Spirit Tour
- Thread starter coatsblue
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It was not cancelled, some of the girls from my room played in it, but I don't have any results for you.(sorry)
Jeremy
Jeremy
I do know that Monica and Helena stayed in Atl for the Seminole event, and that the only Pro there was Tiffany Nelson. So at least it wasn't crowded with Pros.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Tiffany Nelson won. She beat Debbie Schodt in the finals.
The word I also got was that Justin Hall won 4k playing one hole against Jerry Calderon. This happened at Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral this weekend. Bad blow for Jerry as he bets his own dough. His girlfriend (who is smoking hot btw) won the WBPA qualifier spot I was told. Marjiana i how her name is pronounced but Im probably wrong on the spelling.
The word I also got was that Justin Hall won 4k playing one hole against Jerry Calderon. This happened at Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral this weekend. Bad blow for Jerry as he bets his own dough. His girlfriend (who is smoking hot btw) won the WBPA qualifier spot I was told. Marjiana i how her name is pronounced but Im probably wrong on the spelling.
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lodini said:
FWIW, there has yet to be a WPBA event this year - so the women are out for blood at these tournaments.
Also, it's good to see that Debbie Schjodt did so well in this tournament. I saw her working late Friday night - and she had to travel and play the next morning.
All of these women give their all at these events and they all need our support. The pros are WELCOME at these events because it raises the level of competition and gives the regional players a chance to gage their speed against players such as Helena, Monica, Ga Young, Xiaoting, Tiffany, Vivian, and others. Its great experience for all the players!
Heather, Richie, and Roberta are doing a great job with the LST - congrats to Tiffany Nelson!
Johnnyt said:
I have never heard anybody complain about the pros competing in these events -ever. As far the comment about the top 16 - it just doesn't work that way. You can't just walk into a WPBA event, pay your entry, and play Karen Corr in the first round. It doesn't work that way.
IMO, the LST has helped the players by bringing their games to another level - because of the participation of the pros. This makes the competition stronger, and it also makes the tour stronger. Monica and Helena have done a lot since they started competing on the LST - they bring in fans - they bring in players - and FWIW, they don't always have a cake walk on their way to the finals. It was the same thing when Pan Xiaoting and GYK were competing in these events every month. Monica and Helena have participated in fundraisers, interacted with fans constantly - they are a bright spot on the LST.
Last year, the LST had 9 tournaments. The following ladies won the tour stops
Jeannie Seaver (1)
Miyuki Sakai (1)
Debbie Schjodt (2)
Laura Lindauer (2)
Monica Webb (3)
The pros that usually win these event take the cash, however, the WPBA Qualifier spots went to the following women - (this is the info that I found - feel free to correct me If I have listed the wrong player - I knwo thats sometimes the qualifier is unable to attend and it is then given to the next highest finisher)
1. Bonnie Coats
2. Debbie Schjodt (eventually achieved Touring Pro Status in '07)
3. Stephanie Mitchell
4. Yu Ram Cha
5. Emily Wilmoth
6. Jessica Barnes
7. Tamara Redemakers
8. Mirjana Grujicic
9. Tammy Gillis
Of the women that earned the qualifier spots, one of them achieved Touring pro status -Debbie Schjodt- and she had to win a lot of tournaments and qualifiers to get to the WPBA tournaments and earn all of those ranking points.
So the system does work. The process works. There is an amateur here in Florida (KBP Amateur Tour) and a lot of the ladies have come up through that system also.
The pros know that when they compete in these events that they will have tough competition. More times than not, yes - they will take the cash spots. The regional players fight it out for the cash and the qualifier. They actually have two battles to fight during the tournament.
If the player wins a qualifier, they get to compete in a WPBA event - gaining awesome experience - because for a first time qualifier, it's an even bet you'll play one of the top 4 seeds on the tour - which includes Monica. Now, if they have experience playing against Monica in the past - every little bit helps.
I like the system and I love supporting the players on this tour in any way that I can. It s one of the few tours that gives back a lot to the sport on many different levels.
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I'll grant you I can't get out and around anymore Blackjack, so I don't get to talk to very many of the players. All I can say is three years back and beyond that enough of them said they didn't think it was fair that the top pros come in and grab the cash. As far as sending players to the WPBA that become touring, a lot of them could have stepped right onto the WPBA Tour and done well if they were allowed. Most were champions in their own country before coming here. Ga Young Kim, Sarah Elerby, X Pan, Jasmin, Wendy Jans, to name a few. How many players that weren't champions in their own country has the Spirit Tour put on the the WPBA that became TOURING pros? Johnnyt
justin lost a set to jerry for 2000 playing ten ball the next day. and then they got into a little argument and quit jerry offered to play him a set for 5000 justin said if would play on another table he would bet 10,000 and that was the end of everything... It was a small field but the tournament ran very good congrats to tiffany and everyone else that played... James
congrats to Tiff and Debbie.
Tiff is a class act and debbit keeps gettin better
Tiff is a class act and debbit keeps gettin better