Open fields weakening?

[Dagwoodz]

I know I'm going to possibly get lambasted for this, because it was still an extremely difficult field. But I couldn't help but notice some big names which were not present at the Open this year. Just to name a few:

Shannon Daulton
Charlie Bryant
Danny Harriman
Larry Nevel
David Gutierrez
Sylver Ochoa
Mitch Ellerman
Kim Davenport
Gary Abood
Dennis Hatch
Ismael "Morro" Paez
Rafael Martinez
Cliff Joyner
CJ Wiley
Ignacio Chavez

Now, I do realize that the majority of the professional speed players in this list have lives outside of the game, and need to make sure that they can make ends meet on the home front. (jobs and other commitments) And the Open did have a full field this year, so maybe some weren't able to secure a spot. But it just seems that the field was not quite as strong as it could have been with the addition of the above players.

Barry B. runs a great tournament, has for years. And I'm not taking anything away from that at all. It's still one of the most daunting fields to navigate through on a yearly basis, on top of being the prestige tournament in the U.S.. I just think that for our National Championship (hence the name U.S. Open) it would be appropriate if we were able to draw in the top shooters in the U.S., in addition to the top internationals. (I realize there are a couple in the above list...Ignacio and Morro. But I know that they have spent a significant amount of time in the U.S.)

On a side note, I thought it was a great idea by Barry to include the women in this years event. It truly made it an "Open" event with their inclusion. Hopefully in the coming years, we'll see some of the other top women professionals participate.

Just curious to see if anyone else was thinking the same...

 

[richiebalto]

I know I'm going to possibly get lambasted for this, because it was still an extremely difficult field. But I couldn't help but notice some big names which were not present at the Open this year. Just to name a few:

Shannon Daulton
Charlie Bryant
Danny Harriman
Larry Nevel
David Gutierrez
Sylver Ochoa
Mitch Ellerman
Kim Davenport
Gary Abood
Dennis Hatch
Ismael "Morro" Paez
Rafael Martinez
Cliff Joyner
CJ Wiley
Ignacio Chavez

Now, I do realize that the majority of the professional speed players in this list have lives outside of the game, and need to make sure that they can make ends meet on the home front. (jobs and other commitments) And the Open did have a full field this year, so maybe some weren't able to secure a spot. But it just seems that the field was not quite as strong as it could have been with the addition of the above players.

Barry B. runs a great tournament, has for years. And I'm not taking anything away from that at all. It's still one of the most daunting fields to navigate through on a yearly basis, on top of being the prestige tournament in the U.S.. I just think that for our National Championship (hence the name U.S. Open) it would be appropriate if we were able to draw in the top shooters in the U.S., in addition to the top internationals. (I realize there are a couple in the above list...Ignacio and Morro. But I know that they have spent a significant amount of time in the U.S.)

On a side note, I thought it was a great idea by Barry to include the women in this years event. It truly made it an "Open" event with their inclusion. Hopefully in the coming years, we'll see some of the other top women professionals participate.

Just curious to see if anyone else was thinking the same...

in my opinion if u look at the final 10 players left in the open,the are stronger players then the ones u have mention,if that makes any sense to ur post

 

[Dagwoodz]

in my opinion if u look at the final 10 players left in the open,the are stronger players then the ones u have mention,if that makes any sense to ur post

If you think that Shannon Daulton, Larry Nevel, Dennis Hatch, Charlie Bryant or Kim Davenport cannot get there against the final 10...hmm...ok. That is your opinion. I happen to think otherwise. I don't think that they would win everytime by any means, but in a short race to 11 they are even odds against most of the final 10.

Shannon hasn't been playing on a consistent basis for a few years now due to his tour, but I would put him and Dennis Hatch right up there with any of the players in the final 10 if he were. But then again, that's my opinon.

 

[JAM]

I know I'm going to possibly get lambasted for this, because it was still an extremely difficult field. But I couldn't help but notice some big names which were not present at the Open this year. Just to name a few:

Shannon Daulton
Charlie Bryant
Danny Harriman
Larry Nevel
David Gutierrez
Sylver Ochoa
Mitch Ellerman
Kim Davenport
Gary Abood
Dennis Hatch
Ismael "Morro" Paez
Rafael Martinez
Cliff Joyner
CJ Wiley
Ignacio Chavez

Now, I do realize that the majority of the professional speed players in this list have lives outside of the game, and need to make sure that they can make ends meet on the home front. (jobs and other commitments) And the Open did have a full field this year, so maybe some weren't able to secure a spot. But it just seems that the field was not quite as strong as it could have been with the addition of the above players.

Barry B. runs a great tournament, has for years. And I'm not taking anything away from that at all. It's still one of the most daunting fields to navigate through on a yearly basis, on top of being the prestige tournament in the U.S.. I just think that for our National Championship (hence the name U.S. Open) it would be appropriate if we were able to draw in the top shooters in the U.S., in addition to the top internationals. (I realize there are a couple in the above list...Ignacio and Morro. But I know that they have spent a significant amount of time in the U.S.)

On a side note, I thought it was a great idea by Barry to include the women in this years event. It truly made it an "Open" event with their inclusion. Hopefully in the coming years, we'll see some of the other top women professionals participate.

Just curious to see if anyone else was thinking the same...

The one thing I always admired about Allen Hopkins Super Billiards Expo pro event was that the 64-player field always filled up before the tournament day, resulting in a waiting list. If you snooze, you lose, so to speak, which has happened to many a pro player at this event. It's a great tournament venue for the pros, as well as other players of all caliber at the expo itself.

Mike Zuglan's $25,000-added Turning Stone Casino events have also achieved this goal of filling out the player field ahead of the event, which also has the infamous waiting list.

Pool players are notorious for procrastinating in paying their entry fees. I'm sure there's a variety of reasons for this, but for the pool promoter, it can make it difficult when it comes to payouts, accommodations, resources, et cetera, when you don't know how many players you are going to have in advance.

With Barry Behrman adding the lady pros this year, this may happen to the future U.S. Opens, resulting in everybody paying their $500 bucks in advance.

Some of the names on that list maybe did not pay their entry fee in advance and got left out when the player field filled up this year at the Open.

Also, some of the names on that list had other obligations. I know Shannon has a lot going on with his Great Southern Tour operations.

And then there is the expense of going to the week-long U.S. Open. If you're a regular tournament player, coming up with $2,000 plus for expenses can be difficult.

 

[Georgia Boy]

Nothing stopped them entering did it?

 

[Dagwoodz]

The one thing I always admired about Allen Hopkins Super Billiards Expo pro event was that the 64-player field always filled up before the tournament day, resulting in a waiting list. If you snooze, you lose, so to speak, which has happened to many a pro player at this event. It's a great tournament venue for the pros, as well as other players of all caliber at the expo itself.

Mike Zuglan's $25,000-added Turning Stone Casino events have also achieved this goal of filling out the player field ahead of the event, which also has the infamous waiting list.

Pool players are notorious for procrastinating in paying their entry fees. I'm sure there's a variety of reasons for this, but for the pool promoter, it can make it difficult when it comes to payouts, accommodations, resources, et cetera, when you don't know how many players you are going to have in advance.

With Barry Behrman adding the lady pros this year, this may happen to the future U.S. Opens, resulting in everybody paying their $500 bucks in advance.

Some of the names on that list maybe did not pay their entry fee in advance and got left out when the player field filled up this year at the Open.

Also, some of the names on that list had other obligations. I know Shannon has a lot going on with his Great Southern Tour operations.

And then there is the expense of going to the week-long U.S. Open. If you're a regular tournament player, coming up with $2,000 plus for expenses can be difficult.

Yeah, I've talked to SD about the Open vs. his events, and it's just more important to make sure that he can put food on the table for his family than to go to the Open. If he's going to take time off from running his tour for a tournament, he would prefer it be up at Derby in his homestate of KY.

BTW, forgot to add Keith's name to the list :wink:

 

[JAM]

Yeah, I've talked to SD about the Open vs. his events, and it's just more important to make sure that he can put food on the table for his family than to go to the Open. If he's going to take time off from running his tour for a tournament, he would prefer it be up at Derby in his homestate of KY.

BTW, forgot to add Keith's name to the list :wink:

I talked to Marge via a chat not so long ago, and she said they were not planning on attending this year.

It sounds to me like Shannon knows what time of day it is when it comes to priorities in life. Good for him!

 

[jay helfert]

I know I'm going to possibly get lambasted for this, because it was still an extremely difficult field. But I couldn't help but notice some big names which were not present at the Open this year. Just to name a few:

Shannon Daulton
Charlie Bryant
Danny Harriman
Larry Nevel
David Gutierrez
Sylver Ochoa
Mitch Ellerman
Kim Davenport
Gary Abood
Dennis Hatch
Ismael "Morro" Paez
Rafael Martinez
Cliff Joyner
CJ Wiley
Ignacio Chavez

Now, I do realize that the majority of the professional speed players in this list have lives outside of the game, and need to make sure that they can make ends meet on the home front. (jobs and other commitments) And the Open did have a full field this year, so maybe some weren't able to secure a spot. But it just seems that the field was not quite as strong as it could have been with the addition of the above players.

Barry B. runs a great tournament, has for years. And I'm not taking anything away from that at all. It's still one of the most daunting fields to navigate through on a yearly basis, on top of being the prestige tournament in the U.S.. I just think that for our National Championship (hence the name U.S. Open) it would be appropriate if we were able to draw in the top shooters in the U.S., in addition to the top internationals. (I realize there are a couple in the above list...Ignacio and Morro. But I know that they have spent a significant amount of time in the U.S.)

On a side note, I thought it was a great idea by Barry to include the women in this years event. It truly made it an "Open" event with their inclusion. Hopefully in the coming years, we'll see some of the other top women professionals participate.

Just curious to see if anyone else was thinking the same...

Some good names on this list, about half of them who could have come if they wanted to. Usually it takes making arrangements with a backer to get a lot of players to the Open. If they don't feel "ready" for whatever reason, they may just opt not to come. On that whole list the one who may legitimately have had a chance to go deep is the Big D, Dennis Hatch. He was expected but cancelled at the last moment. I'm not sure why.

P.S. The Open field was strong and deep this year, with maybe 100 premier players in it. There was about a dozen of the top filipino players here and only Warren Kiamco went deep, finishing fourth. Great Britain sent a strong contingent as well, and several other top European and Asian players were there. Li Wen Lo is one of the best Taiwanese players. Darren played consistently great to win this year. He is a very deserving champion!

 

[Dagwoodz]

Some good names on this list, about half of them who could have come if they wanted to. Usually it takes making arrangements with a backer to get a lot of players to the Open. If they don't feel "ready" for whatever reason, they may just opt not to come. On that whole list the one who may legitimately have had a chance to go deep is the Big D, Dennis Hatch. He was expected but cancelled at the last moment. I'm not sure why.

P.S. The Open field was strong and deep this year, with maybe 100 premier players in it. There was about a dozen of the top filipino players here and only Warren Kiamco went deep, finishing fourth. Great Britain sent a strong contingent as well, and several other top European and Asian players were there. Li Wen Lo is one of the best Taiwanese players. Darren played consistently great to win this year. He is a very deserving champion!

You know Jay, after re-reading my original post, I have to say it did come off as rather harsh to the players that did play, and I didn't mean it as such. It was an incredibly strong field. I was more looking at it from the American contingent side of the house and the players that were conspicuous by their absence. There are quite a few players on the list who, while, are longer shots of going all the way, could/would have caused problems for those that went deep.

Either way, Daz truly is a deserving champion...world class, and had to play as such to earn the victory. My hat's off to him.

 

[billiardspro]

You know Jay, after re-reading my original post, I have to say it did come off as rather harsh to the players that did play, and I didn't mean it as such. It was an incredibly strong field. I was more looking at it from the American contingent side of the house and the players that were conspicuous by their absence. There are quite a few players on the list who, while, are longer shots of going all the way, could/would have caused problems for those that went deep.

Either way, Daz truly is a deserving champion...world class, and had to play as such to earn the victory. My hat's off to him.

you could add wu and jeremy jones to that list too