WNT Ranking event Bucharest Open.

Poolmanis

Poolmanis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Brackets : https://9ball.ro/bracket?type=1

Full field of 256. No Finnish players is meh for me :(

Some matches are streamed YT by this channel.
www.youtube.com

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Full field of 256 is strong! Another WNT-ranking event will hopefully generate not only new interest in professional pool by aspiring pool players but will also help pool grow as a sport.

I have to give credit where credit is due. The EPBF, governing body of European pool, has maintained a fairly strong interest by European pros. Now comes the BCA, the governing body of North American pool, with their $20,000-added Master's Open for American players. This is the first step by the BCA industry members to grow North American pool. Master's chalk donated the $20 large. If each industry member of the BCA could donate to professional pool like Master's Chalk did, we might be able to have our own APBF (American Pocket Billiard Federation).

Whether it's Matchroom, Predator, WPA, EPBF, and now the BCA, the future is looking bright for the professional pool player. If this can attract interest from non-pool-related sponsors and the purses grow, so too will the lot of professional pool players. Baby steps. I know. Baby steps.
 
They solution for American pool might be to look at the WPBA. They are doing everything on their own, setting up events, getting sponsors, streaming, everything.
Maybe the men need to do something on their own, as a team effort. Or maybe they need some women to run things for them.
 
Interesting that there's one lone American in the event: Payne McBride. Go get 'em, Payne!

An interesting read in August 2023 Billiards Digest about Payne: Promoters like Matchroom and Predator and the WPBA are providing the next step for up-and-coming players. I asked another junior, Payne McBride, who has played in some of the top pro events, why it's important for young players to participate.

“It's important for juniors to play in pro events because it is the transition from amateur to pro,” he told me. “Pool doesn't really have a smooth transition for the juniors to turn pro. Players have to ship themselves to the big events to get the knowledge and experience they need.” Source: https://billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/aug_23/bb_index.php

I did see some oldies and goodies on the list: Joshua Filler, of course, Marcus Chamat, Kledio Kaci, Wiktor Zielenski, Oliver Szolnoki, Ralph Souquet, Niels Feijen, Jonas Souto, Can Salim, Ivaca Putnik, Robbie Capito, and probably a few more name-brand pool players. When folks alphabetize lists like this using the first name, I think it sucks a big weenie. Most use the last name for alphabetizing.
 
skor said:
They solution for American pool might be to look at the WPBA. They are doing everything on their own, setting up events, getting sponsors, streaming, everything.
Maybe the men need to do something on their own, as a team effort. Or maybe they need some women to run things for them.
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The ladies have the WPBA, which has been a long-established organization. The men have nothing like that. There have been attempts to organize, but due to corruption and greed and favoritism, a men's organization hasn't been successful. It would be nice to see the BCA step up to the plate for something like this.
 
JAM said:
The ladies have the WPBA, which has been a long-established organization. The men have nothing like that. There have been attempts to organize, but due to corruption and greed and favoritism, a men's organization hasn't been successful. It would be nice to see the BCA step up to the plate for something like this.
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that's why I said that maybe they need women to organize it
 
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The intro ceremony was… insert negative comment

Ended up watching some Filipino money games instead last night, which were far more entertaining. Manas playing a few players unknown to me with mixed results over the last few days. Guess they’re in Vietnam

Might tune into the finals of the Bucharest Open depending on who plays. But it’s a big meh from what I was able to watch yesterday. Stream quality, atmosphere and organisation were… insert another negative comment.
 
Flakeandrun said:
The intro ceremony was… insert negative comment

Ended up watching some Filipino money games instead last night, which were far more entertaining. Manas playing a few players unknown to me with mixed results over the last few days. Guess they’re in Vietnam

Might tune into the finals of the Bucharest Open depending on who plays. But it’s a big meh from what I was able to watch yesterday. Stream quality, atmosphere and organisation were… insert another negative comment.
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At least they are trying and doing something.
If you’ve watched the last US Open 8ball and the rest of the disciplines played, the production was pretty poor as well.
 
I see every WNT ranking event as a big deal. Matchroom has really stepped up to the plate in affiliating itself with events all over the world.

In 2023, Matchroom set up WNT ranking events in Scotland, Poland, Spain, and Vietnam. In 2024, they set up WNT ranking events in Colombia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Maldives, Finland, Morocco, and Portugal. This week, WNT ranking points can be earned in Romania. Here in the United States, in 2025, Matchroom continues to add more WNT ranking events, including a major in August at the Florida Open.

As WNT ranking points can now be earned worldwide, a rising star can begin to blaze a trail to becoming a WNT pro BEFORE bearing the imposing costs of world travel, and that will serve the best interests of our sport.

Good luck to all these fine players.
 
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sjm said:
I see every WNT ranking event as a big deal. Matchroom has really stepped up to the plate in affiliating itself with events all over the world.

In 2023, Matchroom set up WNT ranking events in Scotland, Poland, Spain, and Vietnam. In 2024, they set up WNT ranking events in Colombia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Maldives, Finland, Morocco, and Portugal. This week, WNT ranking points can be earned in Romania. Here in the United States, in 2025, Matchroom continues to add more WNT ranking events, including a major in August at the Florida Open.

As WNT ranking points can now be earned worldwide, a rising star can begin to blaze a trail to becoming a WNT pro BEFORE bearing the imposing costs of world travel, and that will serve the best interests of our sport.

Good luck to all these fine players.
Click to expand...
Matchroom is still in their WNT branding phase actually trying to spread worldwide. The tournaments are still offering overlay, Romania 55k prizepool with 256 entries 130€ each. Overlay is provided by the organizer and I think WNT event requires a minimum 50k prizepool. There are a lot of events but only the wealthiest clubs afford to put down the overlay. How long the organizers are willing to continue with this, I don’t know, but I still think it’s a good thing for pool that the number of events are going up. Event ”inflation” is compensated with MR main events which are a handful.
 
mjantti said:
Matchroom is still in their WNT branding phase actually trying to spread worldwide. The tournaments are still offering overlay, Romania 55k prizepool with 256 entries 130€ each. Overlay is provided by the organizer and I think WNT event requires a minimum 50k prizepool. There are a lot of events but only the wealthiest clubs afford to put down the overlay. How long the organizers are willing to continue with this, I don’t know, but I still think it’s a good thing for pool that the number of events are going up. Event ”inflation” is compensated with MR main events which are a handful.
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Nice post, and I agree with nearly all of it. My sense of things is that the 50K minimum prize fund requirement is a good thing. WNT branding will gradually improve the quality of all the WNT ranking events not produced by Matchroom, which in time should help field quality and attract more sponsorship.

My sense of things is that Matchroom's "steady but sure" approach is a long-term winner for our sport.
 
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