SJM at the 2025 International Open
- Thread starter sjm
- Start date
Do you have the prize money breakdowns for the other events being held there in conjunction with the Open division? The Mixed Doubles (going on now) is paying double that, 100K.
I think the Spanish Open part is staying in line with other Eurotour events, with yes modest payouts compared to major events, but also has
--relatively modest $200 Euro entry
--attracts nearly 200 entrants from many different countries,
--has a Harmonic Field Strength of 800.4 (in line with other ET events and tougher than DCC, Scottish Open, and Super Billiards Expo)
I think it is a mistake for us to fetishize $$ the way we do. Yes I get it is important. But our level of attention encourages a purely transactional framing, and that's particularly harmful in the United-what-are-they-playing-for-States.
We are kidding ourselves if we think each of Gorst and Filler values 1st place prize money more than he values the pool-world's perception that he is the superior player.
Lukas has greater expected 2026 earnings if he chooses to manage the Walmart produce section than if he plays pool. But we know he'll choose to play pool, and that's what we want. But somehow we think it's not cool to admit he's not being transactional and maximizing expected net earning.
Agreed 100%. We know greatness when we see it, and money won is not always the best measure of that greatness.
Would you say that Biado's greatness in 2025 has exceeded that of Yapp? Biado won one major and leads the AZB money list, but only the delusional would suggest that he has been a better player in 2025 than Yapp, who seems to be winning everything in sight. Player of the year might be unanimous for Yapp.
Greatness is about sustained excellence, and it can be argued that Yapp is the only player this year that has displayed it.