Just asked him via twitter, and he confirmed that he'll be in Qatar in a few days.
Just asked him via twitter, and he confirmed that he'll be in Qatar in a few days.
Does he have to play in the qualifying stage? Any idea how many places will be filled by qualifiers, and how many players will be trying to qualify?
I just had a similar discussion with Thorsten about this yesterday, regarding Hunter Lombardo. There's easily a dozen US players above him, but he'll be playing in Qatar, without playing in the qualifiers. Apparently, the BCA does its dillegence and does invite the top players to participate. Of course, all expenses are on the player. So few of the players ever except. So, after so many refusals, the BCA winds up giving spots away to players who would never earn their way there. Mike D of course would've been invited, based on US performance, but one has to consider tha Hunter, specifically, plays in every major tournament, regardless of where it is in the world. That alone gets him an invite.
Sounds like you are saying Dechaine does not have to go through the qualifying stage, right?
Sounds like you are saying Dechaine does not have to go through the qualifying stage, right?
Does he have to play in the qualifying stage? Any idea how many places will be filled by qualifiers, and how many players will be trying to qualify?
Last years qualifiers was probably toughest of any tourney -i mean Warren Kiamco did not make it thru qualifiers and only went thru after some qualified player withdrew :grin-square:
Johann Chua was ranked 26th before last year's w9b, but he had to go through the qualifying stages. He's been a consistent player in w9b, all-Japan and China Open.
right now, mike dechaine is ranked 60th and he does not participate that much in WPA-sanctioned events. my guess is that he will have to go through the very tough qualifying stages.
According to the WPA site the BCA is allotted 7 automatic slots for the tournament.
can you post the link to this info?
MD is not in top 24 now and would need to win US Open ( the 9ft Barry one) to get into top 24 http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/rankings
Alternative is to get wild card invite (which he unlikely to get) or get invite by country association. If he is playing he must not have to go thru qualifiers
Last years qualifiers was probably toughest of any tourney -i mean Warren Kiamco did not make it thru qualifiers and only went thru after some qualified player withdrew :grin-square:
Those WPA rankings are horrible for anyone outside of Europe and Asian areas, only 3 of the 14 events are in the US. They need to have way more events to have a World ranking or have an organization and tour that will send the pro players to as many events as they want to play in, instead of what they can afford for travel.
I'm sure if they have 14 events, where all pro players can play in at will, the rankings will be different.
Shane is the only US player listed till Mike D is at 60, and Shane only has 4 events in the ranking.
It's like having a ranking of snow man makers and having all the events held in Alaska and Siberia. Not a lot of people from Maine would be ranked there either.
Those WPA rankings are horrible for anyone outside of Europe and Asian areas, only 3 of the 14 events are in the US. They need to have way more events to have a World ranking or have an organization and tour that will send the pro players to as many events as they want to play in, instead of what they can afford for travel.
I'm sure if they have 14 events, where all pro players can play in at will, the rankings will be different.
Shane is the only US player listed till Mike D is at 60, and Shane only has 4 events in the ranking.
It's like having a ranking of snow man makers and having all the events held in Alaska and Siberia. Not a lot of people from Maine would be ranked there either.
Yeah, you're right. we should just move all of them to the USA. Let the competition come to us. 3/14 works out to roughly 20%, which sounds a little generous to be giving one single country, don't you think?