2019 US Open Tournament Format Changes

I think the format is fine, especially playing SE when they reach sixteen players. To make it to the final eight on the loser's side of the board could take seven or eight matches if you lose in an early round. The winner's side will always be the shortest route to the final sixteen. Even that will take five straight wins!

The biggest problem I foresee is the fact that with a full field of players, they will need to play over 480 matches to reach the final sixteen players. That's a lot of pool in three days! And these matches are all a Race to Eleven. Many matches could last over two hours!

Having a shot clock on every table (30 second clock) would be very beneficial. How workable that is I don't know. Using more tables (32 would be the magic number) would really help as well. Even with all that I think you would have to start at 9 AM each day and play continuous pool (roll-on, roll-off) until late each night, probably ending around Midnight.

I would want to play the full winner's side first round and the full loser's side first round (192 matches) on day one. Another 192 matches on day two and then day three would be a little more doable (only 100+ matches, but still an equal number of rounds as day's one and two, just fewer matches to play each round). Either way, the first three days will be grueling! The last three days will be a piece of cake after that. That is, as long as you're winning. :)

Matchroom is very ambitious with this one, but being Matchroom I won't be surprised to see a full field of players (256). They are the Gold standard in the professional pool arena. This is one event I don't want to miss.
 
DE is about getting more of the better players to the business end of the tournament. It also keeps the dead money interested. It works at all levels of the game and is better than round robin cos there are no dead matches. SE puts the pressure on at the deep end. Ideally SE would be longer races but hey whatever
 
I see a lot of concern about the US Open. IMHO, all this is, is the continuation of the name/title with a whole new tournament format. The name was bought to have a familiar, presentable tv show title for Matchroom.

Pat Flemming still runs the old tournament, again, IMO. :thumbup:
 
i think the changes are great. SE has proven useful in making snooker a successful tv sport and it worked just fine in the old world pool championships

i would also argue for a shot clock..
 
RiverCity said:
I see a lot of concern about the US Open. IMHO, all this is, is the continuation of the name/title with a whole new tournament format. The name was bought to have a familiar, presentable tv show title for Matchroom.

Pat Flemming still runs the old tournament, again, IMO. :thumbup:
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Not really. Pat's event is new and his separation from the old US Open and its numerous problems and inequities is something I'm sure he's very proud of and pleased about.

As you said, the US Open, first and foremost, is just a tournament name, and Matchroom now owns the rights to that name. They can, and thankfully, will massage it as they see fit. They've made the US Open a better event already with the changes announced, and if they fill the field at 256 players, it will be a tremendous achievement.

Pat's event, the International, is something to get excited about, too, as it's a fine addition to the American pool calendar, which has been short on WPA sanctioned events in recent years, leading to less international participation overall.

If these two events can both stay vibrant and financially viable, it's great for American pool. Good luck to both Pat and Matchroom with their respective events.
 
sjm said:
Not really. Pat's event is new and his separation from the old US Open and its numerous problems and inequities is something I'm sure he's very proud of and pleased about.

As you said, the US Open, first and foremost, is just a tournament name, and Matchroom now owns the rights to that name. They can, and thankfully, will massage it as they see fit. They've made the US Open a better event already with the changes announced, and if they fill the field at 256 players, it will be a tremendous achievement.

Pat's event, the International, is something to get excited about, too, as it's a fine addition to the American pool calendar, which has been short on WPA sanctioned events in recent years, leading to less international participation overall.

If these two events can both stay vibrant and financially viable, it's great for American pool. Good luck to both Pat and Matchroom with their respective events.
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Good post....Pat also kept the event month/Oct as in the past which is a slot you would not want to lose.

If he can keep his event up/profitable, they both events will benefit in the long run.

It' very similar to what the BCA did at the Rivera for decades, BUT they went to the summer in Vegas.

That's like saying, hey....lets go to Phoenix in August for the warm weather NOT..........:grin-square:
 
BeiberLvr said:
sigh

Please leave your bitter views at the door while the rest of us watch the sport we love grow into something much bigger.
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Sorry I don’t sit atound being a sucker thinking the sport will grow. It will never reach its peak popularity again. All the attempts to do so have failed. Instead of accepting it is a niche and try to make your mark there, keep reaching for unrealistic goals and after wonder why you have gotten nowhere.
 
Donald Sutherland once said....

TheLoneSilencer said:
Sorry I don’t sit atound being a sucker thinking the sport will grow. It will never reach its peak popularity again. All the attempts to do so have failed. Instead of accepting it is a niche and try to make your mark there, keep reaching for unrealistic goals and after wonder why you have gotten nowhere.
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What year did you see/feel/and play in, that was Better than this moment in time? Depression era doesn't count.

So why? Is this moment in time the same as the past 4 decades?

Give us something that makes sense other than an Opinion.

Matchroom signed a 7 year commitment with Mandalay.

If it doesn't work, it won't be from not trying.

Better yet, tell us....what is BEST for the game.
 
have you guys seen the crowds at this thing in the past? the six old dudes falling asleep at the finals?

the ppv ratings?

it's been little more than an opportunity for for past promoters to hold an event and walk away with a small profit

nothing wrong with that, but seems like Matchroom is trying to take this next level

they've turned that garbagefest of an exhibition mosconi cup into the biggest thing in pool, lol

i support them fully, the only legit and funded organization on earth that has expressed interest in growing pool ....imo
 
smashmouth said:
have you guys seen the crowds at this thing in the past? the six old dudes falling asleep at the finals?

the ppv ratings?

it's been little more than an opportunity for for past promoters to hold an event and walk away with a small profit

nothing wrong with that, but seems like Matchroom is trying to take this next level

they've turned that garbagefest of an exhibition mosconi cup into the biggest thing in pool, lol

i support them fully, the only legit and funded organization on earth that has expressed interest in growing pool ....imo
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Yep. Gotta agree with a lot of what you say here. MR is pro pool's last real shot in my book.
 
smashmouth said:
have you guys seen the crowds at this thing in the past? the six old dudes falling asleep at the finals?

the ppv ratings?

it's been little more than an opportunity for for past promoters to hold an event and walk away with a small profit

nothing wrong with that, but seems like Matchroom is trying to take this next level

they've turned that garbagefest of an exhibition mosconi cup into the biggest thing in pool, lol

i support them fully, the only legit and funded organization on earth that has expressed interest in growing pool ....imo
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Well said.

This has such amazing potential.
 
sjm said:
Not really. Pat's event is new and his separation from the old US Open and its numerous problems and inequities is something I'm sure he's very proud of and pleased about.
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Of course Pat is making it better. Pat is not a drunk, asshole, egomaniac. He cares more about the game than himself being famous.

I was referring to the time frame and the same part of the country.
 
TheLoneSilencer said:
Sorry I don’t sit atound being a sucker thinking the sport will grow. It will never reach its peak popularity again. All the attempts to do so have failed. Instead of accepting it is a niche and try to make your mark there, keep reaching for unrealistic goals and after wonder why you have gotten nowhere.
Click to expand...


This isn't being put together by a con man (IPT) or a bunch of pool players that have zero business experience (Bonus Ball).

Matchroom is going to do what they can to make a profit and grow the sport. If the sport doesn't grow, then they don't profit. I sincerely doubt that an organization that has been doing business as long and as successfully as Matchroom would back this venture if they didn't believe it was going to work.
 
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