Reyes cup 2025.

[sjm]

These things are nothing more than carnival shows.

Meant for entertainment only, like pro wrestling and roller derby.

Get the "most entertaining" players and get it over with.

The evidence says otherwise.

I'd say Filler, Shaw and Oi are the three most entertaining players to watch in today's 9ball game and all three are Top 20 in the world based on Fargo. Hey, at least they managed to get one of them. Getting the most entertaining players is most definitely not the priority here. As noted by many, getting the most deserving wasn't the priority either.

My best guess is that the Manas pick is to compensate for the inclusion of Woodward on Team "Rest of the World." Perhaps this off-the wall choice makes things a bit more competitive, much as the Matchroom proclamation a couple of years ago that Gorst was, for Mosconi Cup purposes, American. Maybe next, Yapp can be proclaimed European.

If Asia went to bat with Yapp, Biado, Chua, and the two Ko brothers, they'd be favored over any team of non-Asians you could put together. Perhaps those who suggest Philippines vs Rest of the World would be better are right. Of course, Manas, based on Fargo, is not one of the 20 best Filipino players, so his inclusion would remain comical.

I truly hope that this event will be a great financial success for Matchroom and that the event blooms into the kind of extravaganza that the Mosconi already is, but as a non-Asian, I don't terribly care whether the non-Asian team wins given that it does not represent anything close to the best team available.

 

[iusedtoberich]

I was able to catch portions of the last two matches this morning. I was surprised the stands weren't packed. How was attendance last year, I forget now. Of course this is day 1, but we are talking about the Philippines here, not Doha.

 

[sjm]

I was able to catch portions of the last two matches this morning. I was surprised the stands weren't packed. How was attendance last year, I forget now. Of course this is day 1, but we are talking about the Philippines here, not Doha.

Sad to hear. This will not be like the Mosconi, where, even when it's in the USA, nearly as many cheer for Team Europe as Team USA. I doubt many of the rowdy, not to mention superb, European fans will have traveled to this event.

I believe that attendees, with rarest exception, will cheer for Team Asia, and four of the biggest stars of Asian pool are on display. I would have thought that would have brought them out in droves. Of course, it is only day one, so better crowds may materialize as the event continues. Still, at the Mosconi, day one tickets tend to sell out within the first few days of being available for purchase.

I predict things will improve.

 

[8intheside]

The evidence says otherwise.

I'd say Filler, Shaw and Oi are the three most entertaining players to watch in today's 9ball game and all three are Top 20 in the world based on Fargo. Hey, at least they managed to get one of them. Getting the most entertaining players is most definitely not the priority here. As noted by many, getting the most deserving wasn't the priority either.

My best guess is that the Manas pick is to compensate for the inclusion of Woodward on Team "Rest of the World." Perhaps this off-the wall choice makes things a bit more competitive, much as the Matchroom proclamation a couple of years ago that Gorst was, for Mosconi Cup purposes, American. Maybe next, Yapp can be proclaimed European.

If Asia went to bat with Yapp, Biado, Chua, and the two Ko brothers, they'd be favored over any team of non-Asians you could put together. Perhaps those who suggest Philippines vs Rest of the World would be better are right. Of course, Manas, based on Fargo, is not one of the 20 best Filipino players, so his inclusion would remain comical.

I truly hope that this event will be a great financial success for Matchroom and that the event blooms into the kind of extravaganza that the Mosconi already is, but as a non-Asian, I don't terribly care whether the non-Asian team wins given that it does not represent anything close to the best team available.

Out of curiosity how,do you define “entertaining”?

 

[sjm]

Out of curiosity how,do you define “entertaining”?

Good pace of play, animated at the table, daring and creative in their shot selection, and expressing very genuine elation when things go their way. Naoyuki Oi may be the most entertaining player in the world to me, but Shaw and Filler aren't far behind. All three play with a daring, aggressive, creative style while playing with a lot of joy. No player I have ever seen played with more joy at the table than Efren Reyes, and that's why he was always my favorite to watch from an entertainment standpoint. Any event named for him should favor the inclusion of highly entertaining players.

 

[8intheside]

Good pace of play, animated at the table, daring and creative in their shot selection, and expressing very genuine elation when things go their way. Naoyuki Oi may be the most entertaining player in the world to me, but Shaw and Filler aren't far behind. All three play with a daring, aggressive, creative style while playing with a lot of joy. No player I have ever seen played with more joy at the table than Efren Reyes, and that's why he was always my favorite to watch from an entertainment standpoint. Any event named for him should favor the inclusion of highly entertaining players.

I’d have to nominate Earl as one of the most entertaining especially when he was younger. I don’t think there’s ever been a player who wore their heart on their sleeve l like him. Earl rubs a lot of people the wrong way, and maybe r rightfully so, but the man just lives and breathes pool!

 

[sjm]

I’d have to nominate Earl as one of the most entertaining especially when he was younger. I don’t think there’s ever been a player who wore their heart on their sleeve l like him. Earl rubs a lot of people the wrong way, and maybe r rightfully so, but the man just lives and breathes pool!

Well said!

Have to agree here. Earl was animated and daring for sure, and as emotionally invested in the outcome of a match as any player I have ever seen. His poor sportsmanship and volatile behavior sometimes detracted from his entertainment value, but he must always be remembered as one of the most entertaining players of all time and, just as you have indicated, especially in his prime.

 

[gopi-1]

I just heard Alex say, “Hold my beer!”