Jay Helfert's Big Facebook Announcement - $60K Carson City Challenge

watchez

watchez

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Jay posted on Facebook today that he is producing a 16 player invitational 10 ball tournament Feb 5-8, 2015. The puse is $60,000 with $20,000 to the winner. First round losers will get $1,250. There is NO entry fee for the event.

1. Dennis Orcullo
2. Darren Appleton
3. Lee Vann Corteza
4. Thorsten Hohmann
5. Francisco Bustamante
6. Mika Immonen
7. Efren Reyes
8. Niels Feijen
9. Carlo Biado
10. Shane Van Boening
11. Warren Kiamco
12. John Morra
13. Jose Parica
14. Oscar Dominguez
15. TBD
16. TBD

Big kudos to Jay for putting this together - with a tremendous field. Possible to be shown on Filipino TV and/or streamed.
 
This is AWESOME. How's he funding this? This sounds like something pool's been lacking for decades...if he's cracked the code on this and it's a viable model, it can be sold to advertisers. I smell no-kidding pro tour poetential here. The lack of Americans in the field is a little disconcerting, but as a pool junkie I love the set up, wall to wall monsters. No Ronnie Alcano? Can't believe he'd pass this action up. You could add two Chinese players and I think you'd have a perfect storm...:thumbup:
 
Jose Parica?

His name seems a bit out of place to me. It's apparent this is being targeted towards the Filipino's I guess. Or someone is just throwing Jose a bone at this point. It even seems like Warren Kiamco isn't really a top tier player at this point in time. How about Mike Dechaine or Johnny Archer?

If these invitational tournaments are really the wave of the future -- things are going to get pretty interesting. This list sure is.
 
BasementDweller said:
Jose Parica?

His name seems a bit out of place to me. It's apparent this is being targeted towards the Filipino's I guess. Or someone is just throwing Jose a bone at this point. It even seems like Warren Kiamco isn't really a top tier player at this point in time. How about Mike Dechaine or Johnny Archer?

If these invitational tournaments are really the wave of the future -- things are going to get pretty interesting. This list sure is.
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I'm sure more than 16 invites were sent out and it's probably a first come, first served deal. Jose is local in So Cal so I'm sure he jumped at the chance to make some $$$ with no entry fee. I'm sure he can still play a little too.
 
BasementDweller said:
Jose Parica?

His name seems a bit out of place to me. It's apparent this is being targeted towards the Filipino's I guess. Or someone is just throwing Jose a bone at this point. It even seems like Warren Kiamco isn't really a top tier player at this point in time. How about Mike Dechaine or Johnny Archer?

If these invitational tournaments are really the wave of the future -- things are going to get pretty interesting. This list sure is.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Jose struck me as an odd pick, too, but I still love to watch him play. Who knows? Maybe the old man will catch a gear. I'm also surprised with no Earl or Jason Shaw...maybe they're busy? Earl's been showing up for action tournaments all over the place, and he's in pretty damn good stroke lately. Shaw likes action, too.

I wonder if Filipino TV or Puyat or someone is kicking in here...that might explain the Filipino numbers. That's great IMHO, if they buy this for TV, they'll buy other events with more U.S. players in it, too. Anything that kicks real cash at pro players is good for pool. :wink:
 
I love how these threads always sway towards who is and who is not invited and who people would have on their list. When you have an invitational event, you can invite whoever you please. I am sure Jay knows what players to invite and why, in order to make this event successful.
 
I think Justin Bergman should make this roster. He's playing great lately.


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Nice work Jay - Things are looking up for the "Felt Nation"!
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Am not an American but am a fan of the game and fan of SVB so as long as he's in the mix it a good field , it would be cool if this comes off and at least one more US player is added ,but best of all if SVB wins .
 
I wouldn't trust Jay as far as I could throw him. ;)

Granted, I ripped my rotator cuff pitching, so he'd fly half a foot.

Ipso facto, Jay is cool beans. I trust that more people like Jay will make higher level pool a better place.

The shake-out of high caliber pool is in new open waters and we can only hope that the respected/trusted promoters - the Jays, Griffins, Sullivans, et al, not only make a positive difference, but also impose a manifest for the best players to be motivated to play without shenanigans, with decorum, and can play with a chance to make enough money to help their nut.

Win Win.
 
Tough crowd. Jay is doing what everybody says pool needs and it seems people want to just bash his list. Kudos Jay for putting this spectacular event together.
 
I probably sound like a broken record b/c I've asked this a lot over the past year, but why isn't Ronnie Alcano part of this group?
 
jojopiff said:
Tough crowd. Jay is doing what everybody says pool needs and it seems people want to just bash his list. Kudos Jay for putting this spectacular event together.
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I hope I didn't come off as bashing jack...I'm thrilled he's doing this, and I'm a big fan of high caliber pool, regardless of the nationality. I'd pay to watch any of these guys play!
 
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