If they are going to have the tournament in the US they should have more than 20% of the qualifiers in the US. Only 10 people from the US and some of those spots will be taken by foreign players. It really sucks when there are 32 players at the US qualifiers and only 5 or 6 at the others. Looks like if the US players want to play they'll have to fly to Egypt to play in a qualy. I also think they would make more money if they would hold at least one more qualifier per week in the US. I guess it's too late to change it now.
Not enough qualifiers in the US
- Thread starter mnShooter
- Start date
Not only is it called the INTERNATIONAL Pool Tour...the event is the WORLD OPEN....
The IPT has more qualifiers in the U.S. than any other single place. How many have they had in China? Don't think that there isn't tough competition in other places. Look at the U.K... They've got a whole lot more talent and potent 8-ballers who are perfect for these conditions, yet they don't have a whole lot of qualifiers there, so many who would otherwise qualify due to talent, can't as all the tough players are packed into one qualifier.
So the same thing happens in other places too.
But, this is a FAIR tour, no one is banning you from traveling to another place to play in a qualifier you think will be a weaker/smaller field. It's not their problem to convenience you. It's you who has to make the effort to get on the tour.
The IPT has more qualifiers in the U.S. than any other single place. How many have they had in China? Don't think that there isn't tough competition in other places. Look at the U.K... They've got a whole lot more talent and potent 8-ballers who are perfect for these conditions, yet they don't have a whole lot of qualifiers there, so many who would otherwise qualify due to talent, can't as all the tough players are packed into one qualifier.
So the same thing happens in other places too.
But, this is a FAIR tour, no one is banning you from traveling to another place to play in a qualifier you think will be a weaker/smaller field. It's not their problem to convenience you. It's you who has to make the effort to get on the tour.
I don't think anyone enters any qualifier with the thought of losing.
But I understand what you're saying. It becomes a greater burden financially and in other ways to try and qualify. Thing is, even in the U.S., most guys have to spend a lot anyway in travel to qualify. It is pretty expensive considering this is pool and pool players are not wealthy as a whole. So I have to imagine there is serious desire and serious commitment to trying here. There's no room in there for a defeatist attitude. Here's why -
Figure, to qualify for the Venetian...say you paid $2,000 for 2 qualifiers to get in. Some guys played in 3!. Depending where they were, figure $800 per qualifier as travel expenses. A flight, 3-4 nights, taxi, dining. Everyone shows up at least a day in advance. Maybe the expense is higher or lower depending on location, room rates etc... You might be able to drive to one, or flight tickets vary in cost depending on location.
That's $3,600 spent to qualify. A stay at the Venetian, food, flight etc...should easily run at least $1,300. That's a rough estimate and depends on how long you intend on staying. It was $180ish a night. Minimum stay would be Friday night, Saturday for player's meeting, and Sun and maybe Mon for round 1. If you are out round one, you can leave Tues. That's 4 nights. If you played Sunday and got knocked out, then Monday is best you could leave - saving you a night. Of course, open date plane tickets cost more or buying last minute also raises the price significantly.
If you get knocked out round one. You get $2,000. After taxes, it will be less. You probably spent $5,000 to play in this tournament, and I'm sure it worked out to more than that for most players. Round 2 would be $5,000, before taxes. That's a little better. Round 3 is the make money round, that's $10,000. Also gives you the minimum money amount to have a realistic chance at making top 100.
World Open is $5,000 for round one, but qualifiers are $1,500 each, and more spread out geographically upping the travel cost a bit depending on your situation.
Look at the NAO's qualifier list. Some of those guys played in a lot of qualifiers and the few who made it, some got knocked out round 1. Ouch!
Only other way is to do some serious planning about where to stay, how to get there. Some player's did creative things to minimize costs. Others grouped together to split the costs.
But I understand what you're saying. It becomes a greater burden financially and in other ways to try and qualify. Thing is, even in the U.S., most guys have to spend a lot anyway in travel to qualify. It is pretty expensive considering this is pool and pool players are not wealthy as a whole. So I have to imagine there is serious desire and serious commitment to trying here. There's no room in there for a defeatist attitude. Here's why -
Figure, to qualify for the Venetian...say you paid $2,000 for 2 qualifiers to get in. Some guys played in 3!. Depending where they were, figure $800 per qualifier as travel expenses. A flight, 3-4 nights, taxi, dining. Everyone shows up at least a day in advance. Maybe the expense is higher or lower depending on location, room rates etc... You might be able to drive to one, or flight tickets vary in cost depending on location.
That's $3,600 spent to qualify. A stay at the Venetian, food, flight etc...should easily run at least $1,300. That's a rough estimate and depends on how long you intend on staying. It was $180ish a night. Minimum stay would be Friday night, Saturday for player's meeting, and Sun and maybe Mon for round 1. If you are out round one, you can leave Tues. That's 4 nights. If you played Sunday and got knocked out, then Monday is best you could leave - saving you a night. Of course, open date plane tickets cost more or buying last minute also raises the price significantly.
If you get knocked out round one. You get $2,000. After taxes, it will be less. You probably spent $5,000 to play in this tournament, and I'm sure it worked out to more than that for most players. Round 2 would be $5,000, before taxes. That's a little better. Round 3 is the make money round, that's $10,000. Also gives you the minimum money amount to have a realistic chance at making top 100.
World Open is $5,000 for round one, but qualifiers are $1,500 each, and more spread out geographically upping the travel cost a bit depending on your situation.
Look at the NAO's qualifier list. Some of those guys played in a lot of qualifiers and the few who made it, some got knocked out round 1. Ouch!
Only other way is to do some serious planning about where to stay, how to get there. Some player's did creative things to minimize costs. Others grouped together to split the costs.
i understand your point but what your leaving out is the fact that the top 6 from each quailifier gets a free entry into another quailifier
3-6 get a free entry into another qualifier.
So the 3 losers in China get to play in two qualifiers for the price of one admission. Maybe those three losers will be the only entrants in the next China qualifier. How nice would that be for those players? And then the loser would get another free entry.
Qualifiers are designed to keep the weak players out. Of course "weak" is a relative term. A weak player in a qualifier can be a City or State champion.
The IPT only wants the very best tuna.
Jake
So the 3 losers in China get to play in two qualifiers for the price of one admission. Maybe those three losers will be the only entrants in the next China qualifier. How nice would that be for those players? And then the loser would get another free entry.
Qualifiers are designed to keep the weak players out. Of course "weak" is a relative term. A weak player in a qualifier can be a City or State champion.
The IPT only wants the very best tuna.
Jake