Matchroom changing break rules for European Open (Aug 9-14 Germany)

[AtLarge]

Did these rules (9 on spot, break box, forceful break) produce worthy leaders? Let's look at the top 4 finishers from the events I mentioned:

International 9-Ball

2021 -- Ouschan, Orcollo, Van Boening, Aranas​

2019 -- Shaw, Lechner, Filler, Bergman​

2018 -- Chang J-L, Ko P-C, Woodward, Van Boening​

US Open 9-Ball

2017 -- Shaw, Kaçi, Sanchez-Ruiz, Chang​

2016 -- Van Boening, Chang, Shaw, Orcollo​

2015 -- Cheng Y-H, Boyes, Liu H-T, Souquet​

2014 -- Van Boening, Orcollo, Ekonomopoulos, Dechaine​

 

[sjm]

Did these rules (9 on spot, break box, forceful break) produce worthy leaders? Let's look at the top 4 finishers from the events I mentioned:

International 9-Ball

2021 -- Ouschan, Orcollo, Van Boening, Aranas​

2019 -- Shaw, Lechner, Filler, Bergman​

2018 -- Chang J-L, Ko P-C, Woodward, Van Boening​

US Open 9-Ball

2017 -- Shaw, Kaçi, Sanchez-Ruiz, Chang​

2016 -- Van Boening, Chang, Shaw, Orcollo​

2015 -- Cheng Y-H, Boyes, Liu H-T, Souquet​

2014 -- Van Boening, Orcollo, Ekonomopoulos, Dechaine​

Yes, for sure, and any format will produce worthy champions, even if a break from frozen to the back rail were required. Ultimately, the question is whether this format is more entertaining and as an attendee at the 2021 International, I felt the break rule in use made it less entertaining.

In my 2021 International 9-ball tournament recap, I noted "... virtually everyone was cut breaking. I think I saw more scratches on the break this week than I've ever seen before at a major event, so the players struggled a bit with the breaks." Both Shane and Filler had some trouble with the break during the single elimination, and it can be easily argued that problems with the break erased any chance Shane had of winning the semifinal vs Albin.

Watching the most elite players struggle that much with the break down the stretch is not what I want to see when I attend a major. Let them use the break that they've been practicing every day for many years.

 

[Nick B]

I would advocate giving this a try before we all jump on them. I like the fact that they are tweaking it to make a better product...my only hope is they zoom in on a final answer and stick to it and we are not talking about it two years from now. We wanted more more money and structure in the game...well here it comes. Lets not boil MR and Predator because it's now better than it's ever been. Hell maybe they will go back to traditional ball colors and then we won't have anything to complain about.

Food for thought. I like the forceful aspect of the rule. Going to a finite speed might have been a problem for some of the gals. Any man can achieve say 17 MPH. Some of the smaller gals. Not so much. Do we really want to see Corey's famous:
-Baby Break
-Safety Break
-Pattern early 9-Ball combo
-His next invention

 

[sjm]

I would advocate giving this a try before we all jump on them. I like the fact that they are tweaking it to make a better product...my only hope is they zoom in on a final answer and stick to it and we are not talking about it two years from now. We wanted more more money and structure in the game...well here it comes. Lets not boil MR and Predator because it's now better than it's ever been. Hell maybe they will go back to traditional ball colors and then we won't have anything to complain about.

No doubt, Matchroom has done more for pool than any event producer in recent memory, and most of us, especially me, have continually applauded their efforts. Nobody is boiling them, but I feel that they have slightly devalued their professional product with this change and also that they are falling into the trap of tweaking and tweaking after committing themselves, with maximum publicity upon the inception of their new tour, to standardization of rules and equipment.

Matchroom remains, by far, the most important and capable event producer in our sport and I can't remember ever wanting to see an event producer succeed more than I want it for them. If the quality of the product drops even a little more, they'll still be the best, but people like me who still think that pool can one day attract more than the serious players and diehard fans will lament any perceived decline in the quality of their professional pool product. Yes, some have given up on ever attracting the more casual fans, but I think it's premature. Count me a dreamer.

Food for thought. I like the forceful aspect of the rule. Going to a finite speed might have been a problem for some of the gals. Any man can achieve say 17 MPH. Some of the smaller gals. Not so much. Do we really want to see Corey's famous:
-Baby Break
-Safety Break
-Pattern early 9-Ball combo
-His next invention

This is an existing rule, not a new rule. Pleased to see it's not being abandoned.

 

[Cameron Smith]

What about rounded pocket points like on a snooker table?

I consider myself primarily a snooker player but I would not be in favour of such a change. You would start to lose pools identity if players started turning down balls just because they are on the cushion and they aren’t straight in enough. The objective here should be to keep the players shotmaking honest without forcing them to change their standard shot selection.

 

[AtLarge]

... In my 2021 International 9-ball tournament recap, I noted "... virtually everyone was cut breaking. I think I saw more scratches on the break this week than I've ever seen before at a major event, so the players struggled a bit with the breaks." Both Shane and Filler had some trouble with the break during the single elimination, and it can be easily argued that problems with the break erased any chance Shane had of winning the semifinal vs Albin.

Watching the most elite players struggle that much with the break down the stretch is not what I want to see when I attend a major. Let them use the break that they've been practicing every day for many years.

You probably saw more matches than I did in the 2021 International Open, because I waited for the single-elimination portion to start tracking matches. Maybe breaking fouls were more frequent in the early stages. But I watched 15 matches (242 games), and the foul rate was 6.6%, about 1 per 15 games. For the 3 International Open events combined, I watched over 1,500 games, and the foul rate was 7.3%. For the 4 US Open 9-Ball events I mentioned, I watched 2,255 games, and the foul rate was 8.6%.

Illegal breaks have far outnumbered fouled breaks in the International Open events. In their losing matches with Ouschan in 2021, Filler had two illegal breaks (with Ouschan directly running out both times) and 6 successful breaks; SVB had 3 illegal breaks (with 2 immediate runouts by Ouschan), two fouled (both immediate runouts), 1 dry, and 3 successful. So, yes, those were poor breaking matches for them, especially SVB. In those two matches Ouschan had 12 successful breaks, 4 dry, and none fouled or illegal; so he broke pretty well (and had 5 B&Rs on his last 6 breaks against SVB). But I think the "forceful break" requirement for the European Open, rather than a 3-point rule, will significantly reduce the number of games with breaking penalties compared with the International Open events, and the result will be higher numbers for successful breaks, games won by the breaker, and B&R games.

As for "Let them use the break that they've practiced every day for many years" -- I doubt that any single set of rules would fulfill that for all of the world's pro players. But if Matchroom ever gets things really standardized, then your wish may be fulfilled thereafter.

 

[sjm]

You probably saw more matches than I did in the 2021 International Open, because I waited for the single-elimination portion to start tracking matches. Maybe breaking fouls were more frequent in the early stages. But I watched 15 matches (242 games), and the foul rate was 6.6%, about 1 per 15 games. For the 3 International Open events combined, I watched over 1,500 games, and the foul rate was 7.3%. For the 4 US Open 9-Ball events I mentioned, I watched 2,255 games, and the foul rate was 8.6%.

Illegal breaks have far outnumbered fouled breaks in the International Open events. In their losing matches with Ouschan in 2021, Filler had two illegal breaks (with Ouschan directly running out both times) and 6 successful breaks; SVB had 3 illegal breaks (with 2 immediate runouts by Ouschan), two fouled (both immediate runouts), 1 dry, and 3 successful. So, yes, those were poor breaking matches for them, especially SVB. In those two matches Ouschan had 12 successful breaks, 4 dry, and none fouled or illegal; so he broke pretty well (and had 5 B&Rs on his last 6 breaks). But I think the "forceful break" requirement for the European Open, rather than a 3-point rule, will significantly reduce the number of games with breaking penalties compared with the International Open events, and the result will be higher numbers for successful breaks, games won by the breaker, and B&R games.

As for "Let them use the break that they've practiced every day for many years" -- I doubt that any single set of rules would fulfill that for all of the world's pro players. But if Matchroom ever gets things really standardized, then your wish may be fulfilled thereafter.

Yes, most of the matches are not played on the stream table and I saw what I saw, having been there for the entire tournament, both Stage 1 and Stage 2. I watched matches all around the tournament room for six full days.

Actually, I hadn't remembered that the break box was in use, but I'm sure it was as you'd definitely know. That said, surely the requirement of breaking from the box factored in how many unsuccessful breaks there were, for even some of the most elite never got a handle on the break in either Stage 1 or Stage 2, and some of them were experimenting until the very end. As you note, however, the abolition of the three-point-rule this past winter (in all but Euro-tour events) will solve some of this issue for 2022.

Sorry to dispute here, for you are AZB's resident guru on the nine-ball break. I have only shared that I felt that the entertainment value of the event was compromised by the break rules in use. Just my honest opinion. As I've said, others may prefer the kind of play that tends to result when top players struggle with their breaks, and their opinions matter, too.

 

[Island Drive]

PGA uses the tee box.....
MR uses the break box....
It's the most simple of all fixes to keep 9 ball 9 Ball.
If it's so difficult with the box...... then put the 1 ball ''back on the spot''.

 

[Swighey]

Watching the most elite players struggle that much with the break down the stretch is not what I want to see when I attend a major. Let them use the break that they've been practicing every day for many years.

A counter argument to that would be not to allow players, who win most of their matches because of their break, to continue to dominate by relying so heavily on one aspect of the game.

 

[justnum]

The next experiment MR can try is set break positions based on streak. Starting break is any choice, if streak continues break 2 is a mandated break box position, break 3 is 9 on spot, etc,.

The break in current streamed format has low replay or commentary value. As for statisticians the data is well known. It minimizes match time rules.

For introducing the sport to the growing audience, a serious study of various breaks is worth observing.

It can create more interest for instructional content only world champs know. Creating additional ways to market the game is a good direction.

 

[MattPoland]

I’m being silly. But my mind toys with the idea of a break box but the cueball isn’t allowed to hit the rail unless from a kiss. Make them start by squatting the rock near head-on. If they want to make a ball then they’ll smash it anyway.

 

[sjm]

A counter argument to that would be not to allow players, who win most of their matches because of their break, to continue to dominate by relying so heavily on one aspect of the game.

Yes, a very reasonable point, but at the cost of fewer break and runs, which I think will make the game less attractive to the casual fan. Yes, it cuts both ways. Even in snooker, a game having a greater defensive component than nine-ball, it's when a player gains and holds control of the table for long periods of time that the fans get most excited.

Nice post!

 

[L.S. Dennis]

Maybe we should accept the fact that nineball and all its iterations has simply become an anachronism in these modern times. It had its day back in the 90’s and 2000’s and should still be played in the APA and other handicap systems in local billiard rooms but for today‘s pros the game should be 10 ball with a break from the box format.

The four inch pockets are fine, a shortened shot clock and limited extensions would shorten the game and make it more interesting to the average television viewer. I like what Matchroom is trying to do to advance the sport but maybe it’s time to relegate nine ball to the past, it’s boring now when played at the pro level.

Just my opinion which I’m sure won’t be shared by most, oh and please Emily, give us back our old colored balls…

 

[iusedtoberich]

I wrote something similar in another thread a few months back: Mathcroom will mess with the break rules, rack rules, pockets, tables, etc., just like every other promoter has in the past 50 years. Nothing will come of it, because every single scenario has pros and cons. Its a waste of time.

Where the time and effort should be spent is building the hype, building the marketing, building the connection to the players, building the story of the players. That's what keeps fans interested, the struggle of the player. Not pocket specs. Matchroom is doing this, thankfully, but it should be their 99% focus, IMO. It feels instead like the table/rack/rules are 90% of their focus.

 

[Nick B]

Maybe we should accept the fact that nineball and all its iterations has simply become an anachronism in these modern times. It had its day back in the 90’s and 2000’s and should still be played in the APA and other handicap systems in local billiard rooms but for today‘s pros the game should be 10 ball with a break from the box format.

The four inch pockets are fine, a shortened shot clock and limited extensions would shorten the game and make it more interesting to the average television viewer. I like what Matchroom is trying to do to advance the sport but maybe it’s time to relegate nine ball to the past, it’s boring now when played at the pro level.

Just my opinion which I’m sure won’t be shared by most, oh and please Emily, give us back our old colored balls…

I agree but Matchroom is all in on 9-ball. The horse has long left that barn.

 

[Oze147]

Some people mentioned that 9ball has become too easy and I...I am a bit upset, because nobody told me and I am still struggeling to run out more than two racks in a row.

But seriously now...yes, the top 10 players sometimes can make pool look very easy, but for the rest 9ball is still a hard game to master.
If you look, who is winning the big titles, you see the same four or five names again and again. Every now and then we see a Cinderella story, some early upsets and seldomly even a surprise winner, but in the end I can`t see any evidence, that 9ball has become too easy and therefore maybe too boring to watch.

I also have no problem with the forceful aspect of the rule, since I think pool and the players have to develope something like an etiquette.
Call fouls on yourself, if the ref doesn`t see it, don`t pattern rack and break as hard as you can control it, just to mention a few.

 

[tomatoshooter]

c) It means there will be far fewer "packages" and Matchroom has noted in its videos that they would like to create pool's equivalent of the "nine darter." That's now a pipe dream.

What would the equivalent be? Win the lag and break and run every game without your opponent getting to the table? Or alternate breaks where they trade break and runs all the way through until the lag winner wins the final rack? Either one could be exciting once but if the series is geared towards that outcome it could also produce a lot of boring pool matches. The big packages are exciting when they aren't the norm.

I tend to take the view that no casual or would-be fan would feel that nine ball is too easy and that Matchroom should be more focused on attracting such fans rather than catering to diehard fans who want to see more tactical racks.

That's a tough balancing act that most entertainment struggles with. If you make the game too easy it can attract the casual fan, but will it create a new die hard fan? Right now I think pool is only watched by die hard fans so there does need to be an effort to draw in a larger fan base. To be honest, I'm not the best opinion on this because I generally either like things a lot or don't care. There's not a whole lot of mid level fandom for me, which is probably what a sport needs.

Balls well up the rail were finding the corner pockets, even at medium speed, and sometimes shockingly so.

Has anyone thought about different cloth for the rails that doesn't play so slick but we could still have the typical cloth on the bed? I hear some people saying that older cloth plays tougher, but I think for appearances and table to table consistency fresh cloth is better. Right now they have tables that accept balls more than you would expect and they are tightening the pockets to offset that. Would larger pockets that play tougher be an improvement?

sjm, you always have thoughtful posts that move the debate along, that's why I'm quoting so many, not trying to start an argument.

 

[tomatoshooter]

But seriously now...yes, the top 10 players sometimes can make pool look very easy, but for the rest 9ball is still a hard game to master.
If you look, who is winning the big titles, you see the same four or five names again and again. Every now and then we see a Cinderella story, some early upsets and seldomly even a surprise winner, but in the end I can`t see any evidence, that 9ball has become too easy and therefore maybe too boring to watch.

The pros have gotten too good. It seems like a strange thing to say but the knowledge base is so accessible that every player has and needs the full skill set. They have had coaches from a young age. If I go to the local tournament, it might be a contest between my strategy and defensive play against another player's shotmaking skill. I don't see the disparities much at the top of the game, everyone is so good at everything that you can't have a strength strong enough to offset a deficit in another skill.

 

[jasonlaus]

I say make em 3.5" and every miss is ball in hand, no safes, no pinball, no video games, this is Ames Mister, we run out or we lose.

 

[jasonlaus]

I say make em 3.5" and every miss is ball in hand, no safes, no pinball, no video games, this is Ames Mister, we run out or we lose.

^^^^^^now that's excitement!!!