I Like the WNT But....

[boogeyman]

I like what Matchroom has done with 9 ball. Their production is really good and the tournaments are enjoyable, but I'm afraid the WNT is going to peter out. Ultimately, I think they made a mistake going all-in on one game. I'm a fan, but I'm finding their tournaments are all having the same feel, and it's hard to distinguish one from another. The same setting, the same gray cloth, and the same players, doing the same thing in a different location.

I don't really like 8 Ball, but maybe they could have added more variety to their calendar by adding the other disciplines, or at least a single 8 ball tourney and maybe even 10 ball. Either that, or they need to figure out a better way to differentiate their tourneys. I could be totally wrong, and they are just running into the limitations intrinsic to pool. Plus, I do understand that there are competing organizations. I also do think 9 ball is a great game for professionals. But -- if I'm losing interest as a fan, surely there's something they could do differently.

Anybody else feel like all their tourneys are just bleeding into each other?

I like what Matchroom has done with 9 ball. Their production is really good and the tournaments are enjoyable, but I'm afraid the WNT is going to peter out. Ultimately, I think they made a mistake going all-in on one game. I'm a fan, but I'm finding their tournaments are all having the same feel, and it's hard to distinguish one from another. The same setting, the same gray cloth, and the same players, doing the same thing in a different location.

I don't really like 8 Ball, but maybe they could have added more variety to their calendar by adding the other disciplines, or at least a single 8 ball tourney and maybe even 10 ball. Either that, or they need to figure out a better way to differentiate their tourneys. I could be totally wrong, and they are just running into the limitations intrinsic to pool. Plus, I do understand that there are competing organizations. I also do think 9 ball is a great game for professionals. But -- if I'm losing interest as a fan, surely there's something they could do differently.

Anybody else feel like all their tourneys are just bleeding into each other?

(Sorry I double replied)
Maintaining a consistent brand and predictable presentation is very important. It allows everyone (including sponsors) to know what to expect and how to insert themselves into the process. You minimize surprises, you test things incrementally, and you ensure things march forward. The WNT is doing just that.
If things changed every tournament people might then say, "that WNT is so chaotic and disorganized."
No tournament format is gong to please everyone, but so far, this WNT is doing exactly what it is supposed to do
The longer it continues to do the same thing, the better it will become at it. That's what's important in any endeavor.

 

[Frosty]

It’s not just traditional ball colors, it’s cloth color, a reasonable sized pocket for 9 ball, like 4 1/4” to allow it to be 9 ball. But most of all quality of equipment, the best players in the world should play on the best equipment, Diamond tables, Aramith balls, Simonis cloth, not on equipment made by whomever writes MR a big check to get MR to use their equipment.

 

[JusticeNJ]

An old sage at the 'hall years ago told me this: pool players will bitch if not hung with a new rope. Some things never change.

They'd bitch about the new rope too. Absolutely.

 

[tripl3rrr]

All things being equal I prefer watching Predator events for one big reason. They use traditional ball colors! Makes for easy viewing of matches, no squinting to figure out which ball is which. It actually makes a huge diiference! I enjoy watching a helluva lot more.

I agree with you here Jay, plus the Predator events they have a better camera IMHO. I think that's one of the reason why predator have the advantage and the fact that is free for everyone.

 

[bmccaslin]

All things being equal I prefer watching Predator events for one big reason. They use traditional ball colors! Makes for easy viewing of matches, no squinting to figure out which ball is which. It actually makes a huge diiference! I enjoy watching a helluva lot more.

This!!! I love trying to figure out the best patterns as I'm watching the runouts, and so many times I get in my head that "okay, we're going from the red 3 to the purple 4 and - wait - why on Earth did they play it that way?!?!?! Oh right, the pink is the 4 and the purple is the 5 and just...why?"

 

[sjm]

Speaking of that coverage... does anyone know of a place where I could watch the end of the FSR v. Capito final? The ESPN streaming service cut off the broadcast when ESPN2 switched to a different event, and the score was 9-8 FSR I think.

The entire match is still available for view on WNTTV.

 

[kollegedave]

All things being equal I prefer watching Predator events for one big reason. They use traditional ball colors! Makes for easy viewing of matches, no squinting to figure out which ball is which. It actually makes a huge diiference! I enjoy watching a helluva lot more.

I prefer Predator events, because the prevailing camera perspective is slightly further away from the table, such you can sometimes see all of the player as he gets down on the shot.

I think the matchroom perspective of being so close to the table or directly above it, zoomed in like a video game, doesn't allow the viewer to appreciate different (or similar) methods used by the best players in the world to get down on a pool shot.

I do realize this is a bit nit-picky, but that is just a testament to how good the matchroom events are. I can't stand the black balls.

kollegedave

 

[CajunPopeye]

I don't really like 8 Ball, but maybe they could have added more variety to their calendar by adding the other disciplines,

Maybe 3 ball for the folks with short attention spans. I never see it mentioned on here.

 

[skogstokig]

But most of all quality of equipment, the best players in the world should play on the best equipment, Diamond tables, Aramith balls, Simonis cloth, not on equipment made by whomever writes MR a big check to get MR to use their equipment.

most if not all of the MR events this year have been played on diamond tables. the predator events i believe are played on re-branded yalin tables.

 

[Lowell]

I agree with you here Jay, plus the Predator events they have a better camera IMHO. I think that's one of the reason why predator have the advantage and the fact that is free for everyone.

Yeah and they run two TV tables instead of just one.

 

[markjames]

next tournament, they’ll have another new ball color

and the tournament after that, another new ball color

and for mosconi cup, they’ll have a rainbow nine ball and a cue ball with red, white, and blue spots

and at christmas, they’ll find a new cloth ‘colour’ that is somehow, again, much worse than anything we have seen before

 

[kpfleming]

The entire match is still available for view on WNTTV.

Thanks for that, I hadn't created a WNTTV account/subscription yet, but it was well worth a month subscription to watch the last hour of the match!

 

[dquarasr]

The entire match is still available for view on WNTTV.

And I found a highlights video on YOUTUBE. It covered through to the end.

 

[trob]

I don’t agree at all. I think they are doing an incredible job.

 

[trob]

I prefer Predator events, because the prevailing camera perspective is slightly further away from the table, such you can sometimes see all of the player as he gets down on the shot.

I think the matchroom perspective of being so close to the table or directly above it, zoomed in like a video game, doesn't allow the viewer to appreciate different (or similar) methods used by the best players in the world to get down on a pool shot.

I do realize this is a bit nit-picky, but that is just a testament to how good the matchroom events are. I can't stand the black balls.

kollegedave

I like the short races of the predator events its the spot shot bs at the end that turns me off.

 

[Lowell]

I like the short races of the predator events its the spot shot bs at the end that turns me off.

I actually love the shootout! It gives the players a fair chance at hill hill, and it's a test of pure fundamentals.

 

[jay helfert]

The entire match is still available for view on WNTTV.

And youtube

 

[jay helfert]

I prefer Predator events, because the prevailing camera perspective is slightly further away from the table, such you can sometimes see all of the player as he gets down on the shot.

I think the matchroom perspective of being so close to the table or directly above it, zoomed in like a video game, doesn't allow the viewer to appreciate different (or similar) methods used by the best players in the world to get down on a pool shot.

I do realize this is a bit nit-picky, but that is just a testament to how good the matchroom events are. I can't stand the black balls.

kollegedave

Not nit picky at all. This is a directors decision and requiries one who appreciates the nuances of the game.

 

[jay helfert]

next tournament, they’ll have another new ball color

and the tournament after that, another new ball color

and for mosconi cup, they’ll have a rainbow nine ball and a cue ball with red, white, and blue spots

and at christmas, they’ll find a new cloth ‘colour’ that is somehow, again, much worse than anything we have seen before

It's dictated by sponsor money. Don't be surprised to one day see a sponsor logo on the cue ball or the object balls.

 

[BasementDweller]

An interesting takeaway from this thread is how many like the Predator events. I've softened on my hatred of the spot shots after speaking with several who have enjoyed the excitement of watching them live. I do really wish they could figure out a compromise between the template rack and the wooden rack. I just can't stomach watching pros getting random slug racks in 2026. Guess I'm specifically talking about their 10 ball events.