick their brains?
F: I am kind of shy and I don't like bugging people, so I didn't introduce myself to many players. 

C: Are you planning to play in other pro events and are you going to return to the Open next year?
F: I work full time, so I don't plan on playing any events unless they are in my region and don't have to take too much time off of work. I am making plans to play in the Open again next year though, but I don't know if I am. I really wish that I could, since I feel that with more exposure, I could really take my game to the next level.

An Incredible Display of Sportsmanship
Capelle: You were the beneficiary of an unusual display of sportsmanship by young Nick Schulman. Could you tell us about it? 
Fujiwara: Nick Schulman has a lot of heart and integrity. I played him at the U.S. Open, the score was 9-10, his favor, and he has me on 2 fouls. He locks me up behind a ball, and calls no rail on himself! I was not watching the shot since it would be hard for him not to hit a rail and hook me like he did. I walked up to the table thinking he had hit a rail, but he did not move away from the table. I stopped to look at him since he was sort of in my way, and he said, " I don't think I hit a rail.” I was puzzled, but told him that I was not watching so I could not make that call. Since no one was close enough to call it, and they should not since it is not their match, I left the call to him. After a minute or two of contemplating over what happened, he picked up the ball and gave it to me saying, " I don't think I hit a rail." 
     I don't know very many pool players in that situation that would make that type of call on themselves. I think if everyone would act in this manner, the sport would be much better off. I hope he is reading this as there was nothing I could say at the time that wouldn't sound cheesy. 
     Please believe me that he plays very well and has a good head on his shoulders. He played safe when he needed to, and pocketed balls very cleanly. 
     If this is what today's new generation of pool players is all about, then we have no problems with the future of pool. 

The Opposition
You perhaps are familiar with the logic that goes like this: If Player A (Fujiwara in this case) beat Player B (for example, Alcano), and Player B beat Player C (McCready), then Player A must be better than Player C. Even though that certainly does not necessarily always hold true in pool, it is still interesting to look at the victims of the people Fujiwara played as a measure of his performance. In other words, if Fujiwara was able to beat Ronnie Alcano, who had such an impressive roster of victims, then he must have been playing quite well.

Fujiwara beat:
Nick Schulman, who beat Ismael Paez (11-10), a runner-up in the 2000 World Championships. Nick’s an 18-year-old New Yorker who recently ran 147 in 14.1.
Ronnie Alcano, who beat Keith McCready (11-5), Buddy Hall (11-3),Shannon Daulton (11-7), Allen Hopkins (11-6) and Scott Frost (11-5), and who lost a double hill match to Alex Pagulayan.  The next Efren Reyes?
Edwin Montal, who beat Ramil Gallego (11-10) and David Grossman (11-8).

Neil Fujiwara  Finished   13-16 

Games Won 69 - Games Lost 58  

54.3%