Well, below is an email that came across my desk not long ago. It seems the heavy handed approach the WPA takes to pool promoters is continuing with no signs of abatement...
To me this is kind of a shame, because the only people who are really being hurt here are pool players, and that's who the WPA supposedly represent. The C8B event will likely still go forward with a field made up of Chinese players, British snooker players (including I suspect many of the top ranked ones), and players who specialize in C8B and rarely play the other pool games, none of whom would fall under the WPA's jurisdiction, and will likely be just as successful for the promoters as such. Players who could do well in the event though, including some of pool's top players, could be prevented in earning a good amount of prize money by the very organization that is supposed to represent their interests.
Also, noteworthy is that even though this event is played on essentially small snooker tables, it's still a pool event in mainland China, which has previously primarily been a snooker nation. It's also the worlds largest TV market. For me it's hard to see why trying to prevent this event from being a success helps pool in any way.
It's also very unclear as to exactly what the WPA is bringing to the table in terms of value for their 'sanctioning fee'. One would think that if the value was there they wouldn't have to resort to what, to me at lest, looks like extortion to get the C8B people to pay it.
Thoughts?
From: Ian Anderson [mailto:ian.wpa@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2016 11:42 PM
To: xxx
Subject: Chinese 8-Ball Yushan
Dear All
Please be advised that Board of Directors has informed the CBSA that the WPA will not be associated with their proposed “Chinese Billiards” event that is being planned for March this year in Yushan, China. This decision came about because of the refusal of CBSA to have the event sanctioned by the WPA, in fact they won’t even discuss the matter. It seems that CBSA believe they have the authority to conduct a world championship event without approval of the world governing body. As the event is being billed as a world championship, you are obliged to restrain your members from participating. I have included in my letter to CBSA that they should not approach any of your player members direct. I can’t guarantee of course they will take any notice of that.
If any of your players were to participate, it would only help devalue our other genuine world championships and ultimately they would be doing the wrong thing by themselves and their colleagues who did the right thing and not play. The Board is discussing penalties against players who do participate. This matter will be high priority at our meeting in Frankfurt. If you wish to write to CBSA and express your disappointment with their intent and confirm that your association will be blocking its players, then by all means do so. It may help bring them to their senses and bring about a quick solution to the issue. The email address for CBSA is xxxxxxxx For your understanding, “Chinese Billiards” is a game of 8-Ball and is the same game that is often referred to as "Chinese 8-Ball”.
Thank you - Ian Anderson
To me this is kind of a shame, because the only people who are really being hurt here are pool players, and that's who the WPA supposedly represent. The C8B event will likely still go forward with a field made up of Chinese players, British snooker players (including I suspect many of the top ranked ones), and players who specialize in C8B and rarely play the other pool games, none of whom would fall under the WPA's jurisdiction, and will likely be just as successful for the promoters as such. Players who could do well in the event though, including some of pool's top players, could be prevented in earning a good amount of prize money by the very organization that is supposed to represent their interests.
Also, noteworthy is that even though this event is played on essentially small snooker tables, it's still a pool event in mainland China, which has previously primarily been a snooker nation. It's also the worlds largest TV market. For me it's hard to see why trying to prevent this event from being a success helps pool in any way.
It's also very unclear as to exactly what the WPA is bringing to the table in terms of value for their 'sanctioning fee'. One would think that if the value was there they wouldn't have to resort to what, to me at lest, looks like extortion to get the C8B people to pay it.
Thoughts?