World Pool Championships 2025, July 21-26, Jeddah

Two days later, and not a single match from the WPC is available on WNTTV.

It’s like we have gone backward in time. You can only watch an event when it’s live. Can’t record. Can’t do anything. 20th century stuff.

I have had huge regard for MR and its attempt to create a viable pro pool tour. Nothing has made me question MR - there are always questions of any pro entity - more than its own video platform. Before we could blame DAZN directly. Not anymore.

It’s said you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. We are just about there. This should have been a chance for MR to monetize its events. Word of mouth is getting around and it’s not good.
 
jbart65 said:
Two days later, and not a single match from the WPC is available on WNTTV.

It’s like we have gone backward in time. You can only watch an event when it’s live. Can’t record. Can’t do anything. 20th century stuff.

I have had huge regard for MR and its attempt to create a viable pro pool tour. Nothing has made me question MR - there are always questions of any pro entity - more than its own video platform. Before we could blame DAZN directly. Not anymore.

It’s said you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. We are just about there. This should have been a chance for MR to monetize its events. Word of mouth is getting around and it’s not good.
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Let's not get too crazy here. Yes, Matchroom has flopped on its streaming platform for the WPC and we are all upset, as well we should be. As they have built the best pool tour of the 21st century, we are not used to having Matchroom and flop in the same sentence.

I will stay patient here, because Matchroom has tended to up its game whenever the need has arisen. Until they do, however, I will share in the general frustration of all.
 
Just saw a highlight of SVB's win on the main table. What's with the green hue/lighting in the arena? The green with the all grey and black the players were wearing during that highlight made it seem like something out of the 2nd and 3rd matrix movies.
 
Positively Ralf said:
Just saw a highlight of SVB's win on the main table. What's with the green hue/lighting in the arena? The green with the all grey and black the players were wearing during that highlight made it seem like something out of the 2nd and 3rd matrix movies.
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They were good movies so .....
 
Looks like SVB (FR 844), to get to the Last 64, will have to beat the loser of the match between Ko Pin Yi (846) and Bernie Regalario (803). That SVB match is scheduled for the last time slot tomorrow (Wednesday, 10:30 pm there).
 
sjm said:
Let's not get too crazy here. Yes, Matchroom has flopped on its streaming platform for the WPC and we are all upset, as well we should be. As they have built the best pool tour of the 21st century, we are not used to having Matchroom and flop in the same sentence.

I will stay patient here, because Matchroom has tended to up its game whenever the need has arisen. Until they do, however, I will share in the general frustration of all.
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I don’t think it is crazy, sjm, to think I would have seen clear improvement by now. Instead of constant problems. The same problems again and again.

I am a highly competent person (yes, I am biased.). I am just asking for basic competence. That’s all.

I’ve been plenty patient too - until now.

In any case, MR needs to hear the criticism. They need to know people are watching - or trying to watch! - and get its product up to snuff.

Rooting hard for MR, but it’s been a tough year for timely scheduling and a new video platform.
 
AtLarge said:
Looks like SVB (FR 844), to get to the Last 64, will have to beat the loser of the match between Ko Pin Yi (846) and Bernie Regalario (803). That SVB match is scheduled for the last time slot tomorrow (Wednesday, 10:30 pm there).
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Fedor won last year coming through the loser’s side!
Just saying…
 
jbart65 said:
I don’t think it is crazy, sjm, to think I would have seen clear improvement by now. Instead of constant problems. The same problems again and again.
...
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They are dealing with a new production company (I'm pretty sure). Matchroom does not have the staff to do their own productions. I believe even the director -- who chooses the cameras during play -- is a temp. The stream company has been with them for a while, but this is probably a production interface that's new to them. They have fixed things like no names or scores on the silent streams, so there is someone actually doing useful things. There's more to be fixed, and with luck most of it will be done by the knock out phase (last 64).

I suspect that the WNTTV streams have a relatively low priority because commercial broadcast contracts are much more lucrative. Also, I imagine that Matchroom has very little, if any, monitoring of how the WNTTV streams appear in the respective customer countries. When I say, "relatively low priority," I mean in relation to all the other things that have to be fixed, repaired, patched up, and worked around in a production this size. They have to deal with 128 pool players, after all.
 
Bob Jewett said:
They are dealing with a new production company (I'm pretty sure). Matchroom does not have the staff to do their own productions. I believe even the director -- who chooses the cameras during play -- is a temp. The stream company has been with them for a while, but this is probably a production interface that's new to them. They have fixed things like no names or scores on the silent streams, so there is someone actually doing useful things. There's more to be fixed, and with luck most of it will be done by the knock out phase (last 64).

I suspect that the WNTTV streams have a relatively low priority because commercial broadcast contracts are much more lucrative. Also, I imagine that Matchroom has very little, if any, monitoring of how the WNTTV streams appear in the respective customer countries. When I say, "relatively low priority," I mean in relation to all the other things that have to be fixed, repaired, patched up, and worked around in a production this size. They have to deal with 128 pool players, after all.
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did hear some arabic in the background when they were sorting out commentator audio issue. possible they have a native production company then.

would like to hear input from anyone who uses viasport or sky sports. no issues?
 
Pop, pop, it's show time in Jeddah for Fedor and Oscar this morning, beginning in 10 minutes from the time of this post.

Hunter Lombardo went 2 and out, lost out to fellow American Lukas Fracasso-Verner. If I have the times right, USA Eastern Daylight Time, we are 7 hours behind Saudi Arabia time.

Here's what's happening today for the Americans according to WNT Live Scores website at the time of this writing:
• Fedor Gorst v. Francesco Candela, 6 a.m. EDT
• Oscar Dominguez v. Marc Bijsterbosch, 6 a.m. EDT
• Max Eberle v. Jayson Shaw, 7:30 a.m. EDT
• Sam Henderson v. ?, 12:30 p.m. EDT
• Tyler Styer v. ?, 12:30 p.m. EDT
• Lukas Fracasso-Verner v. ?, 3:30 p.m. EDT
• Shane Van Boening v. ?, 3:30 p.m. EDT
• Lukas Fracasso-Verner v. ?, 3:30 p.m. EDT


At the 2023 Spanish Open in Luga, Spain—one of my all-time favorite Matchroom events, mainly because of the audience participation—Marc Bijsterbosch from Holland made three golden breaks in a row and was runner-up against Dang Jin Hui in the finals.

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The railbirds at the 2023 Spanish Open in Luga, Spain, singing in between matches, dancing in the aisles, and raising their hands in glee, I'll never forget that. It was beautiful.

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This is second year in Saudi Arabia, and the seats in the venue are empty. I hope this changes. It is off-putting as a pool fan. I love it when the audience oohs and aahs and gives a round of applause and cheers.
 
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Fedor and Francesca practiing before the match. I'm not familiar with Francesca from Italy, but I sure wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. That look! On the offs, he and Fedor were sharing a few laughs. So he looks like a good guy. :)

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Eklent Kaci had to cover his face with hands during wlak-on, so that the sparkles bursting around don't hurt hie eyes :rolleyes: Who even deccided this is a good idea, to injure a player right before the match?
 
JAM said:
Fedor and Francesca practiing before the match. I'm not familiar with Francesca from Italy, but I sure wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. That look! On the offs, he and Fedor were sharing a few laughs. So he looks like a good guy. :)

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Jen, please fix that mistake :) Francesca is a female name in Italy, while males are named with an -o in the end

By the way, following the same principle it would be offensive when you visit La Scala in Milano and being excited by strong performance of a male tenor, shout "Brava!" Brava is for lady performers, while appraising men you shout "Bravo!"
 
Notable matches for me today. With my luck they will probably show 1 of these

Mustafa alnar vs roda
Big kaci vs melly
Raga vs soufi
Bernie regulario vs ko pin yi
Albin vs James aranas (sexy battle)
Lee van Corteza vs biado (pinoy on pinoy crime)
AJ manas vs majin yapp
 
I doubt that we’ll see an American reaching the final 8.
I don’t consider Gorst as an American for that matter. I’m sure he get to the final 8.
All of them can win a big match but I don’t think they can do it match after match against a very strong field.
SVB feels like past his prime.
Tyler can go the distance but he is not consistent so I doubt it.
 
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