The main thing I would fault Matchroom for is not publicizing its rules for Mosconi qualification. Players AND fans should be able to see what the rules are in writing, especially since they appear to have changed a few times in the past few years.

Before Thorpe's post, the rumored rule was that a player had to attend at least two Matchroom majors. Now it seems the rule is a player can't miss more than two major WNT events.

If that's true, Thorpe would have had to attend the Arizona Open and the upcoming Philippines Open to quality. He's right - it's costly for him to attend both. It also would have been costly to play in either the UK or European Open earlier in the year.

If Bergman goes to the Philippines, as he has stated, he would qualify. Woodward will also have to go to the Philippines Open if the Matchroom requirement is as Thorpe stated. Woodward also missed both majors in Europe.

jay helfert said:

Is Eddie Robin still alive?

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as far as i know yes.

back then with slow cloth and no air conditioning. it was a big deal to average one.

when i first played on a heated table with fast cloth and cleaned balls i couldnt believe how easy it was to get 5 rails or more.

boogeyman said:

play and MAKE MONEY

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When the money doesn't cover the nut.
Semi Pro is an answer. Shrug
Ages ago 120,000 was the cost to stay on the golf tour.

easy-e said:

I agree. But all I see today on Facebook is “Billy severely criticized…” or “Billy blasts WNT…”

He was very professional and PC with his post. How about something like “Billy ignored his emails and disqualifies himself from the cup”?

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Yeah that seems to be what happened.
Pool isn't changing anytime soon. He must be more focused on whatever he
is doing for gainful employment.

bbb said:

any thoughts on why?

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The weight of the cue ball.

I have seen a pool table in a hotel a couple of times. One in St. Louis and I think the other one was in either Kentucky or Indiana.

Not sure it's good for Team USA, but it is for Europe. Great player, great teacher, great guy.

That said, Feijen is also the meanest-looking nice guy I've ever encountered. When he's playing, that is. (-:

The Niels choice is a very solid one. The BCA Hall of Famer has had a career lasting nearly 30 years and is a legendary figure of European Pool. He is a World 9ball Champion, a World 14.1 Champion and has countless Euro-tour titles. He has played on Team Europe at the Mosconi Cup many, many times and is a multiple-time Mosconi MVP. In addition, Niels always conducts himself admirably in the arena.

In the late 1990's, at American events, the only five Europeans you saw more than occasionally were Oliver Ortmann, Ralf Souquet, Alex Lely, Niels Feijen, and Marcus Chamat. By end of 2026, four of them will have been either a Mosconi Cup or Reyes Cup coach. Makes sense.

HawaiianEye said:

cue ball that I couldn't draw

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I've started messing up trying to draw, lately. When I first started trying, I couldn't draw well either. I've started "scooping" the cb. Then next time, I might draw half the table. Then another jump. I do keep my cue chalked so it's not that. Just not as consistent as I know I could be.

After reading Thorpe's post, I feel he knows erred, and merely wants to be human and lessen the pain by calling it "one of the dumbest rules."

However, it's not dumb at all.... the WNT provides our great players an opportunity to play and MAKE MONEY. It's structure is clear and it's website is relatively comprehensive. Information a player needs to stay abreast is available.

I don't think I have heard anyone complain about the WNT format until I read Thorpe's post.
I think WNT has it right so far. If players and fans alike wish to enjoy pool's seemingly watershed moment, we have a responsibility to stay informed.
There are only two ways for this to happen: 1) share information with each other and 2) READ!

mr3cushion said:

Don't let me stop You!

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Never!!

Wayben said:

View attachment 929152

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I think this one is in here like 5 times. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I've read every single post in this thread...

I've sometimes not come to the forum for a year or more, I don't want to even think about how long at times, it has taken me to catch up.

SA96 said:

I forgot about the Phillipines Open.

If Bergman misses that, he is excluded?

I can't see Bergman travelling to Asia lol.

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He has already announced that's he's headed for Asia.

I forgot about the Phillipines Open.

If Bergman misses that, he is excluded?

I can't see Bergman travelling to Asia lol.

Bump

Of course, this is a shame for Billy, and he can call it as he sees it, but I'll back Matchroom on this one.

The lucrative free rolls (high added money, no entry fee) that come with the Matchroom Invitational events SHOULD be a reward for those that have shown the most loyalty to the WNT Tour. No, it is not a dumb rule but a smart one if it will be applied uniformly across all the Matchroom invitational events (Mosconi, PLP, WPM, Reyes Cup).

This explains why Bergman, who has shunned travel for his entire career, must head to Asia. He missed the European Open and the UK Open, so missing the Philippines Open, a major per the WNT website, would make him ineligible. I applaud him for making the trip.

All of this said, with the upcoming Reyes Cup, January's rebirth of the World Pool Masters, and February's Premier League Pool, unless Matchroom applies the same rigorous standard for eligibility, it would be hypocritical and this policy will look arbitrary. Either the "free roll" events require loyalty to the tour (as defined by no more than two majors missed) or they do not. On this, I'll reserve judgment.