Playing Pro's for cash

[TheOne]

Just a thought but if I or any other amature player wanted to play a Pro off level in a short race (say to 9) for lets say $1000 would they:

a) Give odds given its off level (eg 3 to 1) and if so what odds do you think they would give max?
b) Would they mind if I recorder the match on video and used it as I wish?

I'm talking about top players in the world, eg Reyes, Archer, Strickland, Chao, Alex etc..

 

[vapoolplayer]

Just a thought but if I or any other amature player wanted to play a Pro off level in a short race (say to 9) for lets say $1000 would they:

a) Give odds given its off level (eg 3 to 1) and if so what odds do you think they would give max?
b) Would they mind if I recorder the match on video and used it as I wish?

I'm talking about top players in the world, eg Reyes, Archer, Strickland, Chao, Alex etc..

i don't think they would mind you taping.........but if you're running 70's and 80's consistently in 14:1..........i don't think you're gonna get much weight, maybe a ball or two if that........

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Just a thought but if I or any other amature player wanted to play a Pro off level in a short race (say to 9) for lets say $1000 would they:

a) Give odds given its off level (eg 3 to 1) and if so what odds do you think they would give max?
b) Would they mind if I recorder the match on video and used it as I wish?

I'm talking about top players in the world, eg Reyes, Archer, Strickland, Chao, Alex etc..

From my own experiences dealing with pros, handicaps are given out depending on the amount of cash involved. For $1,000, any pro will give you as much as they think they can get away with. Play for $20 and most will insist on playing even. I've discussed this earlier about weight and honestly, it's very subjective. You need to know what their strengths & weaknesses are when making a game and even though they're pro, they still have s's & w's. I'd start with the breaks and working from there.

 

[TheOne]

It was just a thought and probably something I shouldn't be sharing here but what the heck. Lets say I went to 10 of the best pool halls in the world and played the ten best players in the world race to 9 for a grand each and they gave me 2:1. Easy money for them I'm sure. However for my donation I thought it would be cool to video the matches and maybe put a DVD together. Now I don't know if anyone would be interested in watching a joe bloggs like me play the best ten players in the world in exotic pool halls around the world like in Manilla, Tapei, Tokyo, NYC, Vegas, Amsterdam etc.. but maybe it would appeal. I'm assuming I would get there best game if the rules where:

1) A short race to 9 only
2) Only one set only (no chance to win money back if they lose)
3) They have to give me odds of atleast 2:1 since they are Pro and I'm part timer
4) Maybe alternate breaks

Now worse case I would lose 10k but maybe have some fairly interesting footage. BUT if I beat 3 guys at 2:1 I would only have lost 1k and still have the footage. What do you guys think, would the top 10 pro's out there be interested in an easy 1k race to 9 providing they let me video and the match?

Just a thought?

 

[Drake]

Most of the top Pro's really don't like playing short sets to 9.....much less giving up 2 to 1 on the money in such a short race. They would rather play 7 ahead and give you the seven and the break. As far as recording the matches for sale, Unless One of the Pro's plays perfect on you, I wouldn't buy the DVD. I would much rather see buy a U.S OPEN match from Accu stat with the same guy playing another Pro. I like to see People think outside the box and this isn't an awful ideal, But I don't think it would sale tapes.

 

[vapoolplayer]

It was just a thought and probably something I shouldn't be sharing here but what the heck. Lets say I went to 10 of the best pool halls in the world and played the ten best players in the world race to 9 for a grand each and they gave me 2:1. Easy money for them I'm sure. However for my donation I thought it would be cool to video the matches and maybe put a DVD together. Now I don't know if anyone would be interested in watching a joe bloggs like me play the best ten players in the world in exotic pool halls around the world like in Manilla, Tapei, Tokyo, NYC, Vegas, Amsterdam etc.. but maybe it would appeal. I'm assuming I would get there best game if the rules where:

1) A short race to 9 only
2) Only one set only (no chance to win money back if they lose)
3) They have to give me odds of atleast 2:1 since they are Pro and I'm part timer
4) Maybe alternate breaks

Now worse case I would lose 10k but maybe have some fairly interesting footage. BUT if I beat 3 guys at 2:1 I would only have lost 1k and still have the footage. What do you guys think, would the top 10 pro's out there be interested in an easy 1k race to 9 providing they let me video and the match?

Just a thought?

a big problem i see in your idea........its a 100 percent win for you but only about a 33 percent chance for them to win.

no matter what, you get your footage.....and if you win you get 2000, they are out of 2000 and now you have the footage of them to do what you want with. if they win, you STILL get your footage, and a grand.

if it was me i wouldn't find this very appealing.......

i'd just mabye try paying them a fee for the time.....

 

[sjm]

With due respect to a very accomplished player, unless you're an enormously skilled player, I wouldn't expect to go better than 1 - 9 against the ten best, which would make this a $7,000 proposition. My guess is that there are only about fifty players in the world good enough to expect to go 3 - 7 or better in ten races to nine against the ten best in the world. Also, you're assuming these pros want no additional remuneration if you sell the footage of these ten matches. I wonder if they might not want a cut.

By the way, do you think the seven and the breaks is a lot of weight? That's what Reyes used to spot Geroge "Ginky" SanSouci in the late 90's, and neither had the best of it. You need either odds or games on the wire. Nothing less will do.

Hope you pull it off, it's a great idea.

 

[Drake]

By the way, do you think the seven and the breaks is a lot of weight? That's what Reyes used to spot Geroge "Ginky" SanSouci in the late 90's, and neither had the best of it. You need either odds or games on the wire. Nothing less will do.


He's 100 percent correct. I've watched Archer give a "B" player the 6,7,8 and the break and beat him 10 ahead in 45 minutes. My only point was that most Pro's know that even a "B" player has a chance to beat them one set to 9 and they usually like to play ahead sets....or at least be able to play more than one set to Nine. I just don't see the Pro's playing like this. But Then Again, Pro Pool Players do need the money and might take the little bit of gamble that you might beat them in one set.

 

[prewarhero]

Well, I would certainly enjoy watching it, with a big but attached.

I have bought some videos of back room games involving pros w/ amatuers and other pros as well. The footage was really bad. The sound was crap and it was not worth watching, and some of these were $10k sets. One pocket, 10 ball and so on. Now, if you want a really great idea and have some capitol to do it. PM me, I have an idea that I have been thinking about for a long time.

 

[TheOne]

a big problem i see in your idea........its a 100 percent win for you but only about a 33 percent chance for them to win.

no matter what, you get your footage.....and if you win you get 2000, they are out of 2000 and now you have the footage of them to do what you want with. if they win, you STILL get your footage, and a grand.

if it was me i wouldn't find this very appealing.......

i'd just mabye try paying them a fee for the time.....

I guess but then as sjm said there's little chance of me beating them, don't forget I'm talking about the best, the top 10, world champions. I don't like getting a spot so a single short race with odds would be the only sure way I can think of that would enable me to get their best game? Everyone talks about the lack of cash in pool so I would be suprised that a pro let alone anyone would turn down a good chance of a grand for an hours work?

OK, I could pay for their time but I think this would distract from the match and wouldn't really have the same impact as a one off shit or bust match. OK the stakes aren't huge but I think its a pretty good test of pressure, after all would they want to be seen to lose on a DVD?

 

[TheOne]

With due respect to a very accomplished player, unless you're an enormously skilled player, I wouldn't expect to go better than 1 - 9 against the ten best, which would make this a $7,000 proposition. My guess is that there are only about fifty players in the world good enough to expect to go 3 - 7 or better in ten races to nine against the ten best in the world. Also, you're assuming these pros want no additional remuneration if you sell the footage of these ten matches. I wonder if they might not want a cut.

By the way, do you think the seven and the breaks is a lot of weight? That's what Reyes used to spot Geroge "Ginky" SanSouci in the late 90's, and neither had the best of it. You need either odds or games on the wire. Nothing less will do.

Hope you pull it off, it's a great idea.

I agree sjm, I shouldn;t win and thats the point. In a world where there is little money in pool and where pros have to play with there willy hanging out and one leg behind there ear in order to get a game, this (IMHO) seems like an absolute bargan, a steal no less )

The chance to play even against a non pro (ok apart from the odds). All I would be asking would be to own the footage. OK they might want a cut but then its lose lose for me. Then we would be back to adds and I just don't think the end result would have the same appeal. BTW 1-9 would be fantastic and I would be delighted, that would mean I beat a world champion for money off scratch

As Ive said before I come from the school of "pay to learn" Even as a kid I played people for money who where much better than me at 8 ball and there was no such thing as a spot. You played until either you quit or improved enough to beat them so I guess I have that mentality, which should be music to a pro's ears. I am also from the school of playing for money is the true test of pressure, especially one's own.

Its just I have time on my hand to play now everyday but I like a challenge to prepare for and this just seemed like a fun idea which I would throw out there. A video version of playing off the rail with a slightly different twist and in more exotic locations.

What better experience than to play world champions around the world. Worse case I get thrashed but I have some footage that may or may not allow me to recoup some loses. Otherwise I will have some nice memories and would have learnt alot.