I understand that CSI has tried before to have qualifiers nationwide for a big tournament and that for whatever reason didn't work out as planed.
But not because of it should we stop thinking about qualifiers.
I think they are the way to go.
The invitational events are ultra right fascism,I think.
In a lot of individual sports, like golf, an average player or semi-pro cannot just pay an entry fee and play a Pro event. He needs to qualify for it.
I think a serious Pro Pool Tour should pay good enough so that the organizer can make a lot of the money back via qualifiers around the country.
Back when the IPT qualifiers, the whole world held qualifiers and players where quitting their jobs to play pool,cuz they supposedly had a change to win a Tour card to guarantee them $100.000 a year.
And they were paying $2000 entry fees!
Well, BCA or CSI may not be able to make pro tournaments that pay as well as the IPT did, but with good enough added money and a lower entry for the qualifers I think they could attract a lot of players.
Now, if a 5th place finish in the Pro events pays between $2000/$4000 in a field of 128, do not expect players to die for a spot.Because it's too hard to place that high and all you are doing if you do is break event or clear a few hundred at best.
The money should be better in Pro events,if it's not the qualifiers won't be successful.
It puzzles me that neither the CSI,BCA,Charlie Williams,and the few other organizers have not come up with a good idea for a successful Pro tour.
I think we, the players are dying to play and we would support any decent tour with decent payouts.
Whoever does the right thing will get all the players, and then we can start talking about having a true Ranking system.