Sofia Mast "retiring?" The state of American pool

[fastone371]

2.3K views · 65 reactions | Eighteen is just around the corner! I'm so excited to dive into culinary school, but I'm also hoping to keep my pool game sharp. Wish me luck navigating this next chapter! #Eighteen #CulinarySchool #PoolPlayer #FuturePlans

Eighteen is just around the corner! I'm so excited to dive into culinary school, but I'm also hoping to keep my pool game sharp. Wish me luck navigating this next chapter! #Eighteen #CulinarySchool...

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Sounds like Sofia Mast is making culinary school her #1 priority, come August. She "hopes" be be able to keep playing pool. She also has an excellent argument as being the #1 American-born woman player.

A couple months ago, I saw a post from her requesting donations/support during her streams. I know she has sponsorships. As well, culinary school graduates are notoriously poorly paid. If the (arguably) best female player born in the US can't make a reasonable living at this game, then there's no real hope for US women to be competitive.

Don't tell my wife's cousin this, she owns a couple of restaurants in the US and is part owner of another in Singapore.

 

[batmmann5]

Seems smart. Chase that dream. She reminds me of another girl from the past; Kara Wroldson. She was a phenom in the 90s. She went on to college and got some finance job making like $100K a year or so I heard. Sofia has pool to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

 

[Island Drive]

A choice such as this at her age, tells me her parents are ''in cue'' with real life. \
Tho in her billiard field, I think she's got a very good chance at doing very well doing both things if she can get a good coach to keep on keeping on in this great game.

 

[Lowell]

She sounds smart. She’ll have a decent job and can do pool on the side. She will be the top shooter in league and the winner of the weekly tournament more often than not.

She could also give lessons

 

[Baby Huey]

Going to school so you can learn a profession can only help your future life. Money for Women’s Pool hasn’t happened just yet but it will in the years to come. She’ll be able to pick her game back up when it happens with the advantage of having a profession to come back too.

 

[decent dennis]

Was looking forward to her and Savannah growing in the game together

 

[garczar]

Not sure about cops and insurance salesmen.

Be nice not to need them but they'll be around til the sun quits burning. Its collusion: the cops/hookers/ins. guys are in cahoots.

 

[garczar]

Without large-scale (or gov't ) backing they'd never make it just playing pool. The daily/monthly/yearly nut would crucify them. Tough enough for top male players to make it, its even more brutal for the gals. If you're not in the top-10 you're scuffling.

 

[skor]

She’s making a good decision.
Whether she’ll continue to play pool or not, it won’t last forever and it’s good to have a degree and a profession in hand, even if it’s just in case.
The state of pro pool in the USA just can’t compete with the international level to finish in good money at the end of the year. Even as a WPBA player, most Americans are housewives that play pool, they can’t beat the international talent that comes over for most events.
Might as well get a real job and compete on the side when time allows.
If the BCA won’t wake up and start programs for pool players like for other pro athletes, this all is left for American pool.

 

[TeddyKGB]

being a pro pool player aint all its cracked up to be...8 hour daily practice sessions for small amounts of money, pressure to perform, traveling, etc.

I'd rather cook food too

 

[Dave714]

Smart, she doesn't want to end up like Vivian's sorry ass.

 

[skor]

I'd rather cook food too

As someone who works in the restaurants industry, I doubt that....

 

[iusedtoberich]

Well this is a clickbait title for sure. How do you get she's retiring [which also means quitting pool] out of her post?

 

[Scrunge19]

There’s maybe only 5-10 men I’d suggest pursue a professional pool career over a traditional one let alone a female player.

If you have the means and ability to make a comfortable living in a traditional career, you should do that 99.9 times out of 100. I think this is a really smart decision by her.

 

[cookie man]

Fargo above 600. Might as well quit playing

 

[skogstokig]

Fargo above 600. Might as well quit playing

if so her fargo is lagging. common with young improving players. she's 16 or so (and junior world champion)

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

2.3K views · 65 reactions | Eighteen is just around the corner! I'm so excited to dive into culinary school, but I'm also hoping to keep my pool game sharp. Wish me luck navigating this next chapter! #Eighteen #CulinarySchool #PoolPlayer #FuturePlans

Eighteen is just around the corner! I'm so excited to dive into culinary school, but I'm also hoping to keep my pool game sharp. Wish me luck navigating this next chapter! #Eighteen #CulinarySchool...

www.facebook.com

Sounds like Sofia Mast is making culinary school her #1 priority, come August. She "hopes" be be able to keep playing pool. She also has an excellent argument as being the #1 American-born woman player.

A couple months ago, I saw a post from her requesting donations/support during her streams. I know she has sponsorships. As well, culinary school graduates are notoriously poorly paid. If the (arguably) best female player born in the US can't make a reasonable living at this game, then there's no real hope for US women to be competitive.

She should do what ever makes her happy, no matter how poor the pay is. I imagine that she is probably very burned out on Pool, but I do not know. Probably just wants to try something new. I wish her the best. And, who knows, she might really start to miss the game, and want to take it back up full time.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

That's the point.

If someone can be #1 and still have culinary school as a better financial option, then women's pro pool in this country is in a very sad state. How can it attract potential players if there's no future in it?

I believe that most, if not all, US Woman players have had some sort of 2nd income, or a Husband to support them. Or, maybe some sort of business on the side. Same can probably be said for most of the American Men players.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

Seems smart. Chase that dream. She reminds me of another girl from the past; Kara Wroldson. She was a phenom in the 90s. She went on to college and got some finance job making like $100K a year or so I heard. Sofia has pool to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

Pool is not something you fall back on. I seen Johnny Archer was playing in an event recently, where 1st place paid $1200. That is right, $1200. I did not miss any zero's.

 

[g0ds gReeN]

If that's what she wants, good for her. I hope she finds success in whatever avenue she drives down.