wlycdgr said:

I could well be wrong about his skill level, but I don't think his age alone should be a disqualifying factor. Another 14yo prodigy comes to mind - Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, the Turkish chess Grandmaster. He just finished on a plus score - ahead of the current world champion Gukesh D - in one of the strongest annual invitational chess tournaments, Tata Steel (https://www.chess.com/events/info/2026-tata-steel-chess).

Now, I know chess and pool aren't quite the same, but there are many similarities also (and, Yagiz is not the only example of a 15yo or younger player already thriving at or near the top level. Another is the 15yo American GM Andy Woodward, who won this year's B group (Challengers) at Tata Steel).

Yagiz's current FIDE chess rating, btw, would translate to something like 725-750 in Fargo terms. But he's competing successfully against players who are (in Fargo terms) 775-825+. Young players on an upward trajectory are often significantly underrated, so even if Hayden is not quite ready, I don't think we need to wait until he's 775+ as long as he keeps posting strong results and making progress.

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Flakeandrun said:

He's very popular in Asia, and especially China, and the market is already fixated on other things. He cannot meet the price needed to obtain a valid market share. It's the same with all the products he sells, right down to the chalk. Ding Jun Hui has the market there, so why bother. He comes to Asia to source product, not sell it, so that he can finish it to his liking and stick the necessary labels on in North America.

I'd say most players in Asia already aspire to have an Exceed or Zen cue (usually to accompany whatever BK/air rush colour is popular).
I'd say there are more players willing to spend on cues here in China than anywhere else. But what they want to buy, and the way the consumer economy works, is like an endless cycle of marketing and influencer nonsense.

Totally agree here, that's why he is aggressively targeting the North American consumer. "Made in your back garden" using a "magic process taught to me by the wood loving elders"
The profit margin for Predator is enormous, and here in China, where players have shiny new thing syndrome, some of the resellers are making big profit margin too on stupid colors of the same product rehashed over and over.

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JPB2 said:

Too much too soon IMO. 14-15 in mens’ competitions is really young and that stage is too crazy. IMO. I would put Meglino on it in his home state over some other players though. I do agree that if he’s 775-800 at 17-18 it might be good to do.

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