to me it looks like politics is back at the table over the enjoyment of fans (Mosconi and Reyes are all about fun for the fans).
instead of faulting the players, they should do a better job at planning the year and not overlapping events.
If I was at a level of a pro player, a world title would mean to me much more than some open event, both on a personal level and business levels.
AS sjm recounted on the Hanoi thread, the Mosconi and Reyes were patterned after the Ryder's Cup.
The Ryder's Cup also went through numerous changes over the years. Tons of changes, in fact. Most were geared to make the event more popular with players and fans.
More players, more wildcards, very late selections of the final wildcards. In fact, the last wildcards are typically picked a week before the event after a late qualifying event. Much like what is happening this year with the Reyes and Mosconi. The organizers want to keep fans in suspense and speculating.
Internal politics has also been involved. in the Ryder Cup. I know some don't like it, but it tends to gin up controversy and interest. Both are which are good for the bottom line of the event.
For most of its history, Ryder Cup participants were not paid. They do get a big stipend now and money to give to charity.
So why did/do players play? I am sure honor and prestige play a role, but the Ryder Cup makes big players even bigger, and can help turn lesser names into bigger names. That means more fans and followers and bigger marketing and advertising opportunities.
It can be a quite lucrative thing.
The Mosconi is no different. I would argue that success in the Mosconi is just as big, in marketing terms, as winning a "World" title. It's the most watched event in pool by players and fans.
Jayson Shaw, Niels Feijin and Skyler Woodward are among many players who developed big reps from their Mosconi play.
Take Duong Quoc Hoang. After last year's event, every WNT/WP pool aficionado now knows his name.
Aloysius Yapp, for his part, used his success in the Reyes last year to give him the confidence to catapult his career this year.
Pool players are guaranteed a certain amount of money by participation. And Matchroom foots the travel bills of the players, unlike with its "major" events.
Most pool players won't object to an all-expense paid trip, with a guaranteed payout, that gives them a chance to boost their profiles.
