Conditions to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open

When BH got going yrs ago with Steve Davis he wanted to MAKE MONEY. Pure-n-simple. Now that he and MR have become global sporting big-shots its real easy to say this stuff. Its easier to be nice(or at least appear to be) in business when you're rich. I really hope they take the game where it belongs because no one else that's even REMOTELY on the radar-screen is going to.
 
garczar said:
When BH got going yrs ago with Steve Davis he wanted to MAKE MONEY. Pure-n-simple. Now that he and MR have become global sporting big-shots its real easy to say this stuff. Its easier to be nice(or at least appear to be) in business when you're rich. I really hope they take the game where it belongs because no one else that's even REMOTELY on the radar-screen is going to.
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You obviously haven't heard Glenn's domino's pizza plan...
 
AtLarge said:
In an interview right after he retired as Chairman of Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn spoke of the ethos, values, and priorities of his company: "... our interest in profit is third, not first. The game is first, the players are second, and then profitability of the business is third." He also spoke of valuing prize money levels, opportunity, and diversity.

He wasn't speaking directly about pool. But let's hope that he, Steve Dawson, Eddie Hearn, and Emily Frazer act consonant with what Barry said in that interview as they move forward with pool.
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Let's hope they are all on the same page with Barry, and not acting independently of each other. I suspect that may be the case with the last minute "condition" added for the upcoming U.S. Open.
 
Didn't JAM have a conversation with Emily online (Facebook) where Emily stated this only applies to 9-ball, not other disciplines?
 
How does that make it any better? There are still going to be players that are threatened and can't play both.
So now they have to choose. What does that do to the other promoter? Find something positive in that.
Is this a British invasion or something? They lost that didn't they?



justadub said:
Didn't JAM have a conversation with Emily online (Facebook) where Emily stated this only applies to 9-ball, not other disciplines?
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336Robin said:
How does that make it any better? There are still going to be players that are threatened and can't play both.
So now they have to choose. What does that do to the other promoter? Find something positive in that.
Is this a British invasion or something? They lost that didn't they?
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Well, it makes it all the more confusing because what does a "US Open style tournament" mean if they are only concerned about 9 ball? It's better in the sense that they aren't targeting the CSI US Open's because none of them is 9 ball. And I doubt the International Open is in the crosshairs because Accu-stats is including multiple games, so it's not really a "US Open style" tournament. If anything it's a "Derby City Classic style" tournament. I'm hoping Matchroom is just trying to say "in the unlikely event that a rival promoter tries to create a competing US Open 9 ball event, you will not play unless we say it's ok". That wouldn't be a shocking condition. If a promoter tried to create a rival World Professional Snooker Championships or UK Championships, I am certain there would be consequences if any of the WST players showed up to participate.
 
Steve give it time.
Having supported THREE prior/FAILED pro 9 ball tour events I find this promoter to be from a different ilk.
I also find it annoying for a pool room owner to say their event is a US Open event of ANY TYPE.
You have no idea how M.G. bullied his way into the BCA boardroom when I was in office, similar to many Instructor academy owners, some who cried to get their way.
By riding on the coattails of what Barry created is CHEAP, to me it's NO different than another saying they are having a Wimbledon EVENT on any other soil than where it's been for decades.
Buy using the name US Open, it dilutes, diminishes the meaning of this event, confuses the public/non players and the game itself.
It takes away from their mission of building on an event that Barry created, which in turn created HOF members and gave them a chance at a career and life in a game that is perceived as seedy/in bars/drug infested areas with fights and killings.
Matchroom created lives for Many Snooker players.
Too toss salt on our sport with this perspective at this early stage is short minded.
 
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336Robin said:
How does that make it any better? There are still going to be players that are threatened and can't play both.
So now they have to choose. What does that do to the other promoter? Find something positive in that.
Is this a British invasion or something? They lost that didn't they?
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I'm not commenting on "better". I'm clarifying that this should not be affecting the CSI US Opens. That has been a point of discussion throughout this thread.
 
Correct me if I'm wring, I did not read all the posts... This whole thread and all the FB hoopla is all about basically a mis-wording? Matchroom is in fact ok with any of the other "US Open" events, as long as they are not in the "9 ball discipline"?
 
iusedtoberich said:
Correct me if I'm wring, I did not read all the posts... This whole thread and all the FB hoopla is all about basically a mis-wording? Matchroom is in fact ok with any of the other "US Open" events, as long as they are not in the "9 ball discipline"?
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In a nutshell, yes. Matchroom is adding more pool events each year. Barry Hearn recently said this in a Billiards Digest interview with Mike Panozzo, the publisher. Basically, Matchroom, in my opinion, is saying if you compete in another pool event that is of the 9-ball discipline during the same time as a Matchroom 9-ball discipline, then you will not be able to compete in a Matchroom 9-ball discipline tournament in the future. I am thinking the person's name will be black-listed from Matchroom events if they do compete in another 9-ball discipline at the same time as a Matchroom one.

When Bonus Ball came in existence, pro players deserted Greg Sullivan, the Derby City Classic promoter, when he was having an event at the same time. Greg's event was already scheduled, but Bonus Ball created dates for competitions at the exact same time, not giving any credence to Greg Sullivan's Derby City Classic event in the South. I can't remember where it was held, but it was in the summer down South. Well-known pros, as we all know, praised Bonus Ball, just like some of us praised the IPT when it was in existence. Pool people are a fickle bunch, I tell you, and there's no loyalty in pool.

Without a governing body of international pool that is more hands-on (WPA) and a governing both of North American pool, what the BCA organization used to do, there is nothing stopping anyone from scheduling a pool event at the exact same time as Matchroom. If Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour has scheduled a Season Finale at Turning Stone and a Matchroom 9-ball style event is schedule at the exact same time, it will cause a divide with some players, just as an example. Matchroom's agreement is basically saying "choose us," and if not, you may not be allowed to compete in Matchroom events again. That's my interpretation today.

The wording of the "agreement" was poor, and Emily Frazer at the time was taking a hiatus from social media. So there was nobody to ask questions about the "agreement." She had deactivated her Facebook account, which made me wonder if she was still working for Matchroom. Emily made it known on public podcasts that she is a very huge proponent of social media for pro players, and for her to "disappear" from social media, I was curious if she was still involved with Matchroom. I like Emily and think she's great for pool, but I realize she may have needed a break from all the hoopla associated with Matchroom. It can be quite heavy, I imagine. She emerged again on Facebook after this thread and other threads on Matchroom Pool Forum on Facebook about this "agreement" started heating up. It could be coincidence that she emerged at the same time as these threads. I'm not sure, but she answered a thread on Facebook about it, which I posted in this thread. She did not reply to me directly, though. It was a reply in a thread about this topic.

After all, Emily is the face of pool for Matchroom, and we have all come to clamor to her every word. She works hard and puts in 1,000 percent. I am looking forward to seeing what Matchroom has to offer in the future. Barry Hearn is still involved in the background and has his eye on the pool needle globally. Time will tell.

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JAM said:
You need to read the latest issue of Billiards Digest to understand what Barry's doing for pool today. :)

Source: http://www.billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/aug_21/bb_index.php

View attachment 606057
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Right, okay, I hadn't gotten around to read that article... sorry 'bout that. ;) Thanks!

Seems to me Matchroom intends to build a 9 ball tournament tour including World championship and US Open 9 ball. Curious to see what else they're gonna add, but just to play devil's advocate a bit: would it be so bad if they had all 9 ball tournaments on the calendar, let's say including the Turning Stones and DCC's 9ball event and every other big 9 ball tournament there is.

If all of the other tournaments organized by someone else in any other discipline is still 'allowed' and can find a good place on the calendar, is it then such a disaster if Matchroom 'owns' 9 ball?
 
this is a worrisome part of the article, near the end:
Using your snooker and darts success as templates, how will you position pool going forward?

I’m going to promote pool as snooker-meets-darts. In other words, it’s a high-skill game but played in a lively atmosphere. It’s a different experience. We need to cultivate the Mosconi atmosphere at all of the events. It needs perhaps a little image makeover, but the key is to get fans to look at it. Once they go, as we saw with the growth of the Mosconi Cup over the years, they will continue to go in increasing numbers because it’s good value for the money and a fun night out. We’re not asking them to go down to the poolroom and play. We’re asking people to come and watch.
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Imagine the screaming, beer-chuggin' fans at the US Open or World 9ball finals... 'Yuuuuurup'
 
Island Drive said:
Steve give it time.
Having supported THREE prior/FAILED pro 9 ball tour events I find this promoter to be from a different ilk.
I also find it annoying for a pool room owner to say their event is a US Open event of ANY TYPE.
You have no idea how M.G. bullied his way into the BCA boardroom when I was in office, similar to many Instructor academy owners, some who cried to get their way.
By riding on the coattails of what Barry created is CHEAP, to me it's NO different than another saying they are having a Wimbledon EVENT on any other soil than where it's been for decades.
Buy using the name US Open, it dilutes, diminishes the meaning of this event, confuses the public/non players and the game itself.
It takes away from their mission of building on an event that Barry created, which in turn created HOF members and gave them a chance at a career and life in a game that is perceived as seedy/in bars/drug infested areas with fights and killings.
Matchroom created lives for Many Snooker players.
Click to expand...

i don't know the back story about MG:s US Opens, but i will say that even if they have been embarressingly sparsely attended they do provide something very valuable in providing a straight pool title (and one pocket too, for that matter) in a time with very little straight pool on display. if you want to play or watch straight pool tournaments today you are pretty much completely starved.

now it doesn't seem that matchroom had their aim at our beloved niche games, so that may be a moot point anyway. i too have high hopes for matchroom although expecting a proper tour within the next few years might be overly enthusiastic. i hope to be proven wrong.
 
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