Gorst dishes on US Open, lopsided prize funds, long race with Filler

J

jbart65

Well-known member
A few tidbits from Gorst on a recent webcast.

*Says some kind of long race with Filler this year seems more likely than not. Filler has shown more interest after beating Fedor in Vegas. Doesn't think some players - like a Kaci - could drum up enough money and support to make a long race worthwhile.

*Says Frisco is probably the best city in the state of Texas to hold a big tournament. Seemed pumped about the location change. Expects a lot of fans.

*Says participating in Bosnia at the European Open costs a U.S.-based player at least $3,500 to attend, and up to $5,000. A U.S. player would have to finish in the top 8 to make his money back.

*Says there's a "really good chance" Joe Rogan will play in the U.S. Open.

*Says St. Louis would "probably be the best location in the U.S." for a pool major.

*Says Predator is "probably losing a lot of money in its big events." Says it's crazy to think the Predator events could actually be making money. He pointed to the prize fund for the World 8 Ball Championship - $90,000 for the winner, $42,000 for the runnerup and $21,000 for third.

*Says prize money breakdowns aren't very fair, by and large. Pointed to the WPA 8-ball event. Also cited the $40,000 prize for a winner of most WNT majors, with the runner up getting $18,000. "Which is very, very ridiculous."

Still, "everyone will show up, and no one will say anything, so nothing is going to change."

Gorst went on. "But I am out here on the podcast, and I am saying it, so maybe Emily will hear it and send me a message. We'll see."

NOTE: Frazer claimed last year players wanted a bigger prize for the winner and less further down the food chain. Gorst suggested, no, players want the money spread out a bit more.

Gorst said promotors want to try to get more PR mileage out of big prizes for the winner. He referred to Chinese 8 ball and said its promotors are doing the same thing.
 
I'm not sure which is best, but absolutely makes sense to me that promoters want top heavy prize distributions (so they can boast about how much winner gets) and players want it more spread out (as only one player can win and they are all spending a fortune on travel).

Re. Bosnia, heard one of the European players saying that it's a relatively inexpensive country, yet they spent a fortune on accommodation as Matchroom forces them to get a room in the hotel that hosts the competition, which is more expensive than most hotels in the city.
 
uk_9_ball_convert said:
I'm not sure which is best, but absolutely makes sense to me that promoters want top heavy prize distributions (so they can boast about how much winner gets) and players want it more spread out (as only one player can win and they are all spending a fortune on travel).

Re. Bosnia, heard one of the European players saying that it's a relatively inexpensive country, yet they spent a fortune on accommodation as Matchroom forces them to get a room in the hotel that hosts the competition, which is more expensive than most hotels in the city.
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If a hotel are helping fund the tournament, then it's only fair players stay in the hotel.

That's part of the deal.
 
The Hotel $Hook$....
ALWAYS worked against the event and the up/coming players reasoning to attend or not.
To force them stay there is Wrong, what happens when you live 20 miles aways, Do you HAVE TO GET A ROOM????
I know MR allowed Allen Hopkins to not stay at the host hotel because he lived close by when the open was there.
All players entry fees are part of the payouts.
Matchroom on the east coast would pay/fly/house their referees$$$$$$$$$$$$ from Europe.
When you put an event on like the US Open in TX where rooms are around $300 a night, that can't compare to doing an event in Olathe at shooters where they NEVER force you to stay anywhere.
I wonder which MR employees are getting paid to fly/house/eat/work when they go to TX.
The money situation for the up/coming players sucksssssssss.... and Gorsts comment about paying down more I Totally agree with.
The format is for the hotels, not the players or the sport/game, it's why no player will be knocked out the first day of play, the hotel wants minimum 2 nights rent and meals.

bm
 
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The problem is the players themselves have no actual value. Many players in many sports make a majority of their money outside the sport from endorsement.

Trying to make your money from price funds as well as paying expenses out of pocket. Best go get a job because the current job you have is hard and not dependable.

You're one injury or illness away from having no income at all. Pool for most of its history, except for a very few, could almost be regarded as an amateur sport. I mean you can't make a living at it, so what else would you call it.

There might be an argument to be made if you can point to people who are making money such as a promoters and everybody else and the players essentially getting screwed over.
I can't tell if anybody's making any real money.
 
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uk_9_ball_convert said:
... Re. Bosnia, heard one of the European players saying that it's a relatively inexpensive country, yet they spent a fortune on accommodation as Matchroom forces them to get a room in the hotel that hosts the competition, which is more expensive than most hotels in the city.
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I went last year. The hotel room was, if I remember correctly, 110 euros per night and I think that included breakfast. A double might have been 150. A round-trip flight to Sarajevo from SFO, including a large bag, was $750. I don't know how Fedor got to $3500 unless he flew first class.
 
Island Drive said:
When you put an event on like the US Open in TX where rooms are around $300 a night
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And there are plenty of way cheaper options.
 
middleofnowhere said:
The problem is the players themselves have no actual value. Many players in many sports make a majority of their money outside the sport from endorsement.

Trying to make your money from price funds as well as paying expenses out of pocket. Best go get a job because the current job you have is hard and not dependable.

You're one injury or illness away from having no income at all. Pool for most of its history, except for a very few, could almost be regarded as an amateur sport. I mean you can't make a living at it, so what else would you call it.

There might be an argument to be made if you can point to people who are making money such as a promoters and everybody else and the players essentially getting screwed over.
I can't tell if anybody's making any real money.
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filipinos are, the average annual wage is equivalent to $7000 USD. chinese pros get a stipend from the government to excel in their field. Even being based in a midwest shithole with a floored COL, being a pro in the US is financially one of the worst things you can do to yourself.
 
SA96 said:
If a hotel are helping fund the tournament, then it's only fair players stay in the hotel.

That's part of the deal.
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That’s right in one sense. But not the way it works in any other sport. In an amateur event I kind of get it but even then I have only seen a difference in entry fees not a requirement that players stay at the hotel. But maybe there are others that require it. Needless to say the economic model for pro pool isn’t that healthy. I get why players don’t go to Europe to play one tournament.
 
JPB2 said:
That’s right in one sense. But not the way it works in any other sport. In an amateur event I kind of get it but even then I have only seen a difference in entry fees not a requirement that players stay at the hotel. But maybe there are others that require it. Needless to say the economic model for pro pool isn’t that healthy. I get why players don’t go to Europe to play one tournament.
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Hotels can't reduce their rates too much, since they're already kicking back money to the promoter for every room rented.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I went last year. The hotel room was, if I remember correctly, 110 euros per night and I think that included breakfast. A double might have been 150. A round-trip flight to Sarajevo from SFO, including a large bag, was $750. I don't know how Fedor got to $3500 unless he flew first class.
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Maybe Fedor had to make a quick stop in Moscow on the way there. :oops:
 
Premium economy (i.e. having enough room to fall asleep without screwing up your back/neck) plus a few nights of hotel, food, transportation, and so on will add up. If a player is worried about minimizing every cost that could be a distraction from playing well.
 
skip100 said:
Premium economy (i.e. having enough room to fall asleep without screwing up your back/neck) plus a few nights of hotel, food, transportation, and so on will add up. If a player is worried about minimizing every cost that could be a distraction from playing well.
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I think if a player is good enough to be there and has the potential to be high in the money. They can't really do it on the cheap they have to give themselves a shot to play their best.

Even just staying at a cheaper place miles from the venue can be bad. I once got a late start, got lost and and was forfeited. I was completely on the wrong side of a river from the pool room I was so lost.

Players can buddy up to save a little and split the room. Better is have a sponsor that at least can cover some expenses. A tournament like Derby and the huge number of players.
Realistically only a very few will break even. It is just a hobby and they don't mind the expense.
Play golf, own a boat, you name it. What you like to do usually cost money. They are lucky they have so many players who are willing to basically donate their money.

.
 
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