WPA bans......................

iusedtoberich said:
I guess this means MR will not hold the WPA 9 ball WC? If MR ranked players can't compete in it, I doubt MR will want to showcase non-MR ranked players only,
Click to expand...

Matchroom should drop the world championship. It should instead hold “The WNT Grand Championship” and the winner is “The Tour Champion”. It’s the ultimate event of their calendar with the largest prize fund. It’s not like “The Super Bowl” is any less prestigious because they don’t call it a “World Championship”. Doing this would sidestep so many headaches. Let the WPA send the “world championship” back to Qatar and it’ll devolve into an amateur title organically.
 
MattPoland said:
Matchroom should drop the world championship. It should instead hold “The WNT Grand Championship” and the winner is “The Tour Champion”. It’s the ultimate event of their calendar with the largest prize fund. It’s not like “The Super Bowl” is any less prestigious because they don’t call it a “World Championship”. Doing this would sidestep so many headaches. Let the WPA send the “world championship” back to Qatar and it’ll devolve into an amateur title organically.
Click to expand...

why wouldn't they be allowed to call it the WNT world championship?
 
sjm said:
Let's not frame this turf war as good vs evil. This is just hardcore business.

Matchroom and WPA both have things to offer to the modern professional pool player. In an intentionally oversimplified comparison, a) Matchroom offers better venues, better productions and has four major events that have no entry fee for those able to earn a place (Premier League Pool, World Pool Masters, World Cup of Pool, and the Mosconi Cup and b) WPA offers a few big events and, as pool's delegate to the IOC/WCBS, gets the national federations Olympic money, some of which flows down to the players in many countries.

Each would like as big a market share as is possible in the pro game, but they have very different approaches and very different attributes as they attempt to achieve their goals. Pro pool is growing right now, so more is at stake now than was the case a few years ago.

In the end, what WPA decrees is far less important than how the most elite players react to the new framework imposed upon them. I think our collective apprehension is justified, but it's best to keep an open mind here.

Fans want what's best for both the players and the professional pool product. Let's see if we get it.
Click to expand...

The way things were going it was only a matter of time before the old way of doing business was challenged and here it is.

When the effects of the strike are assessed, things will change as you suggest.

Not sure what that will look like when Pool viewership numbers don't scream for sponsorship so both MR and the WPA have somewhat of a conundrum there because sponsorship = more money if the numbers are up.

The key to breaking the gridlock could be the answer to commercializing Pool.

The players will be fractured into going by their governing bodies rules for awhile, until Matchroom figures it out. The WPA stands no chance in this but as you say, someone will figure out something.
 
Possible title names:

Best Player of the Galaxy

The Best Player of the Universe

Just like beauty pageants.
 
skogstokig said:
why wouldn't they be allowed to call it the WNT world championship?
Click to expand...
They call it a “World Championship” then the WPA can get all uppity about having rights to that trademark and it could court legal battles. Matchroom could sidestep a lot of hassle if they get creative with their branding. It doesn’t need to be called a “world championship” to be recognized as the most important event of the year.

In other words don’t even give the WPA a leg to stand on.
 
MattPoland said:
They call it a “World Championship” then the WPA can get all uppity about having rights to that trademark and it could court legal battles. Matchroom could sidestep a lot of hassle if they get creative with their branding. It doesn’t need to be called a “world championship” to be recognized as the most important event of the year.

In other words don’t even give the WPA a leg to stand on.
Click to expand...

There is no trademark on the phrase “world championship “ as it’s a generic term. It’s possible some countries have granted the WPA some exclusive rights or state monopoly on pool, but I haven’t seen that either.
 
Online a lot of people compare this to PGA vs LIV. A difference is that the WPA is just an Olympic-sanctioning entity. This would be more like a IGF vs PGA battle. Which would be laughable. That’s why it’s in the best interest in the commercial side of the sport for Matchroom to win this one and WPA become relegated to governing amateur competition. Promoters of professional events should only sanction with the WPA if that gets them government funding from the host country (or gets them special permission to hold events during a pandemic). They shouldn’t waste their time otherwise. This whole structure should just add value when it’s valuable and stand aside when it’s not valuable.
 
Lots of people are wondering what events could get people banned. The WPA press release says these are the players who will be banned: “Players participating in non WPA sanctioned events that qualify for WPA sanctioning…”

What does it mean for an event to “qualify for WPA sanctioning?”

On the WPApool website, it says the following about sanctioning:

“III – WHEN DOES A TOURNAMENT NEED TO BE SANCTIONED:​

Sanctioning is required when an event will include players from other intercontinental memberships that make up a minimum of eight players, or one-eight of the field, or has an added prize fund on offer in excess of USD 25,000.”

For comparison, Turning Stone adds $25000 so would just barely not be included.
 
MattPoland said:
Online a lot of people compare this to PGA vs LIV. A difference is that the WPA is just an Olympic-sanctioning entity. This would be more like a IGF vs PGA battle. Which would be laughable. That’s why it’s in the best interest in the commercial side of the sport for Matchroom to win this one and WPA become relegated to governing amateur competition. Promoters of professional events should only sanction with the WPA if that gets them government funding from the host country (or gets them special permission to hold events during a pandemic). They shouldn’t waste their time otherwise. This whole structure should just add value when it’s valuable and stand aside when it’s not valuable.
Click to expand...
I agree. I've had this discussion online a few times myself. The IGF doesn't even set the rules of golf that is the R&A and the USGA (US and Mexico). I even heard comparisons of the NFL and the IFAF which is even funnier. The IFAF has no influence at all with the NFL and the NFL doesn't have anything to do with them. I don't like people using them as models as though they have the same influence the WPA wants to have - they do not. I think the WPA could have a place to help the game especially at building junior/amateur to regional/national pro level play but they should not have complete influence over a private organizations putting on events and setting up tours.
 
IMG_2515.jpeg
 
When they talk about prize money distribution,

Did anyone check the distribution of prize money by winnings and federation?

Now that Joshua Filler is locked into Federation play, who actually can beat him?
 
If i remember right MR bought rights From WPA to do World Championships. I don't remember how many years but i think it was 5 or 6. If so, WPA can't really stop it...

My thought's about whole mess. Think this scenario:
MR says fuck it, and stop doing pool. That would make this sport doomed forever. Who would anymore ever want to promote pool after what WPA is doing...
So in my mind WPA can only lose even if they win and they are damading pool very badly anyways.
 
Poolmanis said:
If i remember right MR bought rights From WPA to do World Championships. I don't remember how many years but i think it was 5 or 6. If so, WPA can't really stop it...

My thought's about whole mess. Think this scenario:
MR says fuck it, and stop doing pool. That would make this sport doomed forever. Who would anymore ever want to promote pool after what WPA is doing...
Click to expand...
Be curious what the contract says. WPA might be entitled to approve the player list or at least enforce suspensions. Be kinda weird for MR to hold an event where their stable of players can’t participate. Feels like there’s quite a few avenues where the courts could get involved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top