Savers are a factor of sports where money is involved. I have had savers myself.
I don't know what a chop is. I assumed it meant the same as saver. Not being American, can someone explain it to me?
What I absolutely detest though is players openly agreeing to split the winnings of a final and then, if applicable, playing a frame for the ranking points (if applicable). I put an absolute stop to this in my own events when I ran them.
Shaw is a bad loser and that is the basis of what he said. I do not mean that as a criticism as ultimately in order to be the very best you must be a bad loser and I have seen it in many many players. Indeed in the same commentary Shaw and Archer discussed Archer having broken cues in the past.
On the basis that Shaw was "hot under the collar" and he was commentating on a match featuring his alleged antagonist, it might be viewed as a mistake to invite him in to commentary in the first place..
Voice,
Here are the differences from my perspective. I'm assuming it's similar all around, although there may be some slight differences.
Split/Chop - Same thing. Splitting 50/50 on winnings. Can happen in several different times.
1. Final 2 players look at 1st being $1000, 2nd being $500. They agree to chop and get $750 each. May not even play the last match depending on Tourney Directors requirements.
2. Getting close to the money and 2 players that feel they are equally matched and agree to split 50/50 wherever they place. So one ends up in 8th for $60 and one ends up in 3rd for $240, they split the winnings $150 each. Where this gets difficult on the math is when further splits/savers are agreed as the winner proceeds further.
3. Start of tourney - 2 or more friends in a tourney agree up front that they will pool their winnings and split all ways.
Savers - Either a dollar amount or percentage of winnings to take the sting out of losing a little bit. I only have experience in the example below.
2 players are playing in the money rounds (or 1 before the money). Let's say the loser of the match is going to get nothing and the winner is going to get at least $200, the players may agree that the winner will give the loser $50. Takes the sting away from playing all day in a tourney to fall short of the money and get nothing. With the saver, they at least paid for the day.
Many will negotiate a saver in each round they advance further. Professionals do it because there isn't huge money in pool and when they get close, they start looking at prize money and their expenses and try to cover the nut. Amateurs do it so they feel they didn't work all day to get nothing.
