If Frost really becomes captain, and picks Bergman for the hell of it, he should get fired on the spot. Now, if Bergman competes at every stop and does really well, but just misses the automatic picks, I'd be fine with Frost picking him. But if he stays home all season like he has the past 10 years and Frost picks him, the first sentence stands.

Since this is looking like it's turning into another Mosconi cup thread.... my updated picks, half joking, half serious:

Coach: Parica (I believe he's been an American citizen for 30 years?)

Shane
Thorston (now an American citizen)
Oscar
Lucas
Hayden

sneakynito said:

Hi All,
I've got two days in the UK coming up and want to catch the first part of the Sportsbet.io tour championship at Manchester Central.
Getting to see a live snooker tourney has been on my list for a long time so very stoked, but also don't know what to expect.

I see for tickets i can get reserved all day seating, or there are options for standard all day admission.
I'm only going to be there the first two days, so any recommendations on one or the other? Figured it might not be too crowded those days, and would like to be able to move from table to table depending on what matches were on.
If i get reserved seating can I still move around if i want?

Also notice there's morning and evening sessions but doesn't list times. Can i spend the whole day there or is there a break in between?

Any other suggestions to make the most of my time?

Also would love to play and grab a pint if anyone else is in the area.

Cheers

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Ask in the Snooker forum and someone can probably provide more info then this.

jasonlaus said:

Not part of "tour"

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Doesn’t matter. See SJM’s answer. Him not showing up means he’s not serious.

garczar said:

Faster doesn't bother me. Tightening the living shit out of pool tables does. Only makes the game harder, not better.

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Making the game harder, is making the players better.
Wide pockets will allow you to "cheat" the pockets on purpose but also allow you to "miss" and still make the ball.
The tight pockets reveal the flaws in the players aim and stroke and requires him to be better.
Taking the ability to cheat the pocket or at least reducing it, is not hurting the game, it's elevating it.
The game has changes many times from the days it was invented. Either you move forward or get stuck in the past.

And yes, player are more cautious and play more defense but the level of defense play has gone up as well as just hiding is not enough with the modern jump cue and how well today's players jump.

Overall, the average pro player today would have beaten the average pool player of 30 years ago easily (no need to try and find the exception, we all know they're out there)

Something to consider, most players that have an issue with the tables are amateurs that these conditions do not apply to them that usually shoot on 5 inch bar boxes (toy tables) and old farts that blame the table for their inability to hit the target...
Pros don't complain about it. They understand that the conditions are even for all and if you want to win, you just have to be better!

Kris_b1104 said:

I don't mind him not playing at Derby, because it wouldn't earn him any ranking points towards Mosconi Cup.

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If Bergman has Mosconi aspirations, which is not verified, I mind it.

If he were serious about returning to his 9ball form of a decade ago, Derby City, played only about 250 miles from his hometown of St Louis, was the logical starting point. It has nothing to do with WNT ranking points as he will not contend for an automatic berth on Team USA. I respect his decision but, unless the fix is in, and the Team USA captain plans to offer him a spot that he has not earned, he needs to get busy competing at 9ball.

If we are going to go with a part time player, Meglino (9th at the WNT Florida Open and 3rd at the Derby City 9ball) has a resume that is leaps and bounds above Bergman at 9ball.