Mosconi Cup 2012, No Points Qualifiers for US Team, Favoritism?

billiardchick7

billiardchick7

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
According to rumors, the US Team will not be chosen this year by the Top Five Finishers from Qualifying Tournaments, but will INSTEAD by selected by someone(s) involved in the Mosconi Cup. If anyone knows the truth on this, will they please reply?
After seeing the article which states that only the top 2 players from European qualifiers will make the European Mosconi Team, I think there may be some truth to the rumor regarding the US Team selection.
http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=9660
If true, I think it shows extreme favoritism in the pool world. It seems to me that a few chosen players are getting all the sponsorships, all the favoritism/support from tournament directors, and thus winning a majority of the events. I'm not saying that these guys don't work hard on their game, but when the pool industry (sponsors and tournament directors/planners) favor just a few choice players and put all their money and support behind them, what do you think this will do for the already pitiful state of the pool world?
 
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svb

billiardchick7 said:
according to rumors, the us team will not be chosen this year by the top five finishers from qualifying tournaments, but will instead by selected by someone(s) involved in the mosconi cup. If anyone knows the truth on this, will they please reply?
After seeing the article which states that only the top 2 players from european qualifiers will make the european mosconi team, i think there may be some truth to the rumor regarding the us team selection.
http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=9660
if true, i think it shows extreme favoritism in the pool world. It seems to me that a few chosen players are getting all the sponsorships, all the favoritism/support from tournament directors, and thus winning a majority of the events. I'm not saying that these guys don't work hard on their game, but when the pool industry (sponsors and tournament directors/planners) favor just a few choice players and put all their money and support behind them, what do you think this will do for the already pitiful state of the pool world?
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make svb the leader and he can pick his captain and his teammates...only he truely knows whom can compete with him
 
billiardchick7 said:
According to rumors, the US Team will not be chosen this year by the Top Five Finishers from Qualifying Tournaments, but will INSTEAD by selected by someone(s) involved in the Mosconi Cup. If anyone knows the truth on this, will they please reply?
After seeing the article which states that only the top 2 players from European qualifiers will make the European Mosconi Team, I think there may be some truth to the rumor regarding the US Team selection.
http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=9660
If true, I think it shows extreme favoritism in the pool world. It seems to me that a few chosen players are getting all the sponsorships, all the favoritism/support from tournament directors, and thus winning a majority of the events. I'm not saying that these guys don't work hard on their game, but when the pool industry (sponsors and tournament directors/planners) favor just a few choice players and put all their money and support behind them, what do you think this will do for the already pitiful state of the pool world?
Click to expand...

It isn't that big of a surprise they would change the European's amount of automatic qualifiers based on points given how many aren't playing in as many Euro Tour events. Mika, Hohmann, and Souquet didn't even play in the opening points event in Treviso.

The US players center more around the US events. They already dropped the international events from counting in the points last year as almost no one attends. Would assume they will do the same this year, although what will they do without the two Seminole events.
 
Maybe they switched it this year because of the blatant point dumping for one of the players.

Good for matchroom sports.
 
D_Lewis said:
Maybe they switched it this year because of the blatant point dumping for one of the players.

Good for matchroom sports.
Click to expand...
Point Dumping?? Who do you think was dumping? I have not heard this before and I really don't beleve that happened. However if you have some info, I would love to hear what you have.
 
OPQ said:
Make Varner the captain and let him pick his team.
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More likely it will be Charlie as captain and he will be picking the ABP team to compete against team Europe.

I can see this decision having the stink of Charlie and the ABP all over it. It is also completely idiotic to have one faction decided by multiple points systems and the other team decided by entirely different criteria. The USA can go to the same world events the Europe team uses for some of their points. The events like the Derby, the US Open 9-ball, the US Open 10-ball, ect.. are plenty for the points.
 
Celtic said:
More likely it will be Charlie as captain and he will be picking the ABP team to compete against team Europe.

I can see this decision having the stink of Charlie and the ABP all over it. It is also completely idiotic to have one faction decided by multiple points systems and the other team decided by entirely different criteria. The USA can go to the same world events the Europe team uses for some of their points. The events like the Derby, the US Open 9-ball, the US Open 10-ball, ect.. are plenty for the points.
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^^^^^ this ^^^^^
 
I had never heard of points dumping either, but I did think after the past year's controversy just with their choice of US Team Captain that them getting to pick the whole team seemed crazy and unfair. Also, what incentive does that give these players to compete in all of the events to try to make it to the top of the list? Unless they are getting sponsorships to go to everything, it is just too darn expensive to try to make it to all the big events especially when there is no dangling carrot in front of possibly playing good enough to get a spot in the Mosconi Cup.
 
bfdlad said:
Point Dumping?? Who do you think was dumping? I have not heard this before and I really don't beleve that happened. However if you have some info, I would love to hear what you have.
Click to expand...

It happened.

Check the stats of the qualifying events.
 
Its no conspiracy. Now that the Seminole events are gone, there are too few US points events to be meaningful. Something had to change.
 
It's a Matchroom made-up event, not some sort of World Championship that is going to be by invitation only. They can invite whoever they want. And especially on the US side, there really are not enough viable tournaments to establish a real good points type qualifying process.

But a change like this could have some ramifications. The Mosconi Cup has become something of a big deal. Should Matchroom's picks not coincide with who the fans think are the most qualified, there may be some backlash. It seems to me they are just opening themselves up to the inevitable criticism that will surely come from those that disagree with one or more of their picks. And if enough fans feel the best teams aren't being picked, the event may lose some of its stature. The points system sort of saved them from a lot of that, especially this past year when they used their picks to put the next players on the points list on the teams.

As far as players not entering certain tournaments because they are no longer points events, I don't know. It is these events that have the bigger pay days anyway and a player will still need to compete in the bigger events (and do well) to get the attention of Matchroom's "Pick Committee".

That said, I still like the idea of players earning their spots through a predetermined qualifying process.
 
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DogsPlayingPool said:
It's a Matchroom made-up event, not some sort of World Championship that is going to be by invitation only. They can invite whoever they want. And especially on the US side, there really are not enough viable tournaments to establish a real good points type qualifying process.

But a change like this could have some ramifications. The Mosconi Cup has become something of a big deal. Should Matchroom's picks not coincide with who the fans think are the most qualified, there may be some backlash. It seems to me they are just opening themselves up to the inevitable criticism that will surely come from those that disagree with one or more of their picks. And if enough fans feel the best teams aren't being picked, the event may lose some of its stature. The points system sort of saved them from a lot of that, especially this past year when they used their picks to put the next players on the points list on the teams.

As far as players not entering certain tournaments because they are no longer points events, I don't know. It is these events that have the bigger pay days anyway and a player will still need to compete in the bigger events (and do well) to get the attention of Matchroom's "Pick Committee".

That said, I still like the idea of players earning their spots through a predetermined qualifying process.
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Absolutely agreed. Being part of the US Team on the Mosconi Cup seems like a prestigious honor to me, and I liked that the team "earned" their way there. I think once it is just picked by some committee, it does lose some of the prestige.
 
I can easily pick our team. Let's see, there's Shane Van Boening and ............. hmmmm, let's see, Shane and ............. well, how about Shane and .............???
Okay, let's just let Shane take on Europe! ;)
 
Hell....

jay helfert said:
I can easily pick our team. Let's see, there's Shane Van Boening and ............. hmmmm, let's see, Shane and ............. well, how about Shane and .............???
Okay, let's just let Shane take on Europe! ;)
Click to expand...

Let's let Shane take on the world!!!!

Jaden
 
jay helfert said:
I can easily pick our team. Let's see, there's Shane Van Boening and ............. hmmmm, let's see, Shane and ............. well, how about Shane and .............???
Okay, let's just let Shane take on Europe! ;)
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They'll pick the players that have performed in the Mosconi Cup in the past.

Unfortunately its a small list.

SVB
Archer
Hatch
Morris
Duel

Strickland has far too much baggage to be considered.

In the past, for example, Deschaine only won 1 from 4
Putnam 0 from 4.
Domingez 2 from 5
Jeremy Jones 1 from 4

You do need a rookie otherwise there will never be any new talent. Maybe someone else will emerge in the coming months.

The lack of top line tournaments this year will now make that hard unless they can get overseas and win or do well.

Maybe Deschaine needs another chance since he looked good under pressure and probably didn't get the rolls that his Euro opponents got.

Just my opinion.
 
jay helfert said:
I can easily pick our team. Let's see, there's Shane Van Boening and ............. hmmmm, let's see, Shane and ............. well, how about Shane and .............???
Okay, let's just let Shane take on Europe! ;)
Click to expand...

Well, exactly. He would definitely end up on the team whether it is done by points are not, but what about the rest of the team...? The Matchroom folks just pick their favorites I guess. It's their tournament, so they obviously can do what they want, but COME ON! At least there was so competition doing it by points. I don't buy that a few Seminole tournaments are gone, so there are not enough events in the whole year to do it by points. Really..!?!?!?! Not enough big tournaments in the whole year to be able to select some events to let the pros earn points to make the team?!?!
 
don't listen to rumours

30th January

2012 American Mosconi Cup Ranking Announced



HAVING LOST the last two Mosconi Cups, America will be looking to get back on track at the York Hall this December, and with that Matchroom Sport can announce the selection criteria and qualifying events for the ’12 American team.

The American Mosconi Cup Ranking will consist, currently, of five events – all taking place within the USA. In addition to the calendar of events, other tournaments, currently in the planning stages, may be added to the list, provided they carry the correct credentials.

Only players finishing in the last 32 of each event will be allocated points and at the conclusion, after the 2012 US Open, the top two players will automatically gain entry to the Mosconi Cup side.

The remaining three players will be Matchroom Sport wildcard picks although the ranking will play a part in this.



The Events

1) Turning Stone Classic Summer Event. Verona, NY. 15-18 December

2) The Players Championship at Valley Forge, 8-11 March

3) US Open 10-Ball Championship. Las Vegas, 14-19 May

4) Turning Stone Classic Summer Event. Verona, NY. August

5) The US Open 9-Ball Championships. Virginia Beach, 20-27 October



The Points Allocation

The points allocation for these will apply to players finishing in the top 32 or equivalent and will be the same as that used on the BCA Points List. The basis of this will be:

1st 140

2nd 120

3rd 100

4th 80

5/6th 70

7/8th 60

9/12th 50

13/16th 40

17/24th 35

25/32nd 30



Each event’s points allocation will be weighted based on the field (+/- 64 players), the prize fund (+/- $50,000 to $100,000) and the number of players participating in the current Top 20 of the BCA Points List (+/- 12-16 players).

With Shane Van Boening having won the opening event on the roster, the Turning Stone back in December, the South Dakota Kid is on track to be making his sixth consecutive Mosconi Cup appearance.



Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com
 
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