poolsnark said:
Seriously? I can't believe you think that this event is even a close comparison to the WSOP and to compare the two games is an insult to pool players. In a poker tournament, there's a reason why people say "all you need is a chip and a chair". Poker takes strategy and luck, but not nearly the level of skill and practice that is necessary to compete at a professional level in pool.
What Chris Moneymaker taught the world is that any schmuck can walk into the WSOP and win it all. Do you think its realistic that an APA league player could go into a tournament against a bunch of players like Thorsten, Shane and Johnny and win? Sure, there are lots of road players out there that could probably take down some pros, but if you think regular schmoes are going to throw down $5k for this event like they do for the WSOP, well lets just say that I want some of what you're smokin'.
Don't get me wrong, its nice and all that Hopkins is trying to get this off the ground and build some interest for pool but lets not go crazy. It is what it is, a nice little event with some very decent payouts (comparatively speaking anyway).
You can't handle what I am "smokin" - it's called hope. Some ****ing people would rather be negative all their life and bring up a million reasons why something WON'T work. I am glad people like Einstein, Edison, Marconi, Tesla, and Allen Hopkins could care less about people like that.
And yeah I think some "regular" schmoes will throw in 5k to play. Who the hell is Evan Broxmeyer and what has he won? Exactly nothing. I beat Evan Broxmeyer with a Fury Jump Break cue one year for two hours until he quit. Yet there he is in a field of 11 champions mixing it up.
But beyond that we are talking about a worldwide effort and many smaller - as in NO FINANCIAL PAIN - tournaments that feed into the larger one. Do I think that with a year to fill the field that we can't get 200 players? Well if we can't then pool really is THAT pathetic. Are there 200 players who want to play in such a tournament? Easily. Are there 10,000 players who would take a shot at it in weekly installments for $30 a shot? Hopefully.
How many weekly tournaments are currently played out around the USA alone? At least 50 - or about 1 per state. 50x50 is 2500. 2500 * $200 per tournament/per week going to the tournament entries is $500,000 for the prize fund. 50 tournaments x 20 players = 1000 players per week going for the brass ring. That's 52,000 players in one year trying to get to the Million Dollar Shootout. Plenty enough to send 100 of them. And this is all conservative speculation.
NO ONE is talking about the skill comparison. Moneymaker however wasn't just some "schmuck" off the street - he honed his skills through online poker and cash games around his area. And if poker is really so much about luck only then why do the top players remain at the top? I am the LAST person who would dismiss the incredible skill it takes to play pool at the top level. Do I think that beyond the known top 100 pool players in the world that there are thousands more who aren't very far off that skill level? I know that this is a fact. I know dozens of players personally who have day jobs but can play just under pro speed. And there are thousands more who might get there if they put in more time - which something like trying to qualify for a million dollar tournament would probably push them to do.
So no Betty Railbeater isn't going to plunk down $5000 to get in the main event. But she might donate to cause by trying her hand at several $20 qualifiers. Who knows a benoevolent sponsor might put up $5000 and have a ten dollar c-player only tournament for $10 a person. There are MANY MANY MANY ways that this can be a success.
Let's in fact go completely crazy and say **** begging for money from uninterested sponsors. Let's build something interesting and then they will show up - JUST LIKE POKER DID!
I guess pro players dont need the money that bad.
