Didn't watch the whole podcast on PoolPlayerPodcast but it looks like the WPA is going to try to play hardball with other tours/associations mainly Matchroom. I think the whole thing is an avoidable dumpsterfire. Just when pro pool is getting back on track the last thing needed are these stupid pissing matches.
WPA bans......................
- Thread starter garczar
- Start date
i guess we will know tomorrow, and if that'll be the decision i suspect the ACBS will act swiftly and ban asian players from playing in the upcoming hanoi open. the asian federation seems more rabid than its european and american counterparts
ACBS's only real power is having China on board. The rest of their members don't really move the needle in world pool. Matchroom is driving the pro pool bus for the time being and i don't think they give a rat's about the ACBS.
Atorontopoolplayer
Active member
I think it's pretty clear from who is in Qatar and who is not , which countries will no longer be going to match room events after this. The KO brothers not being on the big stage anymore will be disappointing. And Josh filler looking like he will still be beholden to the German federation also
Speaking strictly pro pool here i think it will all boil down to who has the most events with the best payouts. I just don't see that many pros hitching their wagon to their home country's associations unless there is a big financial windfall involved. I hate this nitty political shit in any sport. F1 went thru it in the 80's and fortunately they did ok mostly due to it being run by one guy, Bernie Ecclestone. Maybe pool needs a dictator type so to speak in charge.
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Well said,.\
I think that you can't tell from the current tournament participation. The choice of Qatar/Peri could have been motivated by prize fund or not wanting to irritate anyone any more than necessary. I doubt that the WPA can compete with Matchroom in the production of events -- they depend on other promoters and organizations to actually produce events.
Looking at the quality of events produced by the two warring camps tells you who will have the viewers. The money will follow the viewers. The players will follow the money -- and the quality of the production. One example: the commentators at the US Open (except for that one misstep
) and the commentator at the Qatar Open.Atorontopoolplayer
Active member
I hope you are correct!I think that you can't tell from the current tournament participation. The choice of Qatar/Peri could have been motivated by prize fund or not wanting to irritate anyone any more than necessary. I doubt that the WPA can compete with Matchroom in the production of events -- they depend on other promoters and organizations to actually produce events.
Looking at the quality of events produced by the two warring camps tells you who will have the viewers. The money will follow the viewers. The players will follow the money -- and the quality of the production. One example: the commentators at the US Open (except for that one misstep
I have my doubts here. Mike P suggests that there is some jockeying for votes going on, but I think it more likely that the parties have already made their minds up and that the General Assembly meeting is more of a rubber stamp session. Regardless, let's see how the pros react to whatever announcements are forthcoming and then we can react.
The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe.
There wasn't enough pool to fill a full calendar years ago.
The supply of traveling pool players is too low to meet the demands of all the new events and new unproven promoters and unknown refs.
In the interest of all events, its best if there were more players interested in federation play or Matchroom play. Then both systems can be successful. Now the burden is on local federations and Matchroom to create pathway programs for players. The sport has to grow by player size now.
The problem with the current climate is few players are thinking about the future generations of players that Asia has planned. The Middle East also has plans to create foundational superstars for their region.
Americans tried to popularize pool and it was an image of hustling, gambling and poor road choices.
Asian and Middle Eastern nations may use pool to project a different image for its players.
Omar Al Shaheen is a very different professional as a sport ambassador than someone like a Mika Immonen.
Mika is known to have a visible emotional reaction at events. You don't want him holding the trigger in tense situations, he could accidentally get trigger happy.
Omar has more of a Middle Eastern calm and discipline. Soft spoken and well thought out before he speaks or acts.
The federation players don't have to be that good to rack for the real pros.
The supply of traveling pool players is too low to meet the demands of all the new events and new unproven promoters and unknown refs.
In the interest of all events, its best if there were more players interested in federation play or Matchroom play. Then both systems can be successful. Now the burden is on local federations and Matchroom to create pathway programs for players. The sport has to grow by player size now.
The problem with the current climate is few players are thinking about the future generations of players that Asia has planned. The Middle East also has plans to create foundational superstars for their region.
Americans tried to popularize pool and it was an image of hustling, gambling and poor road choices.
Asian and Middle Eastern nations may use pool to project a different image for its players.
Omar Al Shaheen is a very different professional as a sport ambassador than someone like a Mika Immonen.
Mika is known to have a visible emotional reaction at events. You don't want him holding the trigger in tense situations, he could accidentally get trigger happy.
Omar has more of a Middle Eastern calm and discipline. Soft spoken and well thought out before he speaks or acts.
The federation players don't have to be that good to rack for the real pros.
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CaptainBly
Registered
I know the WPA had done shit for pro pool over the years. They do however do A LOT for the amateur game in many countries. There are a number of pros who get yearly stipends from winning or placing well in events. I don't think every pro is just going to jump ship so easily. It is really sad that it has come to this.
Kinda agree here but the national stipends are not much compared to what they can earn in tournament play. I just don't see the WPA coming out of this whole dumpster fire with much power left, at least at the pro level.
If a country can't afford a national billiard federation can a foreign investor provide financial support.
Suppose Russia wanted to create a billiard federation for Burkina Faso. Is this allowed?
The US finances or helps train a federation in Mexico or Canada. These discussions have to happen.
Corruption in sports organizations is well known.
Suppose Russia wanted to create a billiard federation for Burkina Faso. Is this allowed?
The US finances or helps train a federation in Mexico or Canada. These discussions have to happen.
Corruption in sports organizations is well known.
Let's start out with the obvious. Matchroom is the best thing to happen to professional pool EVER. With that said, Matchroom started this conflict when they decided to go out on their own, ignore the WPA, and schedule events on top of other "dedicated" event dates. Matchroom, by doing so, are forcing players to make choices, and in my opinion, trying to make other promotions go away so that they have a monopoly, just like in snooker. Does anybody think the WPA is just going to take it? They can see the handwriting on the wall if they do nothing. I certainly don't they're going to stand pat, but they are going to have to compete for the players loyalty, which means increasing the payouts. I for one hope to see increased payouts for the players, and I hope they both prosper, but at least one side of this equation will not be happy, either way.
I should have said "THINK" they're going to stand pat.
I should have said "THINK" they're going to stand pat.