Chinese pool starting to steal more and more 9 ballers, even without the big prize pool

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kingwang

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There's a smaller Duya Golden Nine event going on in Malaysia right now. The first place prize is only $20k USD, tiny compared to the domestic Chinese events. Aside from the usual suspects (Ko brothers, Orcollo, etc) I was surprised by how many 9 ballers joined.
  • Johann Chua
  • Baseth Mocaibat
  • James Aranas
  • Paolo Gallito
  • Aivhan Maluto
  • Oliver Villafuerte
  • Nguyen Anh Tuan (Tkon) - Remember how a couple years ago, Matchroom was pushing this guy to be one of their next stars? They had him in both PLP and WPM and in their words "Tkon will be a star on the World Nineball Tour for years to come".
  • Liu Ri Teng
Four of these guys played in the US Open last year and obviously decided to skip this year. Other than Tkon, all these guys are 800+ rated.
 
sjm said:
Of these, only Chua would be considered a top 9ball player. Cannot blame any of them. If they can make a good living at home, why travel? Where's the problem?
Click to expand...
Agreed. More players from Taipei and the Philippines will go there because the money is good, but so far only the Ko brothers and Chua were major contenders for a WPA-WNT title.

I don’t think Chua is entirely done with traditional 9-ball. He was messaging FB supporters to watch the U.S. Open on ESPN. I would be surprised if he doesn’t play in the Philippines Open. Doesn’t look like there’s a competing Duya event.

Very few Westerners will defect to Duya, though.

It will be interesting to see what young Asian stars do, namely Januarta and Manas. Pool variants in China don’t the same historical prestige as the U.S. Open and WPC. Someday it will if it maintains popularity and big prizes, but that day is far off.

In any case, the WNT and WPA tours will be fine, even if their prize funds pale in comparison.

Meantime, Duya should make their tour super easy for Westerners to access via YouTube and FB, in English. I’d definitely be interested in watching Chua play.
 
kingwang said:
There's a smaller Duya Golden Nine event going on in Malaysia right now. The first place prize is only $20k USD, tiny compared to the domestic Chinese events. Aside from the usual suspects (Ko brothers, Orcollo, etc) I was surprised by how many 9 ballers joined.
  • Johann Chua
  • Baseth Mocaibat
  • James Aranas
  • Paolo Gallito
  • Aivhan Maluto
  • Oliver Villafuerte
  • Nguyen Anh Tuan (Tkon) - Remember how a couple years ago, Matchroom was pushing this guy to be one of their next stars? They had him in both PLP and WPM and in their words "Tkon will be a star on the World Nineball Tour for years to come".
  • Liu Ri Teng
Four of these guys played in the US Open last year and obviously decided to skip this year. Other than Tkon, all these guys are 800+ rated.
Click to expand...
They get paid bigger money to be there. They are "promoting" the game in the region. Seems both financially and politically motivated.
 
As I thought, Chua is playing at the Predator World 10-ball tournament and a mixed doubles event in Vietnam. He is keeping a foot in both worlds, Chinese and Western pool.
 
jbart65 said:
Agreed. More players from Taipei and the Philippines will go there because the money is good, but so far only the Ko brothers and Chua were major contenders for a WPA-WNT title.

I don’t think Chua is entirely done with traditional 9-ball. He was messaging FB supporters to watch the U.S. Open on ESPN. I would be surprised if he doesn’t play in the Philippines Open. Doesn’t look like there’s a competing Duya event.

Very few Westerners will defect to Duya, though.

It will be interesting to see what young Asian stars do, namely Januarta and Manas. Pool variants in China don’t the same historical prestige as the U.S. Open and WPC. Someday it will if it maintains popularity and big prizes, but that day is far off.

In any case, the WNT and WPA tours will be fine, even if their prize funds pale in comparison.

Meantime, Duya should make their tour super easy for Westerners to access via YouTube and FB, in English. I’d definitely be interested in watching Chua play.
Click to expand...
Hopeful I'm healthy enough to go to the Philippines Open in October. Pool has exploded here in the last few years. Many new rooms, lots and lots of money players, even more tournaments.

I watch a lot on streams here. So many new guys who are playing high level pool. I would estimate well over 50 who have never visited the States, that could win the big regional pro events. AJ and Januarta speed! They all play even and "upsets" abound.

Big money matches every night, mostly around the Manila rooms - 50 to 100,000P is average (per man). Well heeled backers too. Don't flinch for any bet! I've seen millions bet on a match (one million about 17K US).


Our "pros" with one or two exceptions would get swamped over here. Shane could get all the action he wants playing even! Gorst too.These guys are out to prove they are the best!

I live in Pool heaven here.
 
kingwang said:
There's a smaller Duya Golden Nine event going on in Malaysia right now. The first place prize is only $20k USD, tiny compared to the domestic Chinese events. Aside from the usual suspects (Ko brothers, Orcollo, etc) I was surprised by how many 9 ballers joined.
  • Johann Chua
  • Baseth Mocaibat
  • James Aranas
  • Paolo Gallito
  • Aivhan Maluto
  • Oliver Villafuerte
  • Nguyen Anh Tuan (Tkon) - Remember how a couple years ago, Matchroom was pushing this guy to be one of their next stars? They had him in both PLP and WPM and in their words "Tkon will be a star on the World Nineball Tour for years to come".
  • Liu Ri Teng
Four of these guys played in the US Open last year and obviously decided to skip this year. Other than Tkon, all these guys are 800+ rated.
Click to expand...

Off topic, but has James Aranas been back in the US since he was deported awhile back? I know, very old news, but I can't remember exactly how old. Orcollo was deported too. Has he been back to the US, for any events?
 
jbart65 said:
Agreed. More players from Taipei and the Philippines will go there because the money is good, but so far only the Ko brothers and Chua were major contenders for a WPA-WNT title.

I don’t think Chua is entirely done with traditional 9-ball. He was messaging FB supporters to watch the U.S. Open on ESPN. I would be surprised if he doesn’t play in the Philippines Open. Doesn’t look like there’s a competing Duya event.

Very few Westerners will defect to Duya, though.

It will be interesting to see what young Asian stars do, namely Januarta and Manas. Pool variants in China don’t the same historical prestige as the U.S. Open and WPC. Someday it will if it maintains popularity and big prizes, but that day is far off.

In any case, the WNT and WPA tours will be fine, even if their prize funds pale in comparison.

Meantime, Duya should make their tour super easy for Westerners to access via YouTube and FB, in English. I’d definitely be interested in watching Chua play.
Click to expand...

I wonder why the Ko Brothers did not enter the US Open.
 
jay helfert said:
Hopeful I'm healthy enough to go to the Philippines Open in October. Pool has exploded here in the last few years. Many new rooms, lots and lots of money players, even more tournaments.

I watch a lot on streams here. So many new guys who are playing high level pool. I would estimate well over 50 who have never visited the States, that could win the big regional pro events. AJ and Januarta speed! They all play even and "upsets" abound.

Big money matches every night, mostly around the Manila rooms - 50 to 100,000P is average (per man). Well heeled backers too. Don't flinch for any bet! I've seen millions bet on a match (one million about 17K US).


Our "pros" with one or two exceptions would get swamped over here. Shane could get all the action he wants playing even! Gorst too.These guys are out to prove they are the best!

I live in Pool heaven here.
Click to expand...
Jay, how is the young girl Lady Cobra? What's her pool rep there? Is she going to be pro-level in your estimation? Is she being mentored by any pros? I like watching her short videos.
 
jay helfert said:
Hopeful I'm healthy enough to go to the Philippines Open in October. Pool has exploded here in the last few years. Many new rooms, lots and lots of money players, even more tournaments.

I watch a lot on streams here. So many new guys who are playing high level pool. I would estimate well over 50 who have never visited the States, that could win the big regional pro events. AJ and Januarta speed! They all play even and "upsets" abound.

Big money matches every night, mostly around the Manila rooms - 50 to 100,000P is average (per man). Well heeled backers too. Don't flinch for any bet! I've seen millions bet on a match (one million about 17K US).


Our "pros" with one or two exceptions would get swamped over here. Shane could get all the action he wants playing even! Gorst too.These guys are out to prove they are the best!

I live in Pool heaven here.
Click to expand...
There are lots of great streams. Always something to watch while I am in the office... Azung's, Capito sports bar, Billiards capital. You got any others you'd recommend Jay?
 
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