12th US Open One Pocket Championship - Who should be invited?

[mlalum]

JoeyA - I was at that tournament. I watched you beat Shannon Daulton - who was a MONSTER back then.

I think that was the first time I met you.

I want all the input on keeping the matches in a timely fashion.
I remember back in 1991-or 93 LA Open there wer two players and they would not shoot to their hole. Eventually some kind of decision was made that every third shot (or something) had to be an offensive shot.

I do not like the 3 or 4 ball rule. I don't like 'this game wins it all' rule. I don't like the wedge game.

There has to be method of keeping the integrity of the game and making the players play.

Maybe it is time to talk 'chess clocks'.

I want this discussion now so we can have plenty of input to make up our minds. And you never know, all this discussion might not event be needed and we might have all 2 hour matches!

Mark Griffin

I Wish you good luck with this Mark. It won't be easy and you won't be able to make everyone happy. but you already know that. Glad you followed up with what were just conversations earlier in the year. Not many people are able to make that kind of thing happen. I think it's most important to build a good foundation for future years. Take the heat the first time around and make a solid tournament. Can't shoot the moon first time out generally speaking.

 

[dabarbr]

Personally I don't like the 3 or 4 ball rule. This changes the game too much and one has to change their mindset to play it. It's an ok rule for a local tournaments but not for something like the US Open. Let the game be played like it should be played.

If this rule is implemented then we might as well change the name of the game to something else.

Increase the field and add Friday and Monday into the mix. Let this be a true Open.

 

[Mark Griffin]

US Open One Pocket

Yeah, thanks Mike.

Sometimes I have a bad habit of actually following through and trying to make it happen. I have a good feeling about the future of this event.

I think One Pocket has a lot more 'ground support' than 5 years ago or so.

I am going to try and put the 'bite' on some of the well-healed fans and firms and perhaps they can help underwrite some of the expenses.

I know that has worked well for CW and 14.1.

I don't need what he gets and any help will insure the future of this great game.

If anyone is interested in holding qualifiers or becoming a sponsor of this event, please contact us.

Markg@playcsipool.com
702-719-7665

 

[Mark Griffin]

Personally I don't like the 3 or 4 ball rule. This changes the game too much and one has to change their mindset to play it. It's an ok rule for a local tournaments but not for something like the US Open. Let the game be played like it should be played.

If this rule is implemented then we might as well change the name of the game to something else.

Increase the field and add Friday and Monday into the mix. Let this be a true Open.

Hey Frank - I also don't like the 3 or 4-ball rule. I know what it is supposed to accomplish and I think that can be done by other means.

This year we CANNOT increase past 48. We already are playing on Friday and if at much over 32 players, we will be playing the last 2-3 matches on Monday. Remember the US OPEN 10-Ball starts on Monday evening.

If this one works, we might have to start next year's event on Thursday - but I wanted to try and do a 'weekend' event the first time out because it allows JoeyA to play!!!

But I appreciate all your comments. They are being listened to!

mark Griffin

 

[Deadon]

Neil said: Now, I don't want to come across as being negative, just want to point out a few things. You say you don't have the time or tables for a bigger tournament. Well, frankly, then you don't have the capacity at the moment to put on a U.S. Open event.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Neil - I appreciate your comments. More than half of the previous One Pocket events we did - did not get to the 48 player level.

So - from past history, it is not practical to hope for a larger field - because it might not materialize.

This is the US Open One Pocket. If the demand is there, we can make it grow over the next couple of years.

Mark Griffin

Mark,IIRC, the reason for the lower turnout(s) were more because of conflicts with other tournaments. There is much more potential here than 32/48 spots, at least in my opinion. Timing is everything, even in pool.

Thanks again for all your doing. If you ever need any help, let me know.

Mike

 

[mlalum]

Yeah, thanks Mike.

Sometimes I have a bad habit of actually following through and trying to make it happen. I have a good feeling about the future of this event.

I think One Pocket has a lot more 'ground support' than 5 years ago or so.

I am going to try and put the 'bite' on some of the well-healed fans and firms and perhaps they can help underwrite some of the expenses.

I know that has worked well for CW and 14.1.

I don't need what he gets and any help will insure the future of this great game.

If anyone is interested in holding qualifiers or becoming a sponsor of this event, please contact us.

Markg@playcsipool.com
702-719-7665

Mark i think you know sponsors etc are a little squeemish when the details are in flux. The players have to remember (athough they won't) that its sponsors and people like you that can make something like this happen. They can't make it happen. So if details are not exactly what they want well... For example how the field comes together and what a qualifier means are pretty big things - more important than hashing out the rules at this time. The other thing i would be concerned is if the tournament didn't stand out amongst the circus of pool that's going around it. If people have to be concerned about playing one pocket and other parts of the tournament then i think that's a problem. A sponsor wants the event to have something special about it. As many special things as possible. But again you know all this.

 

[vagabond]

Here are the past winners of US Open One Pocket. (List is missing one year.)


OFFICIAL RULES OF THE BCA POOL LEAGUE
U.S. OPEN ONE POCKET CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Runner-Up
2007 Tony Chohan Gabe Owen
2006 Nick Vita Shawn Putnam
2005 Scott Frost Gabe Owen
2004 Cliff Joyner Shannon Daulton
2000 Efren Reyes Larry Nevel
1999 Cliff Joyner Larry Nevel
1998 Jeremy Jones Jeff Carter
1997 Leil Gay Jayme Goodwin
1996 Jayme Goodwin Jose Parica
1994 Cliff Joyner Bill Incardona
No event in 1995, 2001-2003


Mark Griffin

PS: Prior to 2004, held in Kalamazoo by Matt Rosendahl
From 2004 on - held by CSI/BCAPL

In the year 2000 it was held in Radisson Hotel in K.Zoo and prior to that it was held in the pool hall in k.zoo that was owned by the promoter of US open.when Jeremy Jones won it he played one pocket like a 9 ball game.No moves and he just put the balls into the ditch one after another.He changed the one pocket.In the 2000 when Effren won he came to the hot seat from the loosers bracket.In the finals of the winners bracket Larry Nevel beat Effren badly.Then Effren went to the left side but came back to win the tournament.

 

[cardiac kid]

Mark,

Please explain to me what an "Open" tournament is when only certain players would be invited to play? Understand it would be to the benefit of the spectators to see the best. Might help with ticket sales. May be able to sell televised and recorded matches to help offset costs. Then again we might not get to see an up and coming young star no one hs heard of. Or someone who has supported the game for years but is not on the "list".

Hope you understand why my question is necessary.

Lyn

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Mark,

Please explain to me what an "Open" tournament is when only certain players would be invited to play? Understand it would be to the benefit of the spectators to see the best. Might help with ticket sales. May be able to sell televised and recorded matches to help offset costs. Then again we might not get to see an up and coming young star no one hs heard of. Or someone who has supported the game for years but is not on the "list".

Hope you understand why my question is necessary.

Lyn

I think I get what Mark is trying to do and that is build this tournament for the future. This is the first year and he is hoping to get 32 entries. With a field that small you have to invite most of the field to make sure the top players have the opportunity to get in. This isn't yet a huge field event like the US Open where all the world's best players have plenty of opportunity to get their entries in. With such a small field the only way to ensure the top players are in is to invite them. Unfortunately, in the beginning with such a small field it severely limits the available number openings left - but this is just the beginning.

Look at the US Open Golf Tournament. Most of the field is "invited" through exemptions granted via the world rankings, money list of the major tours, etc. Even for the leftover slots you must be almost a scratch golfer just to qualify to enter qualifying.

I don't speak for Mark but I'd bet his vision of this event is to grow the field and OPEN up the entries as the field grows. Even then I'd have no problem with the best in the world being exempt into the tournament if they choose to play.

 

[vagabond]

JoeyA -
Maybe it is time to talk 'chess clocks'.



Mark Griffin

Finally you are talking!!! I don`t think you remember my comment during your first US open one pocket event held in Plaza hotel,Las Vegas.I complained about retarded/moronic way of taking two miniutes and above for every shot by many players.You told me that there wiil not be a shot clock and I said that I will never play one pocket tournament where slow play is allowed.
Let alone not socializing I don`t even say hello or talk to the slow players.

 

[vagabond]

A time limit is the best solution imho! In our recent tourney, the 4-ball rule was voted down almost unanimously.. Honoring the game thats been played for a 100 years the same way is Key! Otherwise, whats the point? Just my view.. Terry Osborne

100 % agree,Terry!

 

[Mark Griffin]

US Open One Pocket

Mark,

Please explain to me what an "Open" tournament is when only certain players would be invited to play? Understand it would be to the benefit of the spectators to see the best. Might help with ticket sales. May be able to sell televised and recorded matches to help offset costs. Then again we might not get to see an up and coming young star no one hs heard of. Or someone who has supported the game for years but is not on the "list".

Hope you understand why my question is necessary.

Lyn

Lyn - please go to post #51 - it is explained some what.
You are thinking I will be 'inviting' the full field - that is not the case. I only think that 75% of those asked wil play. There will be plenty of room for OPEN entries. The first goal is 32 players. But we can expand to 48.

There won't be any Television - but there will be PPV.

We want to give the opportunity to the best players to be able to play. We have past records on One Pocket events.

I think you are being a little too concerned. But we will be monitoring the situation. When the field is limited, we owe it to the integrity of the event to try and get some of the best players.

As stated earlier, this event will grow - but this year the time and tables are limited.

Again - thanks to all for the comments.

Mark Griffin

 

[Mark Griffin]

US Open One Pocket

Need a bump for more comments - before the weekend.

Thanks,

mark Griffin

PS - BTW - we are also going to have a 14.1 hi-run contest going on during the tournament.

 

[akaTrigger]

Good luck with the event, Mark. I don't really have suggestions, except I do agree not to employ the 3-4 ball rule in the kitchen. While it's fun to watch, at times it can actually lengthen a game!

Can't wait to watch the matches in May!

 

[lfigueroa]

Need a bump for more comments - before the weekend.

Thanks,

mark Griffin

PS - BTW - we are also going to have a 14.1 hi-run contest going on during the tournament.

hmmm, well certainly that 14.1 challenge wouldn't be going on during the 1pocket, right? I mean: not enough tables, pressed for time, must keep the field small...

So, while this is going on during the 10ball I hope you give consideration to doing what the Expo 14.1 guys are doing: letting the amateurs compete in a different category than the pros and let the top amateur (or two) win a qualifying spot for the World.

Lou Figueroa

 

[Mark Griffin]

14.1 High Run at BCAPL

Lou-

The hi-run will be in a completely different part of the building than the PRO events.

Our event will be different than the SBE one - we last 10 days and they run 3-4.

Charlie & Steve (who got this going) are havign some input and might even show up to help us out.

We are planning on an amateur and Pro division. (What is the definition of a 'pro'?)

We might have daily winners or we might consider trying to get the top players a spot in Dragon's World Tournament in August of 2011.

With the location we are going to have, I think it will introduce a lot of players to 14.1. We are also haping to have some of the Junior Champions on hand to accept challenge matches on both 7' and 9' tables

Mark Griffin

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou-

The hi-run will be in a completely different part of the building than the PRO events.

Our event will be different than the SBE one - we last 10 days and they run 3-4.

Charlie & Steve (who got this going) are havign some input and might even show up to help us out.

We are planning on an amateur and Pro division. (What is the definition of a 'pro'?)

We might have daily winners or we might consider trying to get the top players a spot in Dragon's World Tournament in August of 2011.

With the location we are going to have, I think it will introduce a lot of players to 14.1. We are also haping to have some of the Junior Champions on hand to accept challenge matches on both 7' and 9' tables

Mark Griffin

Mark, that all sounds great! Hopefully I can attend some of the festivities, though, like Joey, I'd need a lot of notice (and I need some other things to work out). Maybe you could send out a couple of "mercy" invites to the AZ 1pocket wannabes

Lou Figueroa

 

[cardiac kid]

Maybe you could send out a couple of "mercy" invites to the AZ 1pocket wannabes Lou Figueroa

Lou,

Mark and I have been discussing that subject directly. I believe he truely wants a representative field of players. My hat's off to him and the CSI team!

Lyn

 

[FastJK]

U S Open 1 Pocket

Anybody with a handful of Derby City top 20 one pocket finishes the last 5-7 years would be a good candidate.

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou,

Mark and I have been discussing that subject directly. I believe he truely wants a representative field of players. My hat's off to him and the CSI team!

Lyn

Definitely: hats off to Mark & Co.

Lou Figueroa
that's spelled
F-I-G-U-E-R-O-A
for the invitation, lol