The Reyes Cup

Monti said:
I don’t think it’s the cue either but I do think it’s the switch of cue that is playing with his head
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These guys adjust to new cues very fast. Its not the cue. He's had the new cue more than long enough to get used to it.
 
skogstokig said:
sure, his confidence can be entertaining but this time he couldn't back it up. when is his 10b challenge match against SVB?
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I just meant he just say Asia had more luck because he believes so. Not making excuses. Just saying how he sees it..
It is easy to be good when rolls go in your way.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I didn't notice that particular problem, but what I did notice is that the director repeatedly cut away from the critical part of the shot. Often they would cut to something irrelevant just before the cue ball was struck. Or when position was critical and the cue ball was rolling to maybe a hook or maybe perfect position, they would switch to the opponent's reaction. My conclusion is that the director knew little about pool. Where is Helfert when you need him?
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Yeah, they do it on EVERY SINGLE BREAK shot. I'm watching to see if there's going to be an open shot on the lowest ball and.....blammo....cut away...

Dammit...

Jaden
 
jbart65 said:
Notes on the final day:

The big surprise, to me, was the much larger and very noisy crowd. Not just fans cheering on the Asian players. But a large contingent on the European side. We saw a hint of this on Day 3, but Day 4 was excellent on TV. Shades of Mosconi.

The first match, Chua vs Alcaide, was one of the best of the week. Chua made a few mistakes early on, but appeared to take control going up 4-3. Alcaide then had a golden break with the 9 ball just barely, barely, tipping into the side pocket. Chua put the one ball - and cue ball - into the pocket on his next break and Alcaide ran out.

Match two pitted Krause and FSR vs. Ko and Duong. The Europeans communicated well, but FSR made several costly mistakes as he did all tournament. Ko was at his very best and Duong made some tough shots. Ko did bail him out a few times, though. A 5-2 Team Asia win.

Matches 3 and 4, Jayson Shaw played loose and handily beat both Biado and Duong in back-to-back singles matches, 5-3 and 5-2.

Biado actually had a chance to take the lead in game 7, but blew a long, straight 2 ball. Shaw never gave him much chance after that.

Showman Shaw was at his best antagonizing self - he would not have looked out of place on a WWF stage.

In the final match, Yapp was all business and beat FSR 5-1. Unlike the first day, Yapp didn't seem nervous, but he was intent on closing it out. Asked afterward what he was thinking, he smiled and laughed and said "nothing."

He didn't even crack a smile when his gleeful teammates shouted and pounded him on the back. It was kind of funny.
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There are a ton of expats from many western countries in Asia, especially, vietnam, singapore and malaysia. So not surprising at all.

Jaden
 
Bob Jewett said:
I didn't notice that particular problem, but what I did notice is that the director repeatedly cut away from the critical part of the shot. Often they would cut to something irrelevant just before the cue ball was struck. Or when position was critical and the cue ball was rolling to maybe a hook or maybe perfect position, they would switch to the opponent's reaction. My conclusion is that the director knew little about pool. Where is Helfert when you need him?
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Yes. Just when the MR production crew was starting to understand how to frame the shots and what to show during and after a shot it seems like they got a new crew, or at least a new director.
 
iusedtoberich said:
He underperformed the entire year. Look at his prize winnings in 2024 vs 2023.
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I agree he hasn’t been the same since he was winning everything playing with his predator cue but I think it has more to do with the new break rules and tougher competition. Plus he did just win the Peri Open with one the toughest fields ever playing with his Cuetec.
 
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garczar said:
I've talked to quite a few in my local spot about the RC and not ONE knew what i was talking about. Like i said, in a couple days it will be as if it never happened.
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The Reyes Cup is obviously not aimed at the U.S. market. MR as you full well know wants to tap into the large and growing Asian market. That's where the future of the pro sport seems to lie.

Matchroom isn't done., either, I'd guess. I see MR ending up with six major opens globally. One in the U.S., two in Europe (UK and European Opens) and three in the Middle East/Asia. Right now there is the World Pool Championship with a likely long term home in Saudi Arabia and the Hanoi Open.

The big market MR has to want to tap is China. I'd bet they would love to have a China Open, but it might be a politically fraught issue. Manilla or Seoul could be other options.
 
garczar said:
My $.02: this was an EXHIBITION pure and simple. They all got the same $$ and zero ranking points were involved.
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Is the Mosconi a mere exhibition? I think not.

What do people talk about when they talk about SVP? His subpar performances over the years at the Mosconi is as much a conversation piece as anything.

How did Skyler get his reputation? Mosconi.

Niels Feijin has won some of the biggest titles in the world, but he is often referred to as the four-time Mosconi Cup MVP.

Some day, if the Reyes Cup becomes similarly established, the same will happen to the MVP winners. You can be sure Yapp will constantly be referred to as the first Reyes Cup MVP. I wouldn't even be surprised if it helps him push his game to an even higher level.

Players want to play in the Mosconi. That has been made abundantly clear. It is not a mere exhibit to them or to the fans.
 
garczar said:
My $.02: this was an EXHIBITION pure and simple.
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But let's say you are right. These are just exhibitions. I still think they have great value.

Why do I watch pool? Two reasons.

One, I enjoy the game and enjoy see the skill and artistry of the best players in the world playing the game I love.

Two, I want to be entertained.

The Mosconi Cup is the most entertaining event in pool to me. Why? The team aspect and the fan involvement.

Now, I enjoy the big Open tournaments and the invitationals (exhibits too). But the lack of crowd involvement makes them somewhat less enjoyable. Think of watching sports during the Covid era. They were a lot more dull.

That's why the Hanoi Open is quickly becoming huge. You get the high quality of an Open and the crowd size and response a bit more akin to the Mosconi.

All the spectators add a new level of pressure to the event that players rarely feel in most other Opens. Yes, they feel pressure the deeper they go in any tournament, but the pressure of large, boisterous crowds is a different matter entirely. And players have repeatedly said so.

Playing for a team, country or region adds even more pressure. You don't want to let others down.

I would also hope that events like the Mosconi and Reyes would show fans they can actually be boisterous at other major pool tournaments. We saw some of that at Hanoi. I want to see it everywhere.
 
I think of the Mosconi like hybrid of the playoffs and an all-star game.

What is your reward for a great pool season? You get selected to play in an all-star matchup involving the world's very best players.

But it's not just an event to go have fun at. There is serious pressure to win. The winning team earns double what the losing team makes. And reputations are burnished, or tarnished, by how you perform.

MR hopes the Reyes will become the same and help strengthen its foothold in Asia. It's obvious Asian players watch the Mosconi and wanted something like that for themselves. Ko said as much, and others too.
 
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