EUROPEAN OPEN 2026, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 10-15

Well, one approach is for Pongers to get the ref together with Marcel and explain exactly what he did, and ask what the foul was. I suspect that the ref who made the call was using a snooker or carom rule. In both of those games, the shot would have been a foul. English 8-ball is the same.

Yes, I agree. But maybe they interpret their rules such that with a Table Referee you can’t call the head referee even for that purpose. I would hate that (and it’s not consistent with snooker which often influences Matchroom, where I’ve seen the more senior ref be called when there was a rules question).

Push shot foul?

Legal shot.

WPA 3-7:

If the cue-stick contacts the cue-ball more than once on a shot, the shot is a foul. If the
cue-ball is close to but not touching an object-ball and the cue tip is still on the cue-ball when the cue-ball contacts that object-ball, the shot is a foul. If the cue-ball is very close to an object-ball, and the shooter barely grazes that object-ball on the shot, the shot is
assumed not to violate the first paragraph of this rule, even though the tip is arguably still on the cue-ball when ball-ball contact is made.

However, if the cue-ball is touching an object-ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball (provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if the object-ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have been contacted by the cue-ball. (Even though it may be legal to shoot towards such a touching or “frozen” ball, care must be taken not to violate the rules in the first paragraph if there are additional balls close by.)



I don’t see anything in the WNT rules which would override the WPA rule.

EUROPEAN OPEN 2026, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 10-15

Pongers called over the ref and he said something after inspecting the balls. I have to assume he called it frozen or Pongers wouldn’t have shot through the balls.

If so, shouldn’t be a foul (nothing in the WNT Rules overrule the WPA rule on this). My only guess as to Marcel is that he might have said he can’t overrule the referee. WNT rules say:

“If Table Referees are in charge of the matches, there shall be no right for either player to ask for a second opinion; the referees are in sole charge of the matches and their decision is final”.
Well, one approach is for Pongers to get the ref together with Marcel and explain exactly what he did, and ask what the foul was. I suspect that the ref who made the call was using a snooker or carom rule. In both of those games, the shot would have been a foul. English 8-ball is the same.

EUROPEAN OPEN 2026, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 10-15

isn't VNEA an amateur league? i know he doesn't do buffalos often but the way he plays 1p now, he's a top 3 favorite. and if this war bs continues to affect the asian players travelling, he should like his chances in UK too
Perhaps SVB is tiring of Matchroom's politics. I'm sure his banishment from the Reyes Cup in 2025 (guaranteed five-digit pay day), a punishment normally reserved for Filler, didn't sit well with him.

It was monopolistic behavior by Matchroom in the wake of the May 2025 reconciliation between WPA and Matchroom, in which WPA pledged not to ban WNT players from its events just because they participated in WNT events. WPA has lived up to that pledge so far, but Matchroom has persisted with its severe ways. Thankfully, they did an about face and allowed both Josh and Shane to play at the Mosconi.

WNT's willingness to play hardball with its biggest stars can possibly come with a price. As a big fan of WNT, I hope it doesn't work out that way. but loyalty is a two-way street, and unless vindictive politics are to go by the wayside, loyalties may be tested yet again in 2026. Right now, Fedor and Josh ARE the WNT. I'll be watching very attentively how Matchroom treats their two superstars this year. As long as these two living legends are the cornerstones of the WNT, I'll a) keep attending WNT events, b) keep buying lots of WNT logo merchandise, and c) keep watching WNT events with my fullest enthusiasm when I cannot attend.

One thing is for sure. Matchroom, an enduring credit to pro pool, deserves a lot better than they got in Sarajevo this week. Yes, the finances of the event producers matter a lot to me, and the fortunes of the players are inextricably tied to those of the event producers. Yes, Asian players may be handtied because of travel issues even in May, but if the American-based players sit the event out the way they sat out the European Open, it will be very discouraging.

Yes, Matchroom deserves better!

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