A look at pool in Japan

[Masayoshi]

Sorry, this is gonna be a long post. If you don't have the patience to read through, just skim it, you might find something interesting.

With the finish of the Japan Open and all the controversy surrounding the APB, I figured it would be a good time to make a post about the organization of pool in Japan. I think American leagues, players, and promoters could learn something because if there is one thing Japan is good at, its making official organizations for anything and everything.

Pool in Japan is similar to Pool America in that it doesn't have an innate national popularity like it does in Taiwan or the Philippines. In fact, I would say that percentage wise, far less people in Japan play when compared to the US. Japan doesn't even have bar tables to keep pool alive among casual players.

Yet pool in Japan is relatively successful compared to the US. There are both amateur and pro organizations and also governing organizations. Money is paid on time, and there are plenty of players and spectators at big events The Japan Open this year attracted about 400 men and 80 women playing in separate events. Spectator seating for the final arena this year sold out, I think it was about 400 seats for paying spectators, plus standing room for players that were knocked out. Last year, the tournout was about 500 for the men's event. I think some people this year, especially foreign players, dropped out due earthquake that occurred one week before the event's original date.

I believe the people who are trying to create pool organizations in the US might be able to pick up a few good ideas from Japan right now.

Here is how tournaments in Japan are laid out:

First off, everybody that plays in any tournament bigger than a house tournament is a member of the NBA (no not basketball, the Nippon Billiards Association). Each member must pay a roughly $20 per year membership fee. This fee filters out to the NBA and prefectural (state) organizations which use the money to support interest in pool.

Amateurs and pros are distinctly separated. Pros must pass a test to gain pro status and pay a monthly fee to the pro organization (the JPBA). The test is actually fairly easy consisting of a written test and playing test (scoring 630 in 3 games of bowliards for the men and 420 for the women). I think its just there so that anybody who calls themselves a pro would actually have the skills to seem like a pro to people who don't play. Any solid 'A' player should be able to pass it. Pros who want to go back to amateur status have to quit the JPBA and then wait a year before they can play in any amateur tournaments (so you can't just switch back and forth when it suits you). Amateur organizations have the right to ban or temporarily ban players that win too much even if they aren't a pro.

Pros can't play in amateur tournaments and amateurs can only play in some pro tournaments at half entry and half winnings. For example, in the Japan Open, the amateur entry is 15,000 yen or about $175 and the pro entry fee is about $350. If an amateur won the Japan Open (which happened a few years back) he would only receive 750k of the advertised 1.5M yen prize for the champion.

In professional tournaments, professionals are always seeded in the first round. I think this is a good thing because amateurs in Japan actually want to play the pros. If you are just looking for the money, you shouldn't be entering as an amateur anyways because you can only get half the prize fund. There are also plenty of amateur tournaments to make money from for the amateurs.

All tournaments in Japan are generally double elimination until the final 30-50% of the field and then single elimination from then on. This helps with time as there are no events in Japan that are not covered in a weekend (sometimes 3 day weekend). While making luck a bigger factor, this cuts down drastically on time and allows amateurs to make it out to tournaments without having to take much vacation.

Tournaments, even the big ones are held at pool halls. Even the Japan Open starts out at pool halls in the Tokyo area on the first day and moves to a big convention center on the second day for the final 16. This cuts down on costs (although some of the entries go towards green fees)

I think this is a great format. It allows the pros to have a decent prize fund while at the same time encouraging and allowing amateurs to participate. I believe that tournaments could incorporate some of these elements to their benefit, especially the pro/amateur distinction because you basically rate yourself.

I'll post some more later. I still have a lot to cover on the amateur tournament organizations, benefits the pros have, handicaps, etc. but I gotta go practice some.

 

[marek]

Sorry, this is gonna be a long post. If you don't have the patience to read through, just skim it, you might find something interesting.

With the finish of the Japan Open and all the controversy surrounding the APB, I figured it would be a good time to make a post about the organization of pool in Japan. I think American leagues, players, and promoters could learn something because if there is one thing Japan is good at, its making official organizations for anything and everything.

Pool in Japan is similar to Pool America in that it doesn't have an innate national popularity like it does in Taiwan or the Philippines. In fact, I would say that percentage wise, far less people in Japan play when compared to the US. Japan doesn't even have bar tables to keep pool alive among casual players.

Yet pool in Japan is relatively successful compared to the US. There are both amateur and pro organizations and also governing organizations. Money is paid on time, and there are plenty of players and spectators at big events The Japan Open this year attracted about 400 men and 80 women playing in separate events. Spectator seating for the final arena this year sold out, I think it was about 400 seats for paying spectators, plus standing room for players that were knocked out. Last year, the tournout was about 500 for the men's event. I think some people this year, especially foreign players, dropped out due earthquake that occurred one week before the event's original date.

I believe the people who are trying to create pool organizations in the US might be able to pick up a few good ideas from Japan right now.

Here is how tournaments in Japan are laid out:

First off, everybody that plays in any tournament bigger than a house tournament is a member of the NBA (no not basketball, the Nippon Billiards Association). Each member must pay a roughly $20 per year membership fee. This fee filters out to the NBA and prefectural (state) organizations which use the money to support interest in pool.

Amateurs and pros are distinctly separated. Pros must pass a test to gain pro status and pay a monthly fee to the pro organization (the JPBA). The test is actually fairly easy consisting of a written test and playing test (scoring 630 in 3 games of bowliards for the men and 420 for the women). I think its just there so that anybody who calls themselves a pro would actually have the skills to seem like a pro to people who don't play. Any solid 'A' player should be able to pass it. Pros who want to go back to amateur status have to quit the JPBA and then wait a year before they can play in any amateur tournaments (so you can't just switch back and forth when it suits you). Amateur organizations have the right to ban or temporarily ban players that win too much even if they aren't a pro.

Pros can't play in amateur tournaments and amateurs can only play in some pro tournaments at half entry and half winnings. For example, in the Japan Open, the amateur entry is 15,000 yen or about $175 and the pro entry fee is about $350. If an amateur won the Japan Open (which happened a few years back) he would only receive 750k of the advertised 1.5M yen prize for the champion.

In professional tournaments, professionals are always seeded in the first round. I think this is a good thing because amateurs in Japan actually want to play the pros. If you are just looking for the money, you shouldn't be entering as an amateur anyways because you can only get half the prize fund. There are also plenty of amateur tournaments to make money from for the amateurs.

All tournaments in Japan are generally double elimination until the final 30-50% of the field and then single elimination from then on. This helps with time as there are no events in Japan that are not covered in a weekend (sometimes 3 day weekend). While making luck a bigger factor, this cuts down drastically on time and allows amateurs to make it out to tournaments without having to take much vacation.

Tournaments, even the big ones are held at pool halls. Even the Japan Open starts out at pool halls in the Tokyo area on the first day and moves to a big convention center on the second day for the final 16. This cuts down on costs (although some of the entries go towards green fees)

I think this is a great format. It allows the pros to have a decent prize fund while at the same time encouraging and allowing amateurs to participate. I believe that tournaments could incorporate some of these elements to their benefit, especially the pro/amateur distinction because you basically rate yourself.

I'll post some more later. I still have a lot to cover on the amateur tournament organizations, benefits the pros have, handicaps, etc. but I gotta go practice some.

Great post, keep the info coming, I like to learn about other countries pool culture

 

[14.1pocket]

Thanks, keep it coming. PB back up and running?

The tournaments are organized very well as you said, spread out over a number of pool halls for the opening round, then filtered to one for the elimination rounds. Not a big fan of the dress codes but they don't seem to be too strict about it in smaller tournaments.

I also have to agree that rating yourself is a better way of going about it. I believe once you enter an official tournament under the NBA you can not go down a level if you feel like it. Is that right?

All in all great post, I love playing pool in Japan. Just wish there were a few more tournament options other than rotation pool.

 

[JAM]

Thanks for the *excellent* read on the Japanese pool scene. I really do enjoy threads like this. They're so doggone interesting.

I am reminded of two Japanese champions, Hiroshi Takenaka and Miyuki Sakai, fresh off a plane from Japan, entering a tournament in Richmond, VA at The Playing Field.

They were enjoying themselves to the fullest, and when they made a good shot, the American crowds cheered them on. After the conclusion of the event, Hiroshi hung out with the locals and played darts until the wee hours of the morning. Though he could hardly speak a word of English, the language of international goodwill to all men prevailed. The locals really enjoyed his company, and it was fun seeing Hiroshi giggling and giving people the high-fives between dart shots.

It ended up that Miyuki won the women's event and Hiroshi won the men's event. Can you imagine? Their first tournament on American soil and they both snapped the almighty wins.

 

[gumby]

You posted some pretty interesting stuff masayoshi. A similar model could work for the US but wouldn't you have to have reliable organizers and promoters too?

I think the US has seen too many people who scam or cheat and just aren't good organizers. It's to the point where people are getting weary and aren't taking anybody's efforts seriously. It's unfortunate because some people really are trying to do something good for American pool.

 

[enzo]

Sorry, this is gonna be a long post. If you don't have the patience to read through, just skim it, you might find something interesting.

With the finish of the Japan Open and all the controversy surrounding the APB, I figured it would be a good time to make a post about the organization of pool in Japan. I think American leagues, players, and promoters could learn something because if there is one thing Japan is good at, its making official organizations for anything and everything.

Pool in Japan is similar to Pool America in that it doesn't have an innate national popularity like it does in Taiwan or the Philippines. In fact, I would say that percentage wise, far less people in Japan play when compared to the US. Japan doesn't even have bar tables to keep pool alive among casual players.

Yet pool in Japan is relatively successful compared to the US. There are both amateur and pro organizations and also governing organizations. Money is paid on time, and there are plenty of players and spectators at big events The Japan Open this year attracted about 400 men and 80 women playing in separate events. Spectator seating for the final arena this year sold out, I think it was about 400 seats for paying spectators, plus standing room for players that were knocked out. Last year, the tournout was about 500 for the men's event. I think some people this year, especially foreign players, dropped out due earthquake that occurred one week before the event's original date.

I believe the people who are trying to create pool organizations in the US might be able to pick up a few good ideas from Japan right now.

Here is how tournaments in Japan are laid out:

First off, everybody that plays in any tournament bigger than a house tournament is a member of the NBA (no not basketball, the Nippon Billiards Association). Each member must pay a roughly $20 per year membership fee. This fee filters out to the NBA and prefectural (state) organizations which use the money to support interest in pool.

Amateurs and pros are distinctly separated. Pros must pass a test to gain pro status and pay a monthly fee to the pro organization (the JPBA). The test is actually fairly easy consisting of a written test and playing test (scoring 630 in 3 games of bowliards for the men and 420 for the women). I think its just there so that anybody who calls themselves a pro would actually have the skills to seem like a pro to people who don't play. Any solid 'A' player should be able to pass it. Pros who want to go back to amateur status have to quit the JPBA and then wait a year before they can play in any amateur tournaments (so you can't just switch back and forth when it suits you). Amateur organizations have the right to ban or temporarily ban players that win too much even if they aren't a pro.

Pros can't play in amateur tournaments and amateurs can only play in some pro tournaments at half entry and half winnings. For example, in the Japan Open, the amateur entry is 15,000 yen or about $175 and the pro entry fee is about $350. If an amateur won the Japan Open (which happened a few years back) he would only receive 750k of the advertised 1.5M yen prize for the champion.

In professional tournaments, professionals are always seeded in the first round. I think this is a good thing because amateurs in Japan actually want to play the pros. If you are just looking for the money, you shouldn't be entering as an amateur anyways because you can only get half the prize fund. There are also plenty of amateur tournaments to make money from for the amateurs.

All tournaments in Japan are generally double elimination until the final 30-50% of the field and then single elimination from then on. This helps with time as there are no events in Japan that are not covered in a weekend (sometimes 3 day weekend). While making luck a bigger factor, this cuts down drastically on time and allows amateurs to make it out to tournaments without having to take much vacation.

Tournaments, even the big ones are held at pool halls. Even the Japan Open starts out at pool halls in the Tokyo area on the first day and moves to a big convention center on the second day for the final 16. This cuts down on costs (although some of the entries go towards green fees)

I think this is a great format. It allows the pros to have a decent prize fund while at the same time encouraging and allowing amateurs to participate. I believe that tournaments could incorporate some of these elements to their benefit, especially the pro/amateur distinction because you basically rate yourself.

I'll post some more later. I still have a lot to cover on the amateur tournament organizations, benefits the pros have, handicaps, etc. but I gotta go practice some.

wow, what a post. im not sure most americans know how on the ball the japanese are. ive been to asia a number of times now, and their culture is just so much more... i dont know what the exact right word is, but i would say advanced. i saw that the japanese built the bts and mrt in thailand, what an amazingly smooth operation that is, an amazing piece of engineering-- and we all know how well japanese cars perform. i loved the japanese architechture i saw in thailand too. and japanese food as well, wow, so impressive.... so clean. and now i see they do pool well too....

i love the format you posted, and it sounds like it is working great. one question, what would you say are the biggest problems with the format you now have?

anyway, great post. i wish i could say people over here would take note, but truth is they probably wont, or wont even care. but id personally love to go to japan one day.

 

[bigg7]

Okinawa

I wish someone would come to okinawa and explain the mainland system to these guys. 80% of the room owners here with the help of the ONPC (okinawa pocket club) are robbing these players blind. They try to pump up the pride angle so that players wont ***** about the payouts. It is customary for the room owner to take 30 to 40 PERCENT of the entry fee money for being nice enough to hold the tournament and they never add money. If the local players were not so fanatical they wouldn't have any participation.

 

[bigg7]

tournaments

I almost forgot about this double to single elimination shit. There is nothing worst than beating someone then losing 1 match and being out just because you didn't lose early enough. It can really drive you crazy.

Sorry for the negativity the ABP threads have me on tilt.:thumbup:

 

[Pangit]

Sorry, this is gonna be a long post. If you don't have the patience to read through, just skim it, you might find something interesting.

With the finish of the Japan Open and all the controversy surrounding the APB, I figured it would be a good time to make a post about the organization of pool in Japan. I think American leagues, players, and promoters could learn something because if there is one thing Japan is good at, its making official organizations for anything and everything.

Pool in Japan is similar to Pool America in that it doesn't have an innate national popularity like it does in Taiwan or the Philippines. In fact, I would say that percentage wise, far less people in Japan play when compared to the US. Japan doesn't even have bar tables to keep pool alive among casual players.

Yet pool in Japan is relatively successful compared to the US. There are both amateur and pro organizations and also governing organizations. Money is paid on time, and there are plenty of players and spectators at big events The Japan Open this year attracted about 400 men and 80 women playing in separate events. Spectator seating for the final arena this year sold out, I think it was about 400 seats for paying spectators, plus standing room for players that were knocked out. Last year, the tournout was about 500 for the men's event. I think some people this year, especially foreign players, dropped out due earthquake that occurred one week before the event's original date.

I believe the people who are trying to create pool organizations in the US might be able to pick up a few good ideas from Japan right now.

Here is how tournaments in Japan are laid out:

First off, everybody that plays in any tournament bigger than a house tournament is a member of the NBA (no not basketball, the Nippon Billiards Association). Each member must pay a roughly $20 per year membership fee. This fee filters out to the NBA and prefectural (state) organizations which use the money to support interest in pool.

Amateurs and pros are distinctly separated. Pros must pass a test to gain pro status and pay a monthly fee to the pro organization (the JPBA). The test is actually fairly easy consisting of a written test and playing test (scoring 630 in 3 games of bowliards for the men and 420 for the women). I think its just there so that anybody who calls themselves a pro would actually have the skills to seem like a pro to people who don't play. Any solid 'A' player should be able to pass it. Pros who want to go back to amateur status have to quit the JPBA and then wait a year before they can play in any amateur tournaments (so you can't just switch back and forth when it suits you). Amateur organizations have the right to ban or temporarily ban players that win too much even if they aren't a pro.

Pros can't play in amateur tournaments and amateurs can only play in some pro tournaments at half entry and half winnings. For example, in the Japan Open, the amateur entry is 15,000 yen or about $175 and the pro entry fee is about $350. If an amateur won the Japan Open (which happened a few years back) he would only receive 750k of the advertised 1.5M yen prize for the champion.

In professional tournaments, professionals are always seeded in the first round. I think this is a good thing because amateurs in Japan actually want to play the pros. If you are just looking for the money, you shouldn't be entering as an amateur anyways because you can only get half the prize fund. There are also plenty of amateur tournaments to make money from for the amateurs.

All tournaments in Japan are generally double elimination until the final 30-50% of the field and then single elimination from then on. This helps with time as there are no events in Japan that are not covered in a weekend (sometimes 3 day weekend). While making luck a bigger factor, this cuts down drastically on time and allows amateurs to make it out to tournaments without having to take much vacation.

Tournaments, even the big ones are held at pool halls. Even the Japan Open starts out at pool halls in the Tokyo area on the first day and moves to a big convention center on the second day for the final 16. This cuts down on costs (although some of the entries go towards green fees)

I think this is a great format. It allows the pros to have a decent prize fund while at the same time encouraging and allowing amateurs to participate. I believe that tournaments could incorporate some of these elements to their benefit, especially the pro/amateur distinction because you basically rate yourself.

I'll post some more later. I still have a lot to cover on the amateur tournament organizations, benefits the pros have, handicaps, etc. but I gotta go practice some.

Ohayo gozaimasu. Nihongo Wakarimasen, gomen nasai. I was stationed at Atsugi Naval Air Facility while I was on active duty, Flying Helo's aboard whatever the Aircraft Carrier was home-ported in Yokosuka at the time, (Independence/Kitty Hawk). Lived in Ayase City. About 20 mins north of Yokohama Central, on the odakyu line. Best tour of my Naval career.

The only thing I can say about the Japanese pool wise, is that they "seem" to think it's okay to smoke while at the table. That's NEVER acceptable. Koreans are the same, it must be an Asian thing?

 

[Masayoshi]

I wish someone would come to okinawa and explain the mainland system to these guys. 80% of the room owners here with the help of the ONPC (okinawa pocket club) are robbing these players blind. They try to pump up the pride angle so that players wont ***** about the payouts. It is customary for the room owner to take 30 to 40 PERCENT of the entry fee money for being nice enough to hold the tournament and they never add money. If the local players were not so fanatical they wouldn't have any participation.

Actually, that is pretty standard for amateur tournaments on the main islands as well. The pro/am tournaments are usually sponsored so most if not all of the entry is retained for the pot and the pro only tournaments like the all Japan usually have money added. It is one thing I think people in the US wouldn't accept, but it is the price of having a well run tournament.

i love the format you posted, and it sounds like it is working great. one question, what would you say are the biggest problems with the format you now have?

Added money is rare. if you are unlucky, you have to change pool halls mid tournament. Amateur tournaments consisting of 128 player fields are often held over one day as opposed to 2. Other than that, there aren't any big problems that I can think of.

Thanks, keep it coming. PB back up and running?

Yea, we moved about 10 minutes south of downtown Furukawa.

I almost forgot about this double to single elimination shit. There is nothing worst than beating someone then losing 1 match and being out just because you didn't lose early enough. It can really drive you crazy.

Sorry for the negativity the ABP threads have me on tilt.

I actually like that feature. It makes it so that you have a chance to warm up. I like the fact that the early matches when nobody is really playing in good form anyways don't count as much as the later matches.



On to amateur tournaments and handicaps; in Japan, amateurs are ranked into 3 categories, A, B, and C. In some areas, the rank SA is added as a level above A. In most amateur tournaments, the handicap is based on games. A's go to 5, B's go to 4, and C's go to 3. Tournaments also tend to have a staggered entry $50 for A, $40 for B, and $30 for C.

In my area, there is usually 1 or two tournaments a month open to all ranks, and 1 or two a month open to only B and below. These tournaments usually draw 100+ players each. The best part about these tournaments is that the handicaps favor the stronger players, but the entry fees and format (single elimination after the first few rounds and short races) give the weaker players a fighting chance.

Another cool feature of these tournaments is that registration is done by your home pool hall. Everybody from one pool hall travels to tournaments together sort of like a team, making it more of a social event. This makes it worth while for the weaker players to go because once they get knocked out, they can still cheer for whoever they came with that is still in.

Ranks are decided by each pool hall's manager and by tournament wins. ie. If a B player wins a B tournament, he/she is moved up to A, or if he places high enough times, he can be moved up to A as well (there is a points system that keeps track of this). once you reach A rank, you can't go down.

There is also a season ranking for the A players which award points for placing high in the all rank tournaments. the top 20 in my area get a $10 discount on entries and the top two get a small cash bonus at the end of the season and seeding in the final 32 of the season finale tournament.

to be continued...

 

[debyw]

Alternative Tournament Formats

I didn't even realize how close our format Behind The Rock Tour or BTRT is to what Japan is doing. We recently launched nationally. We have 6 divisions that you have to earn your way through to be ranked in a division. We play 10 vs the Ghost and so it's based all on your skill level and what each player does at the table. Player's play weekly out of their local pool room. We compete nationally by utilizing the internet and uploading players matches each week. Sundays we close the tournament, calculate winners and do payouts each Monday. We have trisemister events and an annual event. We ran beta for the past 16 months in WA state and are just now recruiting rooms east coast to west coast. I'm happy to see that we're on the right track for building a successful tour. If we grew to have 3 pool rooms in each state with 10 players out of each room and a $10 entry fee the weekly payout is $12,000 and that's just in enties. Once we have more player and room participation that sponsors want to see, we'll start recruiting sponsors. If any of you would like more information on the tour please visit the website. Here's a link to the overview of the tour. http://www.behindtherocktour.com/Tour-VirtualTournament.php Feel free to contact me at deby@behindtherocktour.com if you'd like additional information. I would love to hear your thoughts and get some feedback from you. Thanks for the great little tidbits.

 

[Masayoshi]

One of the best things about pool in Japan is that knowledge is shared nearly for free. Most pool halls have a house pro (or a manager who plays like a shortstop) and they give guidance to new players in return for the players patronage. They give away some knowledge for free and in return, get a customer who actually spends money at their pool hall. I can see good players in the US being skeptical about this, especially because not many have jobs at pool halls, but it is a much better way to make money than say beating the snot out of a C player for $50 and having him quit pool because you made him think he sucks.

 

[RackOnTour]

One of the best things about pool in Japan is that knowledge is shared nearly for free. Most pool halls have a house pro (or a manager who plays like a shortstop) and they give guidance to new players in return for the players patronage. They give away some knowledge for free and in return, get a customer who actually spends money at their pool hall. I can see good players in the US being skeptical about this, especially because not many have jobs at pool halls, but it is a much better way to make money than say beating the snot out of a C player for $50 and having him quit pool because you made him think he sucks.

Good point Masayoshi.
I am in Osaka 3 or 4 times a year and try to get to different venues each visit. If I am practicing, I nearly always get a couple of onlookers interested in a different way to play a shot - or even a different practice routine. They take it on board and immediately incorporate it into their game in some way. I wish I saw the casual social interaction that I experience in Japan, occur more in other places. It really adds a new dimension to the game and helps both sides learn something!

 

[sammi sam]

cool articles....

Share some pool hall culture from my home town, 1997-2004 growth 500 pool halls in Taipei and there were always have money games or catch up money games in the pool halls. Coz so many pool halls so every weekend have comps in their pool halls and price giving from 300us up to 800us, some of comps did not need to pay entry fees and lose side pay the table fees..............

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

How are seedings determined in professional events? Is there a universally accepted system for ranking the players that is used at all pro events and who administers these rankings, the JPBA?

Also is any event in which pros are allowed to play considered a professional event? Is the Japan Open designated as a professional event, and if so, how are any foreign players figured into the ranking/seeding process?

 

[OneIron]

I almost forgot about this double to single elimination shit. There is nothing worst than beating someone then losing 1 match and being out just because you didn't lose early enough. It can really drive you crazy.

Sorry for the negativity the ABP threads have me on tilt.:thumbup:

The APA does that in Regionals. They call it "modified double elimination" or something like that. Played multiple times and never got a chance to lose twice. I understand it helps with the time issue but it seems unfair to me. Either have double elimination or single elimination, IMO... :frown:

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Slightly off subject be can anyone give any update on what Kunihiko Takahashi & Takeshi Okumura have been up to lately? Every so often, I google their names to see if there's any new info on them but really nothing to speak of. I always liked these two players. Goh Takami is another one, albeit younger one, that I liked a lot. Any idea what they've been doing? Thanks!

 

[Bobby]

Slightly off subject be can anyone give any update on what Kunihiko Takahashi & Takeshi Okumura have been up to lately? Every so often, I google their names to see if there's any new info on them but really nothing to speak of. I always liked these two players. Goh Takami is another one, albeit younger one, that I liked a lot. Any idea what they've been doing? Thanks!

I too often wonder what Okumura is doing...I've always liked his style, very calm and zen like. I was at the 2000 U.S. Open 9 ball when Okumura came in second, he beat Bustamante in the semi-final and lost to Earl in the final but Earl was in dead punch the whole tournament so there was no shame losing to him.

 

[sengkun108]

What a great thread and very very very positive post....:thumbup:

i would like to bring this thread to our official in Indonesia...i really hope they can consider to follow Japan Pool association :smile::smile:...it's must be good for players

here is my story about how our goverment handle Pool association..

Indonesia pool association is really bad...They have some fund from goverment and corrupt the money... every player that win a tournament here must pay at least 10% to the association. But, the worst part is player got no benefit from what they pay...

there used to a station tv and company to sponsorship the tournament...but the there is a corrupt for the sponsor money and the sponsor angry and dissapointed ..So, right now the tournament stop. :frown:

The only Big tournament here that attract international player come only Guinness international pool tournament...

I really hope somebody can bring the change

 

[Masayoshi]

How are seedings determined in professional events? Is there a universally accepted system for ranking the players that is used at all pro events and who administers these rankings, the JPBA?

Also is any event in which pros are allowed to play considered a professional event? Is the Japan Open designated as a professional event, and if so, how are any foreign players figured into the ranking/seeding process?

In the proam tournaments like the Japan Open, for the first 2 rounds they group 3 people in each bracket, 2 are amateurs and 1 is a pro. Basically, the second round of the tournament is guaranteed to be a pro vs amateur unless there is an excess of amateurs or pros. Aside from that, I believe it is just the luck of the draw. So one of the benefits of being a pro is that you get a first round bye in every proam tournament and your first opponent is guaranteed to be an amateur.

Slightly off subject be can anyone give any update on what Kunihiko Takahashi & Takeshi Okumura have been up to lately? Every so often, I google their names to see if there's any new info on them but really nothing to speak of. I always liked these two players. Goh Takami is another one, albeit younger one, that I liked a lot. Any idea what they've been doing? Thanks!

Okumura is semi-retired, his eyesight is not very good anymore and I think I heard somebody say that he took up 3 cushion.

Takahashi is still playing in pro tournaments around Japan and tours various areas doing challenge matches. He came by my pool hall last year while I was away in the US. He doesn't seem to be traveling internationally much lately, I haven't really heard why.