The latest high-run challenge exposed a slew of problems and controversies, simply because of the way it was set up.
The difference in the standard of play between Ruslan and the rotation players was so stark, that it makes me wish there were more 14.1 players involved.
Would it be workable to have 14.1 High Run Challenges operate under a different model?
1. Prize money
This model would make it easy for European, Asian, African players to compete.
This is also really transparent.
I would happily support such an attempt for certain players.
In the hours since I proposed this, I've heard from players and there's about $3000 available from a group of players for Schmidt, SVB, Orcollo, Ruslan, Fedor, and Hohmann, and about $5000 for Filler.
Now just need to find someone to manage it.
The difference in the standard of play between Ruslan and the rotation players was so stark, that it makes me wish there were more 14.1 players involved.
Would it be workable to have 14.1 High Run Challenges operate under a different model?
1. Prize money
Either
a. a straight cash commitment in a GoFundMe or other fundraising site. or
b. a pledge of so many cents/ball for the record run.
If there were say, 1000 people who would pledge say, $0.05/ball for Player X to attempt a new high run record that works out to $50/ball, and for an 800 ball run, that means the prize money is about $40K
- Whichever way it's funded, the pot could accumulate until it was worth Player X's time to make the attempt. There would have to be some kind of expiry date on the offer, maybe six months??
- Pledge's of more than $50 (say) would receive a download link to the record breaking video, and the video would have commentary and analysis by either the player or another 14.1. expert to provide added value.
- All pledge's could receive a signed certificate, and a signed image of Player X standing on the pool table with his arms raised in celebration
- Gofundme charges 2.9% + $0.30 per donation, so an $50 pledge means $1.45 in processing costs
- The high run attempts are live streamed on Youtube, and archived on Youtube for all to see. The video provided to $50 pledgers is value-added with commentary and analysis.
- the table must be 9'x4.5' and meet the BCA specs for high runs. (as described by Shuddy in another thread) https://cdn.ymaws.com/bca-pool.com/resource/resmgr/imported/BCAEquipmentSpecifications_2008.pdf (Not sure about some of these specs ??)
- before the high run, the camera is walked around to show the table from all sides, and show the pockets with two balls inside, and rulers or tape measure showing the pocket dimensions (width, throat, shelf).
- a dedicated score keeper, and a dedicated racker.
- a template rack as used by the Legends group.
- Either the Youtube Home page keeps a current list all the runs for the current stream, or better yet, a detailed summary of each run in a downloadable document (Google docs).
This model would make it easy for European, Asian, African players to compete.
This is also really transparent.
I would happily support such an attempt for certain players.
In the hours since I proposed this, I've heard from players and there's about $3000 available from a group of players for Schmidt, SVB, Orcollo, Ruslan, Fedor, and Hohmann, and about $5000 for Filler.
Now just need to find someone to manage it.
Last edited: