Do you know of Pro players that enter small $ weekly tournaments from time to time?

"Pros" have no income other than tournaments/gambling - if they go to a Large tourn and Shane, Shaw, Alex, Dennis, etc are there, they have almost ZERO chance of making money.
If I played their speed, I'd probably ONLY play small tournaments. Gotta eat
Jason
 
I know some "B" players and below get off on playing pro level players in small bar tournaments. To me it's like beating baby seals and I blame it on (1st) the owner not protecting there regulars, (2) regulars keep coming back each week for more beatings.

As far as getting a game with a pro outside a tournament, most will give you a good spot for $10 a game and/or $50 a race to 9. I played many a pro on the BB with a spot and won a few times. But I always had at least a chance to be competitive. In a tournament...not so much. Johnnyt
 
Mark Tadd used to shoot at a weekly tourney in Salt Lake City at a place called the Black bull...

Scott Frost plays (or at least he used to) in the open tournaments at Main Street Billiards in Mesa Az...if my memory serves that was a $10 or $20 monthly tourney...might have been weekly...it's been a long time since I've lived there....

My thoughts are why wouldn't the pros play little weekly tournaments? I would imagine that most don't do it for the ego boost and the little bit of prize money certainly isn't a turn off...might make enough to cover the electric bill and have some fun doing it...I could be wrong but I'd bet most of the pros that play in the little local tournaments are there because they enjoy playing pool and hanging out at the pool room just like the rest of us pool junkies...gotta get out of the house and do something...might as well go hit some balls around...
 
You are likely to run into a buzz saw in any bar in a 50 mile radius around here. There are a number of pros that go and rob whatever 10 dollar bar tourney they're allowed in EVERY week round here. No, it's not practice lol. It's income so I ain't mad. They are closed now for a year or so, but Big Daddys used to get pros in weekly for the weekly Tues 20 dollar tournie. Just off the top of my head, - Davis, Wilkie, Shuff, of course Stottlemyer and others. When around Hoh man and Black Widow been there too among many others. If you see a pro at a weekly tourney they are not there for the practice lol. Shameless plug in 3,2,1 - BTW - a buddy of mine that used to run that Tues night tourney at big daddy's is now the manager of Brews and cues ( same location ) and it's really nice so everybody stop by!!!!
 
I don't mind the pro's playing in a weekly tourney. I know some around here say "no pro's" and that's fine too. My baseball league says "no pro's as well, unless they've been out of professional baseball for at least 5 years (usually minor league players, but they are still pro's none the less)

But, I'm thinking, does it just "kill" the pro to lose to some body in an amateur event, in front of a lot of folks??

Or does this kind of thing not even phase them one bit, because they are on the losing side just as much or more than the winning side, so it matters not they lost to some APA 6 in a race to 4 ??
 
ChicagoRJ said:
I don't mind the pro's playing in a weekly tourney. I know some around here say "no pro's" and that's fine too. My baseball league says "no pro's as well, unless they've been out of professional baseball for at least 5 years (usually minor league players, but they are still pro's none the less)

But, I'm thinking, does it just "kill" the pro to lose to some body in an amateur event, in front of a lot of folks??

Or does this kind of thing not even phase them one bit, because they are on the losing side just as much or more than the winning side, so it matters not they lost to some APA 6 in a race to 4 ??
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It's bend my experience if you beat them they are fairly gracious as long as you didn't luck out the whole set lol. Keep in mind it's often there food or fun money .
 
I know quite a few high A players that will play in little tournaments made up of mostly c and low b players.

I used to play a wednesday night that would often have some of the best players in the state play in it.

Most very good players got that way by playing every chance they could, so why wouldn't they want to win some extra money. Pool isn't exactly full of cash to be made these days, and I'd wager that it is easier for a no name b player to get a decent game gambling than it is for a A,shortstop, pro caliber player.
 
jasonlaus said:
"Pros" have no income other than tournaments/gambling - if they go to a Large tourn and Shane, Shaw, Alex, Dennis, etc are there, they have almost ZERO chance of making money.
If I played their speed, I'd probably ONLY play small tournaments. Gotta eat
Jason
Click to expand...

You make a great point, but I was always under the impression that most of the known pro players played around the same speeds (like the top 10 for example) , so it was a coin toss on who all would get in the money in pro level events. Does the skill level really fall off by that much after like the top 5 Mosconi level team USA players for example ? How many top players from the U.S. play within a balls speed ? I assume a lot, but I do not know.
 
justinb386 said:
You make a great point, but I was always under the impression that most of the known pro players played around the same speeds (like the top 10 for example) , so it was a coin toss on who all would get in the money in pro level events. Does the skill level really fall off by that much after like the top 5 Mosconi level team USA players for example ? How many top players from the U.S. play within a balls speed ? I assume a lot, but I do not know.
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Yes there IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE , would you want to flip a coin for YOUR DINNER????
 
BmoreMoney said:
You are likely to run into a buzz saw in any bar in a 50 mile radius around here. There are a number of pros that go and rob whatever 10 dollar bar tourney they're allowed in EVERY week round here. No, it's not practice lol. It's income so I ain't mad. They are closed now for a year or so, but Big Daddys used to get pros in weekly for the weekly Tues 20 dollar tournie. Just off the top of my head, - Davis, Wilkie, Shuff, of course Stottlemyer and others. When around Hoh man and Black Widow been there too among many others. If you see a pro at a weekly tourney they are not there for the practice lol. Shameless plug in 3,2,1 - BTW - a buddy of mine that used to run that Tues night tourney at big daddy's is now the manager of Brews and cues ( same location ) and it's really nice so everybody stop by!!!!
Click to expand...

Almost went a few days ago. Went the Magic 8 instead cause of 9'ers.

Btw the Ribs next door to Magic 8 are amazing!
Jason
 
Rackemep said:
Mark Tadd used to shoot at a weekly tourney in Salt Lake City at a place called the Black bull...

Scott Frost plays (or at least he used to) in the open tournaments at Main Street Billiards in Mesa Az...if my memory serves that was a $10 or $20 monthly tourney...might have been weekly...it's been a long time since I've lived there....

My thoughts are why wouldn't the pros play little weekly tournaments? I would imagine that most don't do it for the ego boost and the little bit of prize money certainly isn't a turn off...might make enough to cover the electric bill and have some fun doing it...I could be wrong but I'd bet most of the pros that play in the little local tournaments are there because they enjoy playing pool and hanging out at the pool room just like the rest of us pool junkies...gotta get out of the house and do something...might as well go hit some balls around...
Click to expand...

I am surprised that a weekly tournament director would even allow a known pro into a little weekly tournament (unless it was handi capped).
 
justinb386 said:
You make a great point, but I was always under the impression that most of the known pro players played around the same speeds (like the top 10 for example) , so it was a coin toss on who all would get in the money in pro level events. Does the skill level really fall off by that much after like the top 5 Mosconi level team USA players for example ? How many top players from the U.S. play within a balls speed ? I assume a lot, but I do not know.
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From #1 to #10 is a huge difference in USA players. But you have to remember that you also have the top players from the other countries in the bigger events and some smaller events.

So now your #5 USA player is #52 on the list according to Fargorate - how in the world could you expect to make money like that?
Jason

3 Americans in the top 47 in the world
 
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"I played in over 120 tournaments this year ..."

CJ Wiley, 12/20/2014

[Mostly local events around Dallas/Fort Worth]
 
AtLarge said:
"I played in over 120 tournaments this year ..."

CJ Wiley, 12/20/2014

[Mostly local events around Dallas/Fort Worth]
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I'd HATEEEEEEEE for you to be my gf. Or anyone I knew!!!!!!!! Other than here of course, your great nere!
 
jasonlaus said:
Almost went a few days ago. Went the Magic 8 instead cause of 9'ers.

Btw the Ribs next door to Magic 8 are amazing!
Jason
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Thanks, I did hear that. When I was there I BROKE the place and we had a hot tub room right up the street but I sent the birches home cause we gamblin!!!!? Lol
 
The first tourney I played getting back into the game there was a pro.I didn't know him by face but had read the name all over the place.I ended up jumping on his table for the early warm up time for a dozen racks or so.He utterly destroyed me....I have seen him several times since.He said he hits a few in a row and moves to a different tourney,if you come to the feed trough too regular they will just ban you.
 
jasonlaus said:
From #1 to #10 is a huge difference in USA players. But you have to remember that you also have the top players from the other countries in the bigger events and some smaller events.

So now your #5 USA player is #52 on the list according to Fargorate - how in the world could you expect to make money like that?
Jason

3 Americans in the top 47 in the world
Click to expand...

Oh wow, I had no idea. It is understandable now that players have to get full time jobs. Even the top pro players might really struggle to make a living. I see that it would be best to stay an unknown. Just hit up the bar tournaments, and avoid any major or big events. I see now why so many pro players need backers.
 
justinb386 said:
I am surprised that a weekly tournament director would even allow a known pro into a little weekly tournament (unless it was handi capped).
Click to expand...

The Black Bull tourney wasn't handicapped for sure...that's the tournament that the "players" went to...it was always a strong field...

The tournaments at Main Street Billiards promoted the growth of players...I really liked how they ran their tournaments, they gave everyone a chance to compete at whatever level they fit into and above...they had a weekly 7 and under, 8 and under, 9 and under & 10 and under that were all handicapped. I think the open was monthly...(I don't think it was handicapped)...

I think it's great to have local tourneys that allow pro players in...in my mind it's motivating to play against higher level players...seems like a lot of people have the "I want to win but don't want to have to shoot good to do it" type of attitude...that's what I liked about Main Street Billiards system...if you wanted to compete at a set level and didn't care about improving you could come in once a week and play in any tournament your handicap allowed..If you were the type of player that wanted to continually improve you had the ladder set in front of you to climb!...having access to great players is invaluable!
 
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