Fedor hit the nail on the head, and it’s the part of the pool world people don’t talk about enough.
Tournament payouts haven’t kept pace with real-world expenses. Entry fees, travel, hotels, food, it adds up fast. If you’re not consistently finishing high, you’re essentially subsidizing your own competition. Even strong players can go to multiple events without cashing, especially on the global tournament trail where you're playing world beaters and unknown pool masters, and that P&L tilt toward losses gets steep quickly.
Someone like Finland's Aseni Sevastyanov can make the “live lean, chase events” model work better because of lifestyle flexibility. But most U.S.-based players are carrying a whole second financial life, rent or mortgage, insurance, taxes, whether they’re at the table or not. That’s the invisible pressure.
That said, there is a bright spot. I’m seeing more and more events happening right here in the U.S., which gives players of all levels a chance to stay active without constantly traveling across the globe. You may notice that Shane is getting more selective with which events he competes in.
There’s still prestige in competing on the big stage, no doubt. But prestige doesn’t pay the bills. Until payouts start reflecting today’s cost of living, more players are going to feel that squeeze, and it’s a conversation the sport needs to keep having.
