To play or not to play??

I am looking for input from other cuemakers.

The cuemakers tournament is a charity event and is open to all cuemakers that are well established, even pro pool playing cuemakers like Bobby Hunter or Shawn Putnam. The winner gets the title of International 9 Ball Champion of Cuemakers.

Here is the dilemma.

I won the first tournament five years ago. Then lost out the next three years and won it again last year. Part of me says lay off a year since it is a charity event to make sure there is a new winner, but the other part of me says in order to keep the purity of the competition I should try my best to win it every year.

The pool player in me wants to become three time or more champion, but the charity part of me feels bad about winning a tournament that I started.

The pool player part of me thinks that everyone would love to be known to have dominated an event, but the charity part of me does not want to make it look like the tournament is self serving.

If I lay off it does not seem like a true competition, and if I play and get lucky and win again, will that be looked down on?

What do you guys think?

As far as the charity part goes the cuemakers have been awesome. One cuemaker donated $500 and did not even play. He just asked to play the winner a race to five for fun. Many doubled their entry fee to $100 just to help the children's home out. Many others donate without even playing or being a cuemaker. But as mentioned I don't want players to resent a Hightower winning it. My son also is a two time champion and David Rowell won it the 4th year. But I also want that trophy that says Cuemakers International 9-Ball Championship 1st place or second place to mean something to the winner, so I think I will go ahead and play. My son most likely will play if he goes with me. He knocked me out two years and John Rocker knocked me out the other year.
Thanks,
Chris

Mase said:

You gotta play Chris. Wouldn't be the same without you.

Click to expand...

Are you playing again this year?