Thorpe blasts ‘one of the dumbest rules’ after becoming ineligible for USA Mosconi Cup team

I read his whole post on Facebook. Didn’t seem like severe criticism to me. I know he doesn’t like it and he’s not stoked about it, but these press releases need to stop making it seem like a bigger deal than it is.
That "absolute-pool" page is off their rocker. Over-exaggerate everything. Looking for hits. IDK who is behind them... if someone in the USA or maybe the Philippines?

Thorpe blasts ‘one of the dumbest rules’ after becoming ineligible for USA Mosconi Cup team

It's stupid IMO for a USA pro not to go to every single MR full production event, on home soil. MR has pumped millions into the game. Their production is like real TV, not a single camera steamer and a boring commentator. No one else is doing anything close. It's like spitting in their face to not go to a USA soil event.

MR is in the right here.

Hotels with pool tables

My father bought a hotel on fort Lauderdale Beach years ago I'm talking like the 50s. It actually had a for real billiard room two Brunswick tables nicely laid out chairs carpeting chandeliers. I guess was kind of a throwback to another time.

It's not where I first started playing but I just enjoy playing there. The only problem was, it was only about 100 yd from the ocean and it would get a little brutal in there sometimes even with the air conditioning which in the 50s wasn't the best.

I remember reading the hotel that Minnesota fats lived in had a billiard room in it that they had put in just for him. I wonder if it's still there?
Yes, he lived at the Hermitage 5 STAR Hotel in Nashville. The table was in the lobby and anyone could challenge him after he had his nightly steak dinner. Since he passed it has been removed but there is a display in his honor.

Turning Stone Classic XLII – $25,000 ADDED – Verona, NY – Sept 3 to Sept 6, 2026

My Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour's $25,000 Added Turning Stone Classic XLII 9-Ball Open is less than 3 weeks away. Once again, our event will be in Turning Stone's beautiful & spacious Event Center with free admission for all. There are no bad seats in the house. There will be a limited number free posters with all of the past winners listed and featuring 9 Time TS Classic champ "Eagle Eye" Jayson Shaw, Up and coming star "Hollywood" Moritz Neuhausen and reigning champ "Mr. Smooth" Johnny Morra. Turning Stone Resort Casino is a world class facility with everything we could ever need. Great accommodations, great food, sports bars, gaming and sports betting make for a great time while not watching the tournament. Check them out at http://www.turningstone.com .

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Thursday Sept 3 at 4pm, 6pm, 8pm & 10pm.

Friday Sept 4 at 10am, Noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm & 10pm.

Saturday Sept 5 at 10am, Noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm & 10pm.

Sunday Sept 6 at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm


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Mike Zuglan
Could we see photos of the cue?

Thorpe blasts ‘one of the dumbest rules’ after becoming ineligible for USA Mosconi Cup team

I'll write what I wrote on FB:

It’s your responsibility to know, you are a top pro and in position to be on the team every year. It’s the same as in the DCC. If a player WINS both the banks and one hole, but doesn’t enter the 9 ball, he’s ineligible for the Master Of The Table .

How can Yuma be a bad financial decision but Vietnam and Bali be a good one? That one doesn’t pass the sniff test.

MR is also not “forcing” anyone to play every (or a specific) event. Or penalizing for playing in a competing event. They are not banning pros from all of their events as the WPA was 2 years ago. They are instead saying “if you don’t show up to our big Open events, don’t expect to play on our year end invitational event”. That’s reasonable.

The WPA was saying “if you play in a single MR event, you can never play in ANY WPA event again”. 2 different worlds there.

Thorpe blasts ‘one of the dumbest rules’ after becoming ineligible for USA Mosconi Cup team

In the best-case scenario, the qualification criteria would be spelled out in a player contract. While early dissemination of the qualification criteria is, of course, preferred, I think having the players up to speed on the qualification criteria prior to the first WNT major is far more important than having the fans up to speed.
If fans also knew the rules, players would more likely know them, too. Making this stuff public means more awareness broadly.

How hard is it to publish qualification rules? Every other major pro sport does it.
PS The PLP and WPM must not be factored into Mosconi or Reyes Cup qualification, because the WNT pros do not have equal access to these events.
Agreed.

Thorpe blasts ‘one of the dumbest rules’ after becoming ineligible for USA Mosconi Cup team

Matchroom has every right to institute a minimum attendance rule, but I think it should be more lenient given the cost of global travel and modest prize funds. You have to attend at least two majors and X number of ranking events.

Ultimately a player isn't going to get on the Mosconi or Reyes if they don't accumulate enough points anyway.

Still, the previous rules, and the current ones, could backfire. That's what happened last year.

SVB and Filler were omitted from the Reyes Cup in 2025, with an out-of-form Skyler Woodward taking Van Boening's place. Fiasco.

The rule in 2025 supposedly required participation in the final "major" before the Reyes - the Hanoi Open. Both SVB and Filler missed it for a competing Predator/WPA event in Asia.

In 2024, the rule seemed to be a player had to play in almost all, or all, majors.

The PLP and WPM, by the way, don't appear to factor into Mosconi qualification.

Going forward, WNT best be careful. There may be a case in which five U.S.-based players don't even meet current rules.

The PLP and WPM, by the way, don't appear to factor into Mosconi or Reyes qualification.
In the best-case scenario, the qualification criteria would be spelled out in a player contract. While early dissemination of the qualification criteria is, of course, preferred, I think having the players up to speed on the qualification criteria prior to the first WNT major is far more important than having the fans up to speed.

PS The PLP and WPM must not be factored into Mosconi or Reyes Cup qualification, because the WNT pros do not have equal access to these events. Counting these would bring additional politics. with which we can do without, into the qualification formula.

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