Predator 10 Ball Format Great for the Game/Audience

[Frosty]

Alternate break rules and short set matches are for bar leagues, not world championships.

This right here

 

[sjm]

Actually, speed was tested also! From what I can remember, Shane was pocketing very fast! And during Kazakis' shots, you could hear the shotclock beeping almost every time! Oh yes, the shotclock is active during the shoot out as well!

I was not referring to speed of play, but to cue ball speed.

 

[sjm]

Yeah but if they've been playing for two hours haven't we seen a test of all their skills? I mea the same could be said for 4'' pockets, that advantages the straighter shooter?

This is a misconception. Actually, the 4" pockets reward great defensive and tactical skills as much as straight shooting. As we have seen on the WNT, the 4" pockets have translated to far more defensive play than in the past.

 

[Island Drive]

Actually, speed was tested also! From what I can remember, Shane was pocketing very fast! And during Kazakis' shots, you could hear the shotclock beeping almost every time! Oh yes, the shotclock is active during the shoot out as well!

I liked the two step/beep shot clock. I'm guessing at ten sec first beep, at 5 it's countdown beeps.

 

[Island Drive]

This is a misconception. Actually, the 4" pockets reward great defensive and tactical skills as much as straight shooting. As we have seen on the WNT, the 4" pockets have translated to far more defensive play than in the past.

Those did Not look like 4' pockets by any means.... more like + 1/16'' or +1/8''

 

[AtLarge]

Alternate break rules and short set matches are for bar leagues, not world championships.

But this World 10-Ball Championship was winner breaks and multiple-short-set matches, same as last year.

 

[Swighey]

Yeah but if they've been playing for two hours haven't we seen a test of all their skills?

Yes I couldn't agree more - hence the shootout (akin to penalties in soccer and sometimes in ice hockey, and next score in many end-to-end ball sports). I'm not saying it's my favorite way of deciding (as a purist I prefer alternate break win by two) but it is a way. The argument that it should be decide by a full range of skills actually leads to replaying the whole match again. They used to do this in soccer, still occasionally do but rarely. It's inconvenient (and yes I recognise that we are all to an extent taking the best bits of the fairness/excitement/convenience arguments - those who don't recognise this, I stand by what I said before, they are talking nonsense).

Can't beat each other? Shootout - let's go!

 

[btal]

I don't mind the novelty that is this format, even with the shootout, which I personally cannot stand. As there are probably twenty significant 9ball events for every significant 10ball event, why not have something like this in 10ball that's off the beaten path?

Still, should a WPA sanctioned world championship allow a format in which the player who wins fewer racks than the other can win the match? World championships should be made of stronger stuff than that.

I'd be very upset if the WNT ever adopted a format like this.

 

[btal]

In tennis major finals a player can lose a lot more games than his opponent and still become a historical champion ..... tiebreakers.

 

[Island Drive]

Sudden death.... 2 outta 3.
15 minute break before starting.

 

[sjm]

Sudden death.... 2 outta 3.
15 minute break before starting.

I'm OK with that, as it remains a comprehensive test of skills.

 

[Island Drive]

Final set race to 3 lag for the break.
Boy is this Lag important.

 

[sjm]

Final set race to 3 lag for the break.
Boy is this Lag important.

OK with that, too.

 

[skor]

I think that the format is great, it's hard to sit and watch a match for 3 hours but same goes to snooker and tennis, we just need to get used to it.
And with all the availability on-line, we can stop and continue at any time, so for the viewer it's just fine but really it's great for the players. A race to 9 was something made for TV due to time constrain of American TV, and it's a joke for a pro player that travels around the world and might go home under an hour of play. Not an issue in WWW and streaming era.
We need to think about the players before the viewers. In time, the viewers will get used to it. It's a way to make pool into a serious sport and this will bring money into it and sponsors and more viewers will come.
A longer tournament is also OK if the payout is good enough for all participants so they can afford it, in time it could be like in Heyball in China where all expanses is paid.

Regarding the shoot out, I think that I played in the first ever tournament that a shoot out was used... I had mix emotions about it for a long time but it's just the same as break point in tennis or when there is a tie in baseball after 9 innings, or penalty kicks in football (soccer). If a player wants to avoid it, he/she just need to play better and not get to that point...
And for the viewer, it's great! you can't tell me you weren't at the edge of your seat at the Kazakis-SVB shootout, now just imagine having a shootout with the Mosconi Cup crowd and atmosphere....

 

[skogstokig]

And for the viewer, it's great! you can't tell me you weren't at the edge of your seat at the Kazakis-SVB shootout

i can tell you that i wasn't. it was interminable and boring.

 

[skogstokig]

But this World 10-Ball Championship was winner breaks and multiple-short-set matches, same as last year.

i'm fine with the set format. i think the difference between the race to 15 that matchroom has in their WC final is that it takes a different fortitude to come back from 0-8 there than the same score in the set format. the set format is a cushion for the losing player in a way.