As the curtain drops on 2023 in pro pool, let us reflect on a year in which the conception of new events and prize money growth were overshadowed by political actions that divided our sport.
I The Year in Tournament Play
1st Quarter: Shaw opened January by winning Turning Stone. At Derby City, Gorst won the banks, 9ball and Master of Table, as Chohan aced one-pocket and SVB nabbed the 10ball. In February, FSR won the World Pool Championship and soon after added the Premier League Pool. In March, Zielinski took the LV Open and Kaci ruled at the World 10-ball.
2nd Quarter: Filler won the Wisconsin Open in May. Ko Pin Yi took the World Pool Masters. Kaci shone at the UK Open. In June, Jinhu Dang ruled at the Spanish Open and Philippines (Chua/Aranas) won the World Cup of Pool.
3rd Quarter: In August, Alcaide won the European Open. In September, Neuhausen nabbed the Connecticut Open, Gorst won the summer Turning Stone and Zielinski took the Michigan Open. Filler aced it at the China Open.
4th Quarter Ko Ping Chung dominated the US Open 9ball and Filler shone at the Qatar Open. Shaw snapped off the Hanoi Open. SVB ruled at the World 8-ball. In November, a) Yapp got the Battle of the Bull, b) SVB won the International 10ball, c) Yapp nailed the International 9ball, d) Juszczyszyn won the Puerto Rico Open and e) Team Germany took the World Team Championship. In December, Team Europe romped at the Mosconi.
II. A Closer Look
What was 1) best match, 2) best shot, 3) best event, 4) best new event, 5) most improved event? Who was 6) best player, 7) best player for a single day, 8) most improved player, 9) best producer, 10) best sponsor, 11) best commentator?
1. Best Match Nominees:
A. Yapp 10, Gorst 8, International 9ball Quarterfinal, November:
In the days leading up to this match, Yapp had beaten Gorst in the final at the Battle of the Bull and in the Bigfoot 10ball. In this match, Gorst put up a .949 TPA but Yapp was even better with a .975 TPA for the win.
B. Dang 13, Bijsterbosch 12, Spanish Open Finals, June
Two surprise finalists stole the show in Lugo as Jinhu Dang and Mark Bijsterbosch reached the title match. Although neither produced their best pool in the final, it was a memorable tussle, with Dang a double hill winner.
C. Shaw 13, Ouschan 12, Hanoi Open, final, October
Two stars in top form produced a classic. Shaw prevailed when Ouschan had an unlucky scratch on the double hill break.
D. Alcaide 13, Raga 12, European Open, finals, August
This one was played at a high level and at double hill, it came down to whether Raga could make a tough carom of the six into the side. He could not, so Alcaide prevailed.
E. Germany 3, Taipei 2. World Team Championship Final, November
Team Taipei won the opening matchups, but Filler/Filler prevailed in scotch doubles and Josh Filler topped JL Chang to tie it up. Team Germany eked out the win in the tiebreaker, with Pia Filler sinking the winning shot.
… the winner is Match C, Shaw over Ouschan, Hanoi Open.
2. Best Shot: Gerson Martinez’ long, difficult, carom onto the nine-ball beat Alex Pagulayan in the International 9ball quarterfinal.
3. Best Event: US Open 9ball. In 2022, problems at Harrah’s made the event less enjoyable but Harrah’s addressed this. The final day of the event offered unforgettable pool, as Ko Ping Chung seemed to redefine what is possible on very tight equipment.
4. Best New Event: Hanoi Open. Matchroom’s choice to bring pro pool to Vietnam paid off. The play was great, but even better was the fanfare and hospitality, which celebrated pool’s impressive growth in Vietnam.
5. Most Improved Event: World Team Championship. Played in 2022, it did not generate the kind of excitement provided in 2023.
6. Best Player: Josh Filler. After a slow start to 2023, he found his top form at the UK Open in June, despite losing the final to Kaci. He then earned silver at the World Cup of Pool with partner Neuhausen. The second half of his year was superb, with wins at the China Open, Qatar Open and World Team Championship and an MVP effort at the Mosconi. He won four titles on Eurotour and topped the AZ money list in 2023 with a haul of $328,000.
7. The Best Day of Play by One Player: Ko Ping Chung, barely. Two stellar efforts come to mind: 1) Kaci’s Saturday at the UK Open, and 2) Ko Ping Chung’s Saturday at the US Open 9ball. Kaci beat Ko Pin Yi in the UK Open semifinal 11-0 and then crushed Filler 13-4 in the UK Open final. Ko Ping Chung beat Yapp by 11-0 in the US Open 9ball semifinal and followed it up with a 13-6 win over Gorst in the final.
8. Most Improved Player: Moritz Neuhausen. A year ago, he was one to watch. This year, he came second at the World Cup of Pool and won the Connecticut Open, Ocean States Championship and World Team Championship.
9. Best Producer: Matchroom. Nobody comes close in setting up an arena. The final day of a Matchroom event is unforgettable. Also, Matchroom brought pro pool to new audiences, with events in Poland, Spain, and Vietnam. Matchroom continues to set the standard as pool’s top producer.
10. Best Sponsor: Predator greatly supported pool’s growth globally by a) producing men’s and women’s events, b) co-producing the US Pro Billiards Tour with CSI, and c) sponsoring pros. Prize money in their events grew impressively.
11. Best Commentator: Matchroom has all the top commentators, so I chose one. Jeremy Jones gets the nod for his outstanding analysis of the play.
III. What I Will Remember Most
A. WPA/Matchroom Politics
In Qatar in October, it was decided that from now on, those who play in non-WPA-sanctioned events (that would have qualified for sanctioning) will be banned from entry into sanctioned events. Clearly, this was aimed at Matchroom, which after seceding from WPA, had become a more formidable rival. The losers, of course, were the pro players, who can no longer play in all the events they like. Pros are, deplorably, denied an opportunity to maximize their earnings.
B. Prize Money
The good news is that prize money grew (based on AZB Earnings as shown on 12/20/2023).
The top five on the AZB money list combined for earnings of $1,235,000, an increase of 19.7% over 2022. The Top 10 combined for earnings of 1,854,000, a growth of 14.2% over 2022. The Top 25 combined for prize money of $3,168,000, an increase of 12.5% over 2022. The Top 50 combined for prize money of $4,494,000, an increase of 19.5% over 2022.
The bad news is that actions taken by WPA at Qatar threaten continuation of that growth, but we shall see.
C. Kaci’s Year that Might Have Been
After losing the World Pool Masters final to Ko Pin Yi, Kaci produced sensational play at the UK Open, defeating Ko Pin Yi 11-0 in the semis to avenge the loss at the World Pool Masters and he then crushed Filler 13-4 in the final. Sadly, soon after came a car accident that grounded him for months. The setback, which came when he was playing the best pool of his life, cost fans a chance to watch him try to match the top guns at the majors. It also cost him a Mosconi spot.
D. Gorst Named to Team USA
In October came an announcement that Fedor Gorst, by virtue of permanent residency, would play for Team USA at the Mosconi Cup.
E. Feijen HOF Induction
Feijen was inducted in Virginia, welcomed on the podium by some superstars of yesteryear in Sigel, Varner, and Davenport. Still, it was clear that the presence on the podium of four fellow Europeans against whom he’d often competed (Appleton, Immonen, Souquet, Hohmann) meant just as much to him. His induction speech sat well with attendees.
F. Vietnamese Fans
As a serious fan myself, I always look for the greatest fans. It seems that they are in Vietnam! I have never seen fans that received pro pool with more enthusiasm. With each round of the Hanoi Open, the fans grew louder and more energetic, and the pros connected with them in a possibly unprecedented way.
G. A Good Year in Women’s Pool
In the majors, it was Chou at the World 9ball, Centeno at the World 10-ball and Han Yu at the China Open. Kelly Fisher’s consistent excellence won her the AZB money title, with $97,550 in earnings.
H. December Intrigue: Matchroom Player Contracts
In December, Matchroom began to sign players to contracts. The impact of this new strategy has yet to be determined, but it seems like good business for all concerned.
I. End of Year Heartbreak
In mid-December, the pool world was shaken by the news that BCA Hall of Famer Mika Immonen has Stage 4 cancer. Wishing him a return to full health.
IV What Did You See?
What did you see that I missed? With which of my choices do you disagree? What major happenings in pro pool did I overlook?
V In Conclusion
Prize money grew and new events were added in 2023, but I have a sour taste in my mouth due to decrees that emerged from the Qatar Summit. I ache for the players, who seemed to have their greatest ever opportunity to earn a living until WPA chose to rain on their parade.
Matchroom’s commitment to excellence continued. They improved their pool product and brought pool to new corners of the world, with Poland, Spain, and Vietnam the most recent beneficiaries of their growing reach. They remain the symbol of growth and ambition in pro pool.
I, personally, am disgusted by the state of the game and hope that the dark clouds hanging over pro pool will soon settle. We need a world in which players can take fullest advantage of pool’s growth in the last few years.
Happy new year to all my AZB brethren and I’ll see you on the forum in 2024.
I The Year in Tournament Play
1st Quarter: Shaw opened January by winning Turning Stone. At Derby City, Gorst won the banks, 9ball and Master of Table, as Chohan aced one-pocket and SVB nabbed the 10ball. In February, FSR won the World Pool Championship and soon after added the Premier League Pool. In March, Zielinski took the LV Open and Kaci ruled at the World 10-ball.
2nd Quarter: Filler won the Wisconsin Open in May. Ko Pin Yi took the World Pool Masters. Kaci shone at the UK Open. In June, Jinhu Dang ruled at the Spanish Open and Philippines (Chua/Aranas) won the World Cup of Pool.
3rd Quarter: In August, Alcaide won the European Open. In September, Neuhausen nabbed the Connecticut Open, Gorst won the summer Turning Stone and Zielinski took the Michigan Open. Filler aced it at the China Open.
4th Quarter Ko Ping Chung dominated the US Open 9ball and Filler shone at the Qatar Open. Shaw snapped off the Hanoi Open. SVB ruled at the World 8-ball. In November, a) Yapp got the Battle of the Bull, b) SVB won the International 10ball, c) Yapp nailed the International 9ball, d) Juszczyszyn won the Puerto Rico Open and e) Team Germany took the World Team Championship. In December, Team Europe romped at the Mosconi.
II. A Closer Look
What was 1) best match, 2) best shot, 3) best event, 4) best new event, 5) most improved event? Who was 6) best player, 7) best player for a single day, 8) most improved player, 9) best producer, 10) best sponsor, 11) best commentator?
1. Best Match Nominees:
A. Yapp 10, Gorst 8, International 9ball Quarterfinal, November:
In the days leading up to this match, Yapp had beaten Gorst in the final at the Battle of the Bull and in the Bigfoot 10ball. In this match, Gorst put up a .949 TPA but Yapp was even better with a .975 TPA for the win.
B. Dang 13, Bijsterbosch 12, Spanish Open Finals, June
Two surprise finalists stole the show in Lugo as Jinhu Dang and Mark Bijsterbosch reached the title match. Although neither produced their best pool in the final, it was a memorable tussle, with Dang a double hill winner.
C. Shaw 13, Ouschan 12, Hanoi Open, final, October
Two stars in top form produced a classic. Shaw prevailed when Ouschan had an unlucky scratch on the double hill break.
D. Alcaide 13, Raga 12, European Open, finals, August
This one was played at a high level and at double hill, it came down to whether Raga could make a tough carom of the six into the side. He could not, so Alcaide prevailed.
E. Germany 3, Taipei 2. World Team Championship Final, November
Team Taipei won the opening matchups, but Filler/Filler prevailed in scotch doubles and Josh Filler topped JL Chang to tie it up. Team Germany eked out the win in the tiebreaker, with Pia Filler sinking the winning shot.
… the winner is Match C, Shaw over Ouschan, Hanoi Open.
2. Best Shot: Gerson Martinez’ long, difficult, carom onto the nine-ball beat Alex Pagulayan in the International 9ball quarterfinal.
3. Best Event: US Open 9ball. In 2022, problems at Harrah’s made the event less enjoyable but Harrah’s addressed this. The final day of the event offered unforgettable pool, as Ko Ping Chung seemed to redefine what is possible on very tight equipment.
4. Best New Event: Hanoi Open. Matchroom’s choice to bring pro pool to Vietnam paid off. The play was great, but even better was the fanfare and hospitality, which celebrated pool’s impressive growth in Vietnam.
5. Most Improved Event: World Team Championship. Played in 2022, it did not generate the kind of excitement provided in 2023.
6. Best Player: Josh Filler. After a slow start to 2023, he found his top form at the UK Open in June, despite losing the final to Kaci. He then earned silver at the World Cup of Pool with partner Neuhausen. The second half of his year was superb, with wins at the China Open, Qatar Open and World Team Championship and an MVP effort at the Mosconi. He won four titles on Eurotour and topped the AZ money list in 2023 with a haul of $328,000.
7. The Best Day of Play by One Player: Ko Ping Chung, barely. Two stellar efforts come to mind: 1) Kaci’s Saturday at the UK Open, and 2) Ko Ping Chung’s Saturday at the US Open 9ball. Kaci beat Ko Pin Yi in the UK Open semifinal 11-0 and then crushed Filler 13-4 in the UK Open final. Ko Ping Chung beat Yapp by 11-0 in the US Open 9ball semifinal and followed it up with a 13-6 win over Gorst in the final.
8. Most Improved Player: Moritz Neuhausen. A year ago, he was one to watch. This year, he came second at the World Cup of Pool and won the Connecticut Open, Ocean States Championship and World Team Championship.
9. Best Producer: Matchroom. Nobody comes close in setting up an arena. The final day of a Matchroom event is unforgettable. Also, Matchroom brought pro pool to new audiences, with events in Poland, Spain, and Vietnam. Matchroom continues to set the standard as pool’s top producer.
10. Best Sponsor: Predator greatly supported pool’s growth globally by a) producing men’s and women’s events, b) co-producing the US Pro Billiards Tour with CSI, and c) sponsoring pros. Prize money in their events grew impressively.
11. Best Commentator: Matchroom has all the top commentators, so I chose one. Jeremy Jones gets the nod for his outstanding analysis of the play.
III. What I Will Remember Most
A. WPA/Matchroom Politics
In Qatar in October, it was decided that from now on, those who play in non-WPA-sanctioned events (that would have qualified for sanctioning) will be banned from entry into sanctioned events. Clearly, this was aimed at Matchroom, which after seceding from WPA, had become a more formidable rival. The losers, of course, were the pro players, who can no longer play in all the events they like. Pros are, deplorably, denied an opportunity to maximize their earnings.
B. Prize Money
The good news is that prize money grew (based on AZB Earnings as shown on 12/20/2023).
The top five on the AZB money list combined for earnings of $1,235,000, an increase of 19.7% over 2022. The Top 10 combined for earnings of 1,854,000, a growth of 14.2% over 2022. The Top 25 combined for prize money of $3,168,000, an increase of 12.5% over 2022. The Top 50 combined for prize money of $4,494,000, an increase of 19.5% over 2022.
The bad news is that actions taken by WPA at Qatar threaten continuation of that growth, but we shall see.
C. Kaci’s Year that Might Have Been
After losing the World Pool Masters final to Ko Pin Yi, Kaci produced sensational play at the UK Open, defeating Ko Pin Yi 11-0 in the semis to avenge the loss at the World Pool Masters and he then crushed Filler 13-4 in the final. Sadly, soon after came a car accident that grounded him for months. The setback, which came when he was playing the best pool of his life, cost fans a chance to watch him try to match the top guns at the majors. It also cost him a Mosconi spot.
D. Gorst Named to Team USA
In October came an announcement that Fedor Gorst, by virtue of permanent residency, would play for Team USA at the Mosconi Cup.
E. Feijen HOF Induction
Feijen was inducted in Virginia, welcomed on the podium by some superstars of yesteryear in Sigel, Varner, and Davenport. Still, it was clear that the presence on the podium of four fellow Europeans against whom he’d often competed (Appleton, Immonen, Souquet, Hohmann) meant just as much to him. His induction speech sat well with attendees.
F. Vietnamese Fans
As a serious fan myself, I always look for the greatest fans. It seems that they are in Vietnam! I have never seen fans that received pro pool with more enthusiasm. With each round of the Hanoi Open, the fans grew louder and more energetic, and the pros connected with them in a possibly unprecedented way.
G. A Good Year in Women’s Pool
In the majors, it was Chou at the World 9ball, Centeno at the World 10-ball and Han Yu at the China Open. Kelly Fisher’s consistent excellence won her the AZB money title, with $97,550 in earnings.
H. December Intrigue: Matchroom Player Contracts
In December, Matchroom began to sign players to contracts. The impact of this new strategy has yet to be determined, but it seems like good business for all concerned.
I. End of Year Heartbreak
In mid-December, the pool world was shaken by the news that BCA Hall of Famer Mika Immonen has Stage 4 cancer. Wishing him a return to full health.
IV What Did You See?
What did you see that I missed? With which of my choices do you disagree? What major happenings in pro pool did I overlook?
V In Conclusion
Prize money grew and new events were added in 2023, but I have a sour taste in my mouth due to decrees that emerged from the Qatar Summit. I ache for the players, who seemed to have their greatest ever opportunity to earn a living until WPA chose to rain on their parade.
Matchroom’s commitment to excellence continued. They improved their pool product and brought pool to new corners of the world, with Poland, Spain, and Vietnam the most recent beneficiaries of their growing reach. They remain the symbol of growth and ambition in pro pool.
I, personally, am disgusted by the state of the game and hope that the dark clouds hanging over pro pool will soon settle. We need a world in which players can take fullest advantage of pool’s growth in the last few years.
Happy new year to all my AZB brethren and I’ll see you on the forum in 2024.
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