Good job on your finish, it is a great feeling.
Somebody needs to get smart and figure out a way to promote a tour where advanced amateurs get a little weight to play against top players. May be shorten races. More players involved, more money, cannot be bad for pool.
Congrats. I think a lot of pros are vulnerable. Least those out of top 10 in country. That what makes pool such an awesome game. People can work on their game and really bring it to bear in competition.
Handicaping events/leagues has hurt the sport in many ways. When you go to an Open/Pro event you know what you are getting into either bring it or stay home and practice until you feel proficient enough to play.
People don't need to work on their game so much because they are satisfied with mediocracy because they know they can get a handicap to even things out!
People now days all want spots ETC. How is this fair to the players who have put in the time to reach a high level?
Mark Wilson is in the process of changing the sport right now as I type this. There is big things to come here in the very near future
In the U.S. Collegiate Billiards Conference there are no handicaps, we play on 9FT tables and the students do the best they can. The Coaches teach the players all aspects of the games, re-enforce things during practice and watch the players grow. I will tell you that seeing what I started out with 8 weeks ago and the growth of all my players has been very rewarding and cant wait until the season starts off.