NCS Purpose and Qualifier Structure

Holly

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This morning it came to my attention from a phone call I received that the following information needed to be outlined for the players. I hope this is helpful. Anyone who has any questions please contact me.

The main purpose of the NCS is:

- To offer an open national championship in multiple disciplines. Open to all players, men, women, amateur and pros.
- To build a program that promotes 9' table play both on the national level but also on the local and regional level
- To bridge the national and local pool communities and have the two work together.

The structure of how the qualifiers work as follows:

Qualifiers are scheduled around the country and CSI offers a flexible, but structured framework on how the qualifiers are ran such as:

Entry amounts are decided by the host room not to exceed $100. (We felt that each region was different and that they would know best what entry would be appropriate for their geographical area). A green fee can be taken out up to $20. any rooms have not taken a green fee at all.

The format for the first national event is 8-Ball however we will be moving forward with 9-Ball, 10-Ball, 14.1 and One Pocket throughout the year. With each discipline the format will be defined to the host rooms. At the qualifier host rooms for the 8-Ball qualifiers the races can vary between 5-7 games depending on player participation and tables available. Some host rooms have a strong Sat. evening crowd, some do not, and we did not want their NCS qualifier to interfere with their normal regular crowd.

Each spot to the NCS 8-Ball Championship is valued at $550. Some rooms have sent one qualifier winner, some two; a couple had such a large turnout they qualified more. The host room sends all the qualifier winner(s) and alternate player(s) contact information along with a check for the total amount for the spot(s) from their qualifier to CSI. Out of each qualifier spot for that winner $500 goes back into the prize fund at the NCS 8-Ball Championship at the Golden Nugget.

Qualifier Added Money. CSI did not stipulate for the qualifier host rooms to add money. That was each host rooms decision. Any added money along with the entry fees from the players at the qualifier are added together. Out of the total the money for the spots are taken out and submitted to CSI for the qualifier winners spot at nationals. If there is any additional money remaining, that is paid out in cash at the qualifier level, how deep the cash is paid out is determined by the qualifier host room to the players who participated. Depending on the entry fee amount, any added money amount and the number of players dictates the total purse for a given qualifier.

For example: The NCS qualifier held at Mickey?s in Las Vegas, in December:
There were 15 players who each paid $60. The owner took $10 per player as a green fee and added $500. Thus the total amount at the qualifier was $1250. Two players qualified, thus $550 was submitted to CSI for each entry to the NCS 8-Ball Championship (2 x $550 = $1100). Therefore there was $150 remaining in cash to pay out. This money was paid out to the 3rd place finisher, who did not win a spot.

The main purpose of the qualifiers is for the winners to win their entry to the national level, where they have a shot at thousands of dollars and a chance to win a spot to the World 8-Ball Championship.

I hope this helps with some questions some players have had. The NCS is new, but those involved are not. This is not a money maker for CSI this is about the sport, the game, the love of our industry.
 
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When I take my son to a tournament, we expect added money to be money that goes to the players.

What is more important though is when the players are finding out that the added money does not go to them. Before or after they drive hours to get to these events.

WPF
 
I understand the structure of the NCS is new to the pool community who are accustomed to the more traditional structure as you mention. However, these are qualifier tournaments designed to send players to the NCS national events (currently the NCS 8-Ball Championship) where they will be playing for money and a spot to the world championship.

There is a difference and I am just trying to clarify that. When I go to a weekly tournament or an event that is $1000 added, but that is it...no hope of moving on from that particular tournament to a larger national event, it is very different and my expectation would be that the money is completely paid out. However, the money for the NCS qualifiers are being paid out - but towards the prize fund to the national event, where the qualifier winners will be playing for larger stakes all total.
 
Sounds a lot like another tour that was going on a year ago that had qualifiers for a bigger event. That other tour was adding a lot of money to the big event. What is the added money on the CSI event?

WPF
 
NO added money at the NCS 8 Ball championship.

If you would take the time to visit the CSI website, there is a lot of information that has been available for a long time for anyone that is interested.

Kudos to Holly Ryan and Mark Griffin for promoting, coordinating the qualifiers and getting the Venue, TD and Refs for this grand inaugural event. I know this isn't cheap and it takes a lot of work and dedication by the CSI staff.


westernpoolfan said:
What is the added money on the CSI event?
WPF
 
westernpoolfan said:
Sounds a lot like another tour that was going on a year ago that had qualifiers for a bigger event. That other tour was adding a lot of money to the big event. What is the added money on the CSI event?

WPF

At no point whatsoever did NCS say there would be added money. So where is your question going? Are you saying there needs to be added money for players to play?
 
selftaut said:
At no point whatsoever did NCS say there would be added money. So where is your question going? Are you saying there needs to be added money for players to play?


While I wish the best to any and all people trying to support/promote pool, added monies would be a big help in attracting players. I know a lot of people in Atlanta that drove to Chattanooga for a tourney instead, because they could win money immediately. To be clear, I am not trying to bash, just saying that with a lot of poolplayers, that is just how it is. I, for one, wouldn't mind paying another 20 or 30 to get some cash involved. And, from what I gather, the NCS wouldn't be responsible for that. But I personally don't want to travel to play in a tourney where the only thing you can win is another entry into a tourney that I would have little chance to snap off. Once again, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY PLAY if it were close, but once factoring in expenses, with this economy, I personally have to go with the more immediate payout. But, that is just me, and I hope it is a tremendous success.:D
 
Tom In Cincy said:
NO added money at the NCS 8 Ball championship.

If you would take the time to visit the CSI website, there is a lot of information that has been available for a long time for anyone that is interested.

Kudos to Holly Ryan and Mark Griffin for promoting, coordinating the qualifiers and getting the Venue, TD and Refs for this grand inaugural event. I know this isn't cheap and it takes a lot of work and dedication by the CSI staff.


Just visited the site. Found a list of events that sometimes listed added money. Didn't see anything about the added money going to the bigger event.

Found a listing for the event at your room. I can bring my son from L.A. and drive six hours each way and pay for a motel room for two nights and find out when I get there that the added money is not added to this event. Instead it is added to another event.

No one thought this was an important thing to mention before today?

WPF
 
muttley76 said:
While I wish the best to any and all people trying to support/promote pool, added monies would be a big help in attracting players. I know a lot of people in Atlanta that drove to Chattanooga for a tourney instead, because they could win money immediately. To be clear, I am not trying to bash, just saying that with a lot of poolplayers, that is just how it is. I, for one, wouldn't mind paying another 20 or 30 to get some cash involved. And, from what I gather, the NCS wouldn't be responsible for that. But I personally don't want to travel to play in a tourney where the only thing you can win is another entry into a tourney that I would have little chance to snap off. Once again, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY PLAY if it were close, but once factoring in expenses, with this economy, I personally have to go with the more immediate payout. But, that is just me, and I hope it is a tremendous success.:D

There is nothing wrong with your view, the NCS series is for the players who WANT to advance to the national as main goal, and possibly the worlds. If a player makes a decision that they do not want the chance to advance then it might not be the tourney for them.
 
WPF,
Maybe this will help you understand where the $$$$ is going.

A Qualifier is a tournament that the 1st place winner gains entry to the Bigger event.

In the scope of the NCS qualifiers, the 1st and 2nd place finishers win entry into the Bigger NSC event in Vegas.

The entry fee for that event is $550 payable to the CSI/NCS in Vegas.

Hard Times Billiards in Sacramento is adding $1000 to the NCS qualifying tournament this weekend. This $1000 will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place as entry fees to the NCS tournament in Vegas.
Hard Times will mail the two entry fee winner's checks to the NCS office next week.

Our Qualifying tournament will still have money payouts to approximately 25% of the field (if 32 players 1st and 2nd will get the entry fee paid, 3-8th will get cash) total around $2000 and $2250 ($80 for players $40 for juniors and women)

You're correct that no one has spelled out the entire money breakdown to you. Most pool players that have played in tournaments know how these qualifiers work.

My apologies for assuming everyone that would be interested in these qualifiers money breakdowns would have asked this type of question months ago.

westernpoolfan said:
No one thought this was an important thing to mention before today?

WPF
 
Dear WPF,

Until today, it had not been an issue that had been brought to my attention. The money breakdown, such as the $550 for each spot, is discussed with each host qualifier room. However, like all communication, sometimes the information is not trickled down to the next level of interaction, which is the players from the rooms. Not necessarily the rooms owners or management's fault...it is the nature of communication and a large new endeavor such as the NCS.

When it came to my attention this morning - I immediately addressed it and made it public here in the forums. If there is something in my original message which is not clear, please let me know. I am very accessible and happy to answer all questions anyone could have.

Thanks,
Holly

westernpoolfan said:
Just visited the site. Found a list of events that sometimes listed added money. Didn't see anything about the added money going to the bigger event.

Found a listing for the event at your room. I can bring my son from L.A. and drive six hours each way and pay for a motel room for two nights and find out when I get there that the added money is not added to this event. Instead it is added to another event.

No one thought this was an important thing to mention before today?

WPF
 
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