Gosh, this sounds like a great cause for some group that is supposed to represent the best in the sport to take on.
Bring on the press releases!
Bring on the press releases!
if DP is the only one putting on a world tournament... an arbitrary group sanctioned by NONE of the competing players doesn't like it.. So we have no 2011 champion??
I know that there were other things that went into this decision.
I'm hoping either Jerry or Mike could provide me with directions and entrance requirements for the 2011 WPA world 14.1 championships...
where will it be held?
when?
I mean going to all this trouble to shut down the competition.. you must have something spectacular to offer as an alternative... right??
200G added prize pool... I can't wait ...let me know where to sign up for the REAL 2011 championships
And if there was a WPA sanctioned World 14.1 tournament, you would not sign up for it. You would earn your spot through your local federation.
Mike
and the qualifiers for the 2011 world championships will begin when?
On another note (sorry for slight topic change), what I found peculiar is that there was no 2008 and 2009 World 9 Ball Champion, but in 2010, the Qatar Open was renamed the World 9 Ball Championship.
The first Qatar Open, called 'Qatar World Open 9-Ball', happened in 2008, and was won by Dennis Orcullo with first place being $40K.
Then in 2009, then called 'Qatar International Open' it was won by Mika Immonen, prize being $40K again.
In 2010, the annual event was called the 'World 9-Ball Championship' with Francisco Bustamante winning the first place prize of $36K.
What happened to get the Qatar Open renamed to 'World 9-Ball Championship' and have the first place prize reduced by $4K?
Shouldnt the WPA recognize the previous Qatar Open winners as WPC of that year, because it didnt have a WPC for 2008 and 2009, and that the Qatar open would later be recognized (or renamed) as the WPC anyway?
Softshot -
It seems you are missing the point.
As I see it, there are criteria to calling an event a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
When that title is in use, the winner should be able to expect certain things - one of which is going down in the record book.
When there are no established criteria - then anyone anywhere can have a world championship.
I understand what you are saying, since there are no 14.1 World Championship in the works (that I know of).
But - in the past there has been a lot of abuse. And the WPA needs to stop the confusion. No legitimate group will go forward to have 14.1 World Championship if there is an 'unofficial' one going on.
The WPA position just makes sense if you study the underlying facts.
I still think the real question is why did Dragon Promotions help create this confusion. All of this could have been avoided. Why does this have to be called a WORLD event? This is really a US event - there are very few from overseas - which a sanctioned event would probably get.
I am not trying to argue with anyone. But how in the world do you expect Pool and Billiards to get any respect when you can go out and have a world championship and just pull players out of the stands to play?
Sorry - it just does not make sense for the long term health of the industry.
The solution would have been to call this event something else. (North American 14.1 Championship??)
Mark Griffin
Ray Martin WORLD CHAMPION
Mike Sigel WORLD CHAMPION
Oliver Orttman WORLD CHAMPION
Willie Mosconi WORLD CHAMPION
Irving Crane WORLD CHAMPION
Ralph Greenleaf WORLD CHAMPION
oh wait.. a few rich guys didn't sign off on any of those.. lets kick them all out of the hall of fame..
long term health???? i.e Yen Makabenta didn't sign off and since we don't want him murdering anyone else.. lets just cower in the corner
none of you represent anything except your own self interest..
you can complain about the title world champion when you have a competing event to take it's place .....until then .. you got nothing but bullshit
OK, now it is obvious that you are just trolling for attention.
No one said anything about kicking anyone out of the Hall of Fame.
The comment about Makabenta was uncalled for and unrelated to what we are discussing.
When you would like to read this entire thread so that you have some idea what you are talking about, then we can go back to debating this.
Mike (Not a member of the WPA board and not a decision maker as to which events are sanctioned)
Softshot-
Please don't get so angry over this.
You are getting off the track with some of your comments.
This thread was only about the current 14.1 event.
Azbilliards can call any event world championship that they want - but that does not make them a world champion. They would not be in the record books and azbiliards press release would quickly be forgotten.
I am not sure what you mean with your list of 'world champions' - I don't know where that title (or list) comes from. I am thinking most of those are US champions. I might be wrong because I am not that up to speed on some pool history.
But - let's keep this civil.
Mark griffin
ok I'll distill my entire argument down to this singular statement
"you can complain about the title "World Straight Pool Champion" when you have an equal competing event to take it's place"
until then what is your point???
ok I'll distill my entire argument down to this singular statement
"you can complain about the title "World Straight Pool Champion" when you have an equal competing event to take it's place"
until then what is your point???
One thing we can't do is point our fingers at the PLAYERS for the reason of pools "50 years decline" or blame them for the "state of the game today." That is ridiculous, Mr. Forsyth. Players must do what they do best: play the game. At the same time, as human beings, [players] must support and take care of their families in the best way they can. For you to be attacking and blaming players for the ills of the pool economy is simply asinine.
In this day and age when there is a movement to dissolve pensions, medical coverage, and property value, you want players to boycott events that a governing body doesnt sanction? Is that governing body ready to protect the players it so deems that they are fighting for? Does it intend to set up a pension fund or health benefits? It's true [that] for improvement and justice, there always must be sacrifice, but first, it must come from organized leadership.
We live in different times; the contradictions abound in this world. Is the World Series in Major League Baseball a true world series? I don't think so. Is the World Series of Poker able to determine who the world champ of the green felt is? Let's not even go into boxing.
Pool has its own peculiarities and contradictions. If you want to find the perfect solution for resolving these contradictions, fine. But blaming the one group that gives the only reason to attend these events, giving it any credence, is not productive.
One thing we cant do is point our fingers at the PLAYERS for the reason of pools "50 years decline" or blame them for the "state of the game today". That is ridiculous Mr Forsyth. Players must do what they do best. Play the game. At the same time as human beings must support and take care of their families in the best way they can.
For you to be attacking and blaming players for the ills of the pool economy is simply asinine.
In this day and age when there is a movement to dissolve pensions, medical coverage, and property value you want players to boycott events that a governing body doesnt sanction? Is that governing body ready to protect the players it so deems that they are fighting for. Does it intend to set up a pension fund or health benefits? Its true for improvement and justice there always must be sacrifice but first it must come from organized leadership.
We live in different times. The contradictions abound in this world.
Is the World Series in Major League Baseball a true World Series? I dont think so. Is the World Series of Poker able to determine who the world champ of the green felt is? Lets not even go into Boxing.
Pool has its own peculiarities and contradictions. If you want to find the perfect solution for resolving these contradictions fine. But blaming the one group that gives the only reason to attend these events and giving it any credence is not productive.