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Gorst's opinion is simply that, no question. Since Predator is private, no one outside the company knows how it is funding its tour. Private-market research suggests Predator's annual revenue is $5 million to $6 million a year. Operating profits are likely in the $500,000 to $1 million range...

The Men’s 8-ball Championship has 36 of the 72 players with 800 or better Fargos. Half the total. Nearly all these 36 typically appear at most major events sponsored by the WNT, WPA or Predator. Most of the Fargo 800 players who are missing are Filipinos - Chua, Raga, Roda, Ignacio, Regalario...

Banking week for sure! Visited Ashville, NC last week and saw two guys playing bank pool. I’ve never seen it played before live. No one at my local hall plays bank pool. (one pocket is big). The Predator bank pool tournament is also the first one I’ve ever watched. Read the rules beforehand so...

All true, sjm. I even doubt 50 players can make a sustainable living at the game. Not by pool itself. Most top pros, as you are aware, also offer paid lessons. A surprising number also own pool halls - Shaw, Feijin, Chua, Hoang and Pehlivanovic immediately come to mind. I don't see any reason...

Curious way to frame it. Under this view, any well known person who endorses any brand for any reason is a "pimp." I have no issue with celebrity endorsements, especially endorsements from pro pool players trying to make a living in a sport that pays very little. Most pros are not fulltime...

I had just assumed the formula was the same regardless of color, but some people claim colors can slightly change the formula. The green Taom might apply a touch easier. I can’t prove it, though.

I have three of his chalk holders. Best one I’ve tried and the only one I’ve ever really liked. He’s got some new products coming out such as tip shapers. He puts a lot of thought into his products.

In a semi-related note, the newest US Open ad from WNT shows Ko Pin Yi. If so, Ko Ping Chung is probably going to be there, too. The ad also shows Sky, SVB, Gorst, Filler, Yapp, Neuhausen, Hoang, Biado, Shaw and ... Atencio.

Needed more Taom V10, so picked up Dr V's chalk and a cube of Pagulayan. I use Taom for cleanliness - any properly applied chalk works fine in my experience. Dr V's Titlist chalk is clean, but not quite as clean as Taom. Titlist chalks dusts up a bit like Masters. Taom almost never does. The...

A few tidbits from Gorst on a recent webcast. *Says some kind of long race with Filler this year seems more likely than not. Filler has shown more interest after beating Fedor in Vegas. Doesn't think some players - like a Kaci - could drum up enough money and support to make a long race...

I played on Diamond Pro 7-footer and 9-footer over the weekend at Fat Cats in Ashville. Neither table banked or kicked short. They were spot on. By contrast, the GC I usually play on banks and kicks a bit short. I've played on a few other Diamond 7-footers that banked as usual. Really have...

By far the best performance by Lucas Fracasso-Verner. He beat Emil Gangflot, Szymon Kural and Naoyuki Oi in his final three matches. His win over Oi is imo his best ever. I watched LFV a lot last year and, frankly, didn't think he was ready for prime time. No real big wins in his career. This...

One great thing about the expansion of the Predator and WNT tours is the number of events in the U.S. Four of Predator's eight big multi-events this year are taking place in the U.S. - Las Vegas, St Louis, San Antonio and Jacksonville. Asked about this, the Predator tour director said: "We are...

No sport can truly thrive with lots of small independent promoters - that was the state of pro pool for years. Given the global nature of pool, there is definitely room for a few big entities such as WNT and Predator. Were they to cooperate more, it would benefit everyone. Some conflicts are...

I can't prove it, and I didn't try to. I noted that I found it "curious." WNT actually announced the 2026 date for the Mosconi last December, a week before Predator announced its calendar of events. But of course these events take time to organize, and perhaps no one is to blame. Sometimes...

You are right, but a careful reading of my post shows I did not blame anyone for the clash of dates between the Las Vegas and PLP events. I merely noted that when dates clash, the two companies are, in fact, in competition for eyeballs and sponsors. The idea floated by Karim that Predator is...

I was going to write about this, but my posts were long enough. Besides, this is the only Predator event held in tandem with a huge amateur event, and it mostly encompasses the U.S., not the entire pool world. Still, a great thing for Predator. I know I am a relative newbie to the game, but I...

You re right, sjm, you really have no idea. You only guessed four of the six! Souto was one of the six. The Kacis skipped Hanoi, which may have kept Kledio out of the Mosconi.

Oh, I have. I have. I didn't do all my research and ignore Karim. I scoured for everything he has said publicly the last five years. Frankly, I haven't found him or Frazer very forthcoming. To be clear, I don't think Predator is trying to put the WNT out of business. Not at all. Doesn't hurt...

No invite to the WPC.