That's revisionist history. Making the corner ball had become too easy for everybody, and it was making 9ball a bit too repetitious, especially at the Mosconi.. Things actually came to a head at the 2022 UK Open in London in May 2022. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back was when Albin Ouschan missed a shot at 1-0 vs Robbie Capito, and Robbie ran the entire set out from there.
A few of the top guys complained to Matchroom that tournament results were being randomized by the fact that everybody seemed to have mastered the break, reducing the advantage traditionally enjoyed by the best players. Matchroom. also favoring a little more "back and forth" in the play, made some sweeping changes.
By the time the next Matchroom major, the 2022 European Open, took place in August 2022, new playing conditions and break rules had been implemented (4" pockets with a small break box and 9ball on the spot).
Matchroom wanted a little more back and forth in the play, and they certainly got it. In fact, it can easily be argued that they got too much of it and partly robbed 9ball of some of its identity.
Now, everybody cut breaks and nobody really strings racks anymore, in part because nobody is quite sure where the cue ball will end up after the break. Defense and kicking matter more now than ever, as more racks have to be fought for than ever.
Still, I would agree with you that the changes did not suit Shane, who tended to win by dominating with his break, sitting opponents down for racks at a time. The formula for winning has changed greatly, and not in a way that has really suited him. Still, the breaking rules were not changed because of him.
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