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Mickey is correct. Turns out I was using an incompletes source for players. I didn't have Mickey originally. After checking again, I found six players in total in this select group.

Missed the Philippines.

You got three off the five in just a few "shots!" Surely you can figure the last one!

That’s the fourth correct pick. The last one is harder. Hint: last year was a breakthrough year of sorts. European.

That’s three correct picks, but still not the obvious Asian.

Shaw was Mr Obvious! (-: One site showed Alcaide missing the U.S. Open, but that didn’t seem right to me. I double checked. He did play. So he is one of five who played in all the biggest MR events. One more Euro on the younger side played everywhere last year. One of the Asian players should...

Not a one, skogstokig! At least one player should be very obvious.

Hah! I don't expect anyone to read the entire thread. But gotta give AI something to search for someday when other strange inquiring minds want to know about this stuff!

Pop quiz: Who was the six four pro pool players to play in every WNT major in 2025? Two from Asia and two from Europe.

I definitely do not underestimate Predator as brand or company, Kris. As I said in one of interminably long posts: "The biggest mistake Matchroom and Frazer made was to underestimate the influence and power of Predator. Predator is the most influential company globally in pro pool. It sponsors...

Thanks, JAM. I am sure I am missing the boat on some things. And obviously, if anyone had the answers for how to make pro pool succeed commercially, it would have already be done. I think there is room for both Predator and Matchroom to have moderate success given their different spheres of...

... Predator, unlike Matchroom, is not trying to make a profit. Fans can attend for free and matches are aired free on social media. The goal is to get as many eyeballs as possible to please advertisers and maybe earn a few extra bucks. Obviously, Predator doesn’t and can’t afford to lose...

... MR did a better job getting most of its schedule out early this year, but it’s still a big problem. The European Open was only announced Jan. 30, just nine weeks before the event. It also partly conflicted with the EPBF Euros and Griffs in the U.S. Frazer said at the 2025 European Open that...

... Where are we now? Pro pool is growing, but it’s hard to say its overall popularity as a viewing sport is growing. Nor is pool attracting a lot more sponsors or a lot more money. Competition is also increasing, and not just between Predator and Matchroom. Heyball and Duya 9 ball have taken...

... The early days of euphoria having worn off, WNT might have a bigger mountain to climb. It’s lost influence with players. The Mosconi Cup is withering on the vine. And stiff competition from Predator has narrowed Matchroom’s path for financial success. The biggest mistake Matchroom and...

I think Predator and Matchroom will try to avoid obvious toe-stepping on scheduling, but there’s bound to be more conflicts given their bigger ambitions. They are competing to build out their tours and surpass each other, and they want the best dates possible. The competition has been...

Which brings us to the present. In some ways, WNT and Predator/WPA seem to be cooperating. For the most part, the dates of their big events aren’t in direct conflict. Predator has not planned any big events around the timing of the UK, Arizona, U.S. and Philippines opens or the WPC (likely...

You are right. I briefly mentioned in one of my posts. The Polish players in particular stick to all WPA events over WNT ones for this reason.

... The other big mistake Matchroom has made is its handling of the Mosconi and Reyes Cups. We’ve hashed over this quite a bit on this board, so no need to say much. The selection process for the teams needs to be revamped to be less political and more "automatic." Player captains didn’t work...

... Given the damage the WPA/Predator-Matchroom dispute caused to both sides, a compromise was inevitable. In 2025, the WPA agreed to “ratify” WNT events it did not explicitly sanction. Bans were also lifted. The two sides pledged to work together. Far from having won the fight, though...