European Open 2025, Sarajevo, March 11-16

iusedtoberich said:
Isn't this a MR major with a full MR production and full international broadcast? Not a Diamond table advertisement tournament? Maybe I'm mistaken that its not a major? If that is all the money available, at a minimum the difference between 1st and second doesn't seem right to me.
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The top prize for the Euro Open in 2023 and 2024 was $30,000, with the runner up getting $15,000. This year the top prize is $40,000, with $16,000 for the runner up.

Frazer did say the players wanted the prize money to be more top heavy. So the semi-and quarter-finalists get a bit more, too.

Hanoi had the same split last year as the Euro Open. So did the UK Open.
 
maha said:
bob, if you do go be real extra careful the pop is half muslim there and its a bad time to be in their spaces.
i would not be out and about in town at all even tough most are sunni and are not hateful of westerners but you can be sure there are many that are. a bad gamble just to play in a pool tournament.
the whole point is to also get to take the city in but can you.
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Seems racist to me 🤷‍♂️
 
maha said:
bob, if you do go be real extra careful ,,,
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For those who are not familiar with the area -- mostly former Yugoslavia -- and how it has developed since the most recent war, here is a most excellent travelog of several of the cities and new countries including Sarajevo, where I'll be for a week.

I'm not worried and I'm looking forward to a great experience.

 
Until total purse amt's get REALLY juicy we're gonna see top-heavy payouts. The PGATour pays 18% to first, then 18% of whats left to 2nd,etc. When you're paying stupid money like golf they can pay better deeper. BTW, 126th on the PGA last year(lose your tour card time) was $1,154,000. FOR DEAD LAST on the tour. 170th place still made almost 500k. Crazy.
 
jasonlaus said:
Seems racist to me 🤷‍♂️
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well, it's just not accurate. if there is a security risk it's more likely to be related to drunken people or pickpockets than to religion. bosniaks celebrate ramadan by toning down their alcohol consumption for a couple of weeks.. they have some decent beer breweries / brands actually, but like most southern european countries the beers are lightbodied lagers (think corona)
 
garczar said:
Until total purse amt's get REALLY juicy we're gonna see top-heavy payouts. The PGATour pays 18% to first, then 18% of whats left to 2nd,etc. When you're paying stupid money like golf they can pay better deeper. BTW, 126th on the PGA last year(lose your tour card time) was $1,154,000. FOR DEAD LAST on the tour. 170th place still made almost 500k. Crazy.
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... and so it shall be for pool when tens of millions of people watch pool almost every weekend of the year.

Of course, if/when that happens, five times as many people, including those having the greatest hand-eye coordination for all sports, will try their hand at pool, and we might find ourselves living in a world where the Fargo 800 player is dead money in the majors.
 
skogstokig said:
well, it's just not accurate. if there is a security risk it's more likely to be related to drunken people or pickpockets than to religion. bosniaks celebrate ramadan by toning down their alcohol consumption for a couple of weeks.. they have some decent beer breweries / brands actually, but like most southern european countries the beers are lightbodied lagers (think corona)
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Agreed. The different people and religions are coexisting in Europe, I have never had any issues on my pool related travels. There are only a handful on hot spots in Balkan where your religion would matter, but people go on living their lives. Only if you act obnoxious or insulting you might draw trouble but that applies all over the world. In fact, what I’ve heard, the beer keeps on flowing in Sarajevo. And it is good and not that watery stuff! 🤓
Nothing personal to anyone here, but most of the time people spreading their fears haven’t really travelled the world. Being nice and polite and interested in the local culture goes a long way of having an unforgettable trip.
 
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skogstokig said:
well, it's just not accurate. if there is a security risk it's more likely to be related to drunken people or pickpockets than to religion. bosniaks celebrate ramadan by toning down their alcohol consumption for a couple of weeks.. they have some decent beer breweries / brands actually, but like most southern european countries the beers are lightbodied lagers (think corona)
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I've never been to Bosnia, but I assume MR would not have put a tournament there unless it was safe enough.

The U.S. State Department did issue an advisory in late December about traveling to Bosnia. It gave a 2 rating (1 is safe and 4 is dangerous).

"Exercise increased caution in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to terrorism, crime, and land mines." It also said: "Theft and other crimes of opportunity are common, especially against tourists."

Some of this strikes me as boilerplate, being familiar with how the State Department characterizes this stuff.

What's more, the State Department issued a 2 rating to ... Germany and Denmark last summer because of terrorist attacks. Most Americans would feel safe traveling to Germany and Denmark. I've been to both, and I know I would.

Not a fan of throwing certain words around in any case. Bosnians are considered European and they sure look Caucasian to me. No one is suggesting their are inferior people or some such. The OP had an opinion about safety and ... religion. Others disagree.

Me? I'd have no problem traveling to Bosnia based on what I know as an experienced traveler.
 
skogstokig said:
well, it's just not accurate. if there is a security risk it's more likely to be related to drunken people or pickpockets than to religion. bosniaks celebrate ramadan by toning down their alcohol consumption for a couple of weeks.. they have some decent beer breweries / brands actually, but like most southern european countries the beers are lightbodied lagers (think corona)
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I actually wasn't arguing with him.

My humor can be an acquired taste
 
sjm said:
... and so it shall be for pool when tens of millions of people watch pool almost every weekend of the year.

Of course, if/when that happens, five times as many people, including those having the greatest hand-eye coordination for all sports, will try their hand at pool, and we might find ourselves living in a world where the Fargo 800 player is dead money in the majors.
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I believe it already is. I'm not betting a penny without odds until 830ish and even then, I'm not liking it
 
jasonlaus said:
I believe it already is. I'm not betting a penny without odds until 830ish and even then, I'm not liking it
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Dead money means they cannot easily cash. In that light, we probably live in a world where the Fargo 725 is practically dead money. FYI, two of the Matchroom majors in 2024 were won by players under Fargo 800 at the time they won. Mickey Krause won at the European Open and Robbie Capito won at the UK Open.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The pairings are now up on the WNT scoring site. I think you have to join to see the scores. It's free.

www.wntlivescores.com

World Nineball Tour live scores

Follow the World Nineball Tour live scores & rankings in real time.
www.wntlivescores.com
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Alexander Kazakis vs
us.svg
Bob Jewett

You got this, Bob!!
 
sjm said:
Derby City 9ball: $160 to enter and every contender buys back for $100. So, it costs $260 for most to play in the Derby City 9ball, which pays $16,000 for first and $8,000 for second, despite a field of 500 players.

It costs $250 to play in the European Open, but first prize is $40,000 and second is $16,000 in a field of 256.

Nothing looks wrong here.
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Bob Jewett said:
Here's the participation by country. About 45 locals that would not otherwise be playing.

Tony Drago is in!

Only two Filipinos.

47 Bosnia and Herzegovina
19 United Kingdom
14 Serbia
13 Chinese Taipei
12 Turkey
11 Germany
11 United States
10 Bulgaria
9 Greece
9 Poland
7 Albania
7 Finland
7 Netherlands
7 Viet Nam
6 Kuwait
5 Croatia
5 Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
5 Spain
4 Austria
3 Indonesia
3 Italy
3 Montenegro
3 Romania
3 Syrian Arab Republic
2 Estonia
2 Hong Kong
2 Kosovo
2 Lebanon
2 Norway
2 Philippines
2 Portugal
2 Singapore
2 Slovenia
2 Switzerland
1 Bahrain
1 Canada
1 Cyprus
1 Denmark
1 France
1 Japan
1 Lithuania
1 Malta
1 New Zealand
1 Oman
1 Saudi Arabia
1 South Africa
1 Ukraine
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Jewett’s playing! Those Euros better watch out.
 
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