Over Under on US Open entrants

[stewie]

Yeah, I agree with you all that MR will do their best to fill it up. But it won't be from qualifiers actually qualifying, 2 per 32, IMO.

If DCC had the same entry system (without the 128 guaranteed tour spots), lets say $30 per qualifying tourney entry, I think there would be 150 total players, instead of 500.

Maybe that was never the plan, just not communicated well.

Qualifiers still open the field skill based. A 720 has a fair chance, instead of hoping to sign up in that 5 minute window to get.on the wait-list.

I just wonder why you would not take a wait-list already and clear that once you have all the qualifiers played and decided.

 

[wealmostlostdetroit]

Should be close to full field. 120-ish WNT pros, 40-ish from qualifiers, 30-40 invites (700-750 fargo players who aren't WNT pros, Chris Reinhold/Lukas Fracasso-Verner types) and everyone who played in the qualifier but didn't make it will get a chance to pay for the wildcard ($750), same as UK Open.

"
Dear Player,

There are very limited spaces available for the UK Open.

As a player who entered one of the Qualifiers, I would like to offer you the opportunity to enter via a wildcard place. This is very much first come first served. If you have any problems with the link let me know. If you are successful entering, I will then send out a contract for you to sign for the event.

Please use the link below…

https://matchroompool.com/tickets/2024-uk-open-pool-championship-player-registration-wnt-wildcard-2/

Regards,
Brendan.

Brendan Moore​ Tournament Director, Matchroom Pool​

 

[iusedtoberich]

Here is a current list of qualifiers. Let's see how they pan out as it gets closer. I read from the Wolf's Den post on FB that he can't hold it unless he has 32 players for sure. IDK if they had to be pre-paid or what, or maybe I misunderstood the post.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Should be close to full field. 120-ish WNT pros, 40-ish from qualifiers, 30-40 invites (700-750 fargo players who aren't WNT pros, Chris Reinhold/Lukas Fracasso-Verner types) and everyone who played in the qualifier but didn't make it will get a chance to pay for the wildcard ($750), same as UK Open.

"
Dear Player,

There are very limited spaces available for the UK Open.

As a player who entered one of the Qualifiers, I would like to offer you the opportunity to enter via a wildcard place. This is very much first come first served. If you have any problems with the link let me know. If you are successful entering, I will then send out a contract for you to sign for the event.

Please use the link below…

https://matchroompool.com/tickets/2024-uk-open-pool-championship-player-registration-wnt-wildcard-2/

Regards,
Brendan.

​ ​ Brendan Moore​ ​ ​ Tournament Director, Matchroom Pool​

Thanks for the first hand info. How many players were in your qualifier for the UK Open?

 

[Bob Jewett]

I think Matchroom is only gradually figuring out how this qualifier stuff works. It's complicated with plenty of pitfalls.

In particular, the Matchroom website should have a page for each qualifier with all the contact info, full address, phone, name of TD, format, dates, room website, etc. that the promoter has agreed to. Make sure all the correct info gets out there. There seems to be an endless stream of questions that should have already been answered.

 

[garczar]

I think Matchroom is only gradually figuring out how this qualifier stuff works. It's complicated with plenty of pitfalls.

In particular, the Matchroom website should have a page for each qualifier with all the contact info, full address, phone, name of TD, format, dates, room website, etc. that the promoter has agreed to. Make sure all the correct info gets out there. There seems to be an endless stream of questions that should have already been answered.

Agree. This is one area where MR generally dogs-it pretty bad: contact. I've emailed/FB'd them a lot and getting any response is kinda brutal. FB is complete waste of time, they never msg. back. The lack of info on these qualy's is ridiculous.

 

[Positively Ralf]

Maybe it's just me, but I find qualifiers in pool to be a complete waste of time.

You already know you will get between 100-130 top level world travelling pro speed players. Just cap the next entrants at nothing below a 650 Fargo and offer something like a reduced entry fee for those players. Remaining spots can be filled up by waiting list players.

Or am I overthinking this?

 

[Bob Jewett]

Maybe it's just me, but I find qualifiers in pool to be a complete waste of time.

You already know you will get between 100-130 top level world travelling pro speed players. Just cap the next entrants at nothing below a 650 Fargo and offer something like a reduced entry fee for those players. Remaining spots can be filled up by waiting list players.

Or am I overthinking this?

I think qualifiers can be a good thing if they're organized and run right. They get a buzz going in the local pool hall and among all the entrants. I think that can be better than simply doing first-come-first-served like for previous events.

 

[The_JV]

Were/are any of those (Canadian?) qualifiers listed on the Matchroompool.com website? Currently there are only 12 listed total and only one in Canada at Petrina's Billiards in Ontario.

Apologies for the late reply.

The event at Petrina's is the one I'll be playing in. One of the operators there is also a CBSA (Canadian billiard and Snooker Association) rep that deals with Canadian qualifiers for the WPA events. There was just another "qualifier" the other weekend but I don't see it listed on the MR site. Curious how that plays out, but it did follow the same qualifying methodology I've seen for everything else that claims to be affiliated.

 

[Zerksies]

I think the whole US open is Bullshit. Last year it was sold out in two hours. They held so many seats for tour players and the rest was open to whoever.

 

[The_JV]

I find the notion of the bracket not being full come day 1, funny. The only way the bracket will be less than 256 is if there's a internet black out in NA for the entire month prior.

I remember when I got the call while on the wait list, and then kept checking for my name on the official players release:

Note how the alphabetical order goes out of whack within the highlighted box... Safe to assume those were all the wait listers. Looks like 20 of them. So at least 128 spots sold first come first served, and then 20 backed out. I can't remember the timing exactly, but I had at least a 2/3wks before the event once I confirmed.

My point, is if and when MR needs to fill the bracket, they will.

 

[The_JV]

I think the whole US open is Bullshit. Last year it was sold out in two hours. They held so many seats for tour players and the rest was open to whoever.

While I sit on the fence, I do prefer the idea of qualifiers. They're just not being well done this year. It should be a scramble by players wanting to qualify. However it seems as though it's being rushed out nearly last minute. That said, I'm paying $150cdn for my qualifier vs the $700usd I paid for direct entry last year. I'm content with my one shot at getting in the main draw. Probably because I was fortunate enough to sneak in last year.

 

[The_JV]

I read from the Wolf's Den post on FB that he can't hold it unless he has 32 players for sure. IDK if they had to be pre-paid or what, or maybe I misunderstood the post.

I don't recall any mention of a 32min requirement for the event I signed up for. I do know I had to pay well in advance, but that kinda the norm in my neck of the woods.

Although I can see MR not wanting one of the 'prized slots" being handed out to BillyBob from Joe's tavern after a 4man round robin. I think in the end, they just want the appropriate entry fees paid. I wouldn't be surprised if some rooms fore go their typical skim off the pot just to get the right amount of $$ in MR's hands.

I can also say that the qualifier I just missed was substantially more in entry then the one I'm playing in next month. Mine is 150 flat rate, the last one was staggered by fargo rate and I think capped out at 230. I was going to be on the hook for 200, that I know for sure. Not sure how that math works though. 2 qualifiers is 2 qualifiers.... Someone made some decent money.

Found the poster. Claims a min of 32. ...and 20 of the entry was skimmed, but there was more than that generated beyond what MR required

 

[garczar]

Here is a current list of qualifiers. Let's see how they pan out as it gets closer. I read from the Wolf's Den post on FB that he can't hold it unless he has 32 players for sure. IDK if they had to be pre-paid or what, or maybe I misunderstood the post.

View attachment 763982

The way i read the Den's FB post is that the extra travel money is based on 32 players. The US Open entries are a lock. At least that's what i got out of it.

 

[skogstokig]

I think the whole US open is Bullshit. Last year it was sold out in two hours. They held so many seats for tour players and the rest was open to whoever.

it shouldn't come down to who clicks first with a computer mouse but who plays best with a pool cue. hold an alternative mouse clicking contest if that's your thing

 

[garczar]

it shouldn't come down to who clicks first with a computer mouse but who plays best with a pool cue. hold an alternative mouse clicking contest if that's your thing

MR is trying to avoid having so many dead-money players in the field. Having qualy's is the way to go. To use the USOpen golf as an example they have a certain number of exempt players but the rest have to qualify. Why should our biggest pool event be any different??

 

[garczar]

I just checked and roughly 65 players qualify each yr for USOpen golf out of a field of around 160. So about 40% of entries have to qualy. So IF the pool Open had 256 players roughly 102-104 would come from qualys. using same system.

 

[The_JV]

To use the USOpen golf as an example they have a certain number of exempt players but the rest have to qualify. Why should our biggest pool event be any different??

This 100%.... While don't know HOW much better the deadmoney portion of the field will be. It will at least be competent players rather than mouse clickers.

 

[iusedtoberich]

I agree completely that it should come down to skill who gets in on the "non - tour card holder spots".

My premise to this whole thread is when the format was "fastest mouse clicker" there was more demand than supply.

Now that the format is "who plays best via qualifiers" the supply is higher than the demand.

We will see how it pans out.

 

[Zerksies]

it shouldn't come down to who clicks first with a computer mouse but who plays best with a pool cue. hold an alternative mouse clicking contest if that's your thing

I got in both years on a wait list. I was one of the first to be contacted on the list last year but i had to sell my spot at the last minute because i got sick.