Drama unfolded between Mickey Krause and Darren Appleton in the 49th US Open Championship second round after Krause completed a comeback from 8-4 down to win a hill-hill affair.
Former European Open champion Krause revealed post-match that Appleton was venting his frustrations towards him and accused him of slamming his cues during the contest.
“He started cursing at me because I was using Master chalk and I don’t really get why,” Krause told the World Nineball Tour. “He got a skid, he said it didn’t really look like one, but he missed the ball at 8-4 and I came back and won.
“It wasn’t the prettiest, I got two break and runs, and the very last break it was actually not a very good rack – the one ball came half a diamond too low. I played a good safety, he kicked at it and I ran out.
“He got really mad because of my chalk afterwards. He started throwing the cues and everything, started cursing at me saying, ‘You should be banned for using this chalk’.
“Why are you getting mad at me? I’m just using a chalk. If it’s such a big deal, why don’t you just give me another chalk? That was my thoughts at least and I said them to him.”
Appleton imminently responded and resolutely denied hurling his cues, explaining the reasoning behind his outburst due to that particular chalk leaving fragments scattered all over the table.
“At 8–4 I got a skid on the five ball, which was more or less match ball,” he began via social media. “I’m using Taom chalk and he was using Master, which leaves sh*t all over the cue ball and cloth.
“I honestly don’t know why some players still use it in the pro game. There were a few bad contacts in the match because of it, although the others didn’t cost me, apart from maybe the eight ball at 7–2.
“Anyway, from 8–5 I didn’t get another chance. He had a lot of luck on the break but that’s winner breaks, you get punished and there’s so much luck involved.
“What I’m not happy about though is the lies that come out of people’s mouths. Yes, I was upset with him for using Master chalk. I told him the chalk should be banned because it’s sh*t. He thought I meant him, but I told him, ‘No, not you, the chalk should be banned. It’s a f***ing joke – why use that sh*t?’
“Of course he can use whatever he wants. Maybe he does it to annoy players, like Ronnie [O’Sullivan] with the snooker.
“His interview afterwards was full of lies, but that’s the pool world. They like to exaggerate things as usual and make me look like the bad guy.
“And just to clear up another one… I did not throw my cues about – they never left my hands and that was another lie.”
