The only guy to be allowe free entry into the world pool championships

B

bongobill

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First of all I'd like to say this forum is amazing and a great source of information for pool lovers around the world.

So you'll understand why I've written this thread for the love and protection of this game.

Ok i don't mean be rude to anyone, but i'm sure the pool community knows of Prince Billah (Crown Prince of Brunei) who thinks he is a professional pool player.

He is invited into all the top tournaments World 8, 9 ball championships and some of the top asian tournaments purely because of his name............ which i would not mind if he was financially contributing to the game of pool or doing it for charity........ but he is'nt.

I used to see him and his entarage of bodyguards come into London clubs and play a proper pro player for like $200....(the word cheap skate came to mind). He would pay the room owner for 3 hours worth of play, put some food out for his bodyguards and pay the pro player a lousy $200 to travel a hundred miles (i know this as i used to talk to the pro player after each match)......and this coming from a prince who is billionaire?

Anyway his play was terrible (compared to a pro), maybe pocketing 2 or 3 balls per visit, and he does the same in the big tournaments.

The guy can't run 1 rack. Its was really embarrasing. The sad thing is he really think he is a professional pool player.

I prevously thought that he was a financial contributor to the development of pool with Matchroom sport and other main promotors, but i've been told on good authority he contributes no sponsership or charitable aid via his "hobby" in pool.

Can somebody please explain to me how he is allowed to play in big time pool tournaments. Its just a waste of a player space that a proper pro player is denied.

Either he contributes financially to this sport or he should'nt play in the big tournaments.

I would like comments from all you cool pool players who love this game so much, especially from the pro's like John Schmidt (who I think is an amazing player and will wipe the floor with QH when they play straight pool!!!) and also Mike Templeton, i'm sure this has been going around the pro pool circuit community for years.

Pool has a fragile image as it is, by letting a person who cannot play pro pool into our best tournaments in the world damages it even more.
 
A rich dude getting what he wants and then throwing crumbs. Stop the presses.

I am sure in his mind he is a benefit to any event he enters just by gracing it with his presence. On the other hand who really knows what he does for the game? If you dont know you don't know. I just think it is funny that a dude who supposedly loves the game and has the means to do pretty much anything he wants wouldn't do something. An annual invitational, build a stable, something anything.

I long ago quit trying to figure out how rich people think, probably why I am not rich.
 
Maybe this way the tournament organizers would not have to worry or spend too much on security as it will probably be taken care of!

Kekeke just an amusing thought. Please don't take me too seriously.
 
Even if you take the money aspect out of this issue...........the guy cannot play pool (at pro level) i've seen fellow pro's and normal people laughing at him in the audience at the WPC in Manila in the year before, when they watched his matches.

It was so embarrasing, at one point i actually felt sorry for him, he was being laughed off the main TV table 1 after the match.

I'm sure it still happened in this years WPC.

Thats the main issue........credibility to game of pool.
 
bongobill said:
Thats the main issue........credibility to game of pool.
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I agree. If it is an Open event more power to him. If he is taking up a spot that would otherwise go to a legitimate professional in an invitational event? I could see it if he was a major sponsor and had a sponsors exemption or spot to do with as he pleased. Personally I cant see why a tournament would want the side show aspect without the sponsorship dollars to go with it. The more I am involved in the pool world the more I realize I dont understand.
 
I'm not sure if it works this way, since World Championships are supposed to be competition for athletes representing their nation, a nation is supposed to be entitle to send it's representative, i don't know the entire process but it's supposed to be like that. Now the governing body or the organizer can give rights to a nation to send their representative, these nations must also comply to some regulations.

Now, i think it's the nation's fault (organizing body) when they send people incapable of doing well in tournaments, this prince might have been depriving priviledge that are supposed to be entitled to a worthy countrymen or athlete.

Same with the Philippines, hopefully BMPAP can do something about it.
 
Don't quote me on this but.

I believe the fee to Dubai and or the host facility is about $175,000 - $300,000 to host this event. Since Dubai is a Monarchy (I think), all the money issued by Dubai is their money. Hence, the Princes family is putting up the money for this event (Whether its a Monarchy or not its most likely their money being spent.). Also, as a standing rule from just about any promoter in the world, free entry can be and in most cases is always issued to the benefactor of the event or their designate.

Let the Prince play. Heck, what better promotion for our sport could you want then to have real ROYALTY participating in our sport on a World stage !

Mj
 
MikeJanis said:
Don't quote me on this but.

I believe the fee to Dubai and or the host facility is about $175,000 - $300,000 to host this event. Since Dubai is a Monarchy (I think), all the money issued by Dubai is their money. Hence, the Princes family is putting up the money for this event (Whether its a Monarchy or not its most likely their money being spent.). Also, as a standing rule from just about any promoter in the world, free entry can be and in most cases is always issued to the benefactor of the event or their designate.

Let the Prince play. Heck, what better promotion for our sport could you want then to have real ROYALTY participating in our sport on a World stage !

Mj
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Like I said if he is using a sponsor excemption more power to him. He payed for it and should do whatever he wants with it. If I recall he also plays or has played in the WPC. Hard to come up with a reason for that one. As far as having him help the game, the PR for uber rich middle eastern Oil Billionaires isnt real high right now, here or in the middle east. Which may be the reason for the security screen that surrounds him. Not sure how him playing is going to help put asses in the seats for tournaments he doesnt pay for.
 
MikeJanis said:
Don't quote me on this but.

I believe the fee to Dubai and or the host facility is about $175,000 - $300,000 to host this event. Since Dubai is a Monarchy (I think), all the money issued by Dubai is their money. Hence, the Princes family is putting up the money for this event (Whether its a Monarchy or not its most likely their money being spent.). Also, as a standing rule from just about any promoter in the world, free entry can be and in most cases is always issued to the benefactor of the event or their designate.

Let the Prince play. Heck, what better promotion for our sport could you want then to have real ROYALTY participating in our sport on a World stage !

Mj
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He is the Crown prince of Brunei not Dubai. So you're wrong on that point.

Brunei is not where the world championships are held, its held in Manilla, Phillipines. So you're wrong on that point as well.

Brunei does not hold any pool championship events. So you're wrong on that point.


Therefore your point about Dubai giving promotion of $175,000 - $300,000 has no relevence to him.

Trust me on this he does not nor does his country promote the game of pool financially or advertising wise.
 
bongobill said:
He is the Crown prince of Brunei not Dubai. So you're wrong on that point.

Brunei is not where the world championships are held, its held in Manilla, Phillipines. So you're wrong on that point as well.

Brunei does not hold any pool championship events. So you're wrong on that point.


Therefore your point about Dubai giving promotion of $175,000 - $300,000 has no relevence to him.

Trust me on this he does not nor does his country promote the game of pool financially or advertising wise.
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Well there you go. The Prince is officially a toolbag.
 
bongobill said:
He is the Crown prince of Brunei not Dubai. So you're wrong on that point.

Brunei is not where the world championships are held, its held in Manilla, Phillipines. So you're wrong on that point as well.

Brunei does not hold any pool championship events. So you're wrong on that point.


Therefore your point about Dubai giving promotion of $175,000 - $300,000 has no relevence to him.

Trust me on this he does not nor does his country promote the game of pool financially or advertising wise.
Click to expand...

Well then, OOOOPS. My bad.

My only leg to stand is is still......

Let the Prince play. Heck, what better promotion for our sport could you want then to have real ROYALTY participating in our sport on a World stage !

Mj :D
 
MikeJanis said:
Don't quote me on this but.

I believe the fee to Dubai and or the host facility is about $175,000 - $300,000 to host this event. Since Dubai is a Monarchy (I think), all the money issued by Dubai is their money. Hence, the Princes family is putting up the money for this event (Whether its a Monarchy or not its most likely their money being spent.). Also, as a standing rule from just about any promoter in the world, free entry can be and in most cases is always issued to the benefactor of the event or their designate.

Let the Prince play. Heck, what better promotion for our sport could you want then to have real ROYALTY participating in our sport on a World stage !

Mj
Click to expand...

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed that you were capable of posting such ridiculous drivel Mike. I know that USA citizens sometimes have geography problems outside their own state but this is something else:rolleyes:

Brunei is a completely separate country thousands of miles from Dubai and this prince and his family are totally and utterly unconnected to Dubai or the United Arab Emirates in any way. You might as well say that the King of Spain is the ruler of USA!!!!

He is presumably there in the same way as he was at other tourneys....as the nominated representative of the controlling body for pool in Brunei. How Brunei select their allocated representative is their business and if it's ok with the WPA I don't see what anyone else's beef is.

On a more general note, for the record, "Dubai" has nothing whatsoever to do with The World 8 ball Championships in any case. They are being held in Fujairah which is one of the other emirates of the UAE. The local patron of the event is a Sheikh from Fujairah. He simpy loves pool and contributes generously. He has no family members in the event.

Edit......Sorry...slow typer. Hadn't seen the other replies:)
 
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memikey said:
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed that you were capable of posting such ridiculous drivel Mike. I know that USA citizens sometimes have geography problems outside their own state but this is something else:rolleyes:

Brunei is a completely separate country thousands of miles from Dubai and this prince and his family are totally and utterly unconnected to Dubai or the United Arab Emirates in any way. You might as well say that the King of Spain is the ruler of USA!!!!

He is presumably there in the same way as he was at other tourneys....as the nominated representative of the controlling body for pool in Brunei. How Brunei select their allocated representative is their business and if it's ok with the WPA I don't see what anyone else's beef is.

On a more general note, for the record, "Dubai" has nothing whatsoever to do with The World 8 ball Championships in any case. They are being held in Fujairah which is one of the other emirates of the UAE. The local patron of the event is a Sheikh from Fujairah. He simpy loves pool and contributes generously. He has no family members in the event.

Edit......Sorry...slow typer. Hadn't seen the other replies:)
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Dude if Americans bother you so much and are so stupid why do you waste your time on a message board full of them?

Your responses to damn near every topic look like they are cut and pasted.

"Americans dont know Geography...blah blah blah.....Dont know how the rest of the world works.....blah blah blah....crude and unsophisticated ...blah blah blah.." Then you put a smiley face at the end and everything is supposed to be all good.

How bout if we are so terrible and unwashed you just go spend some more time on your golf courses with the sheiks and the jet set you talk about all the time and leave us idiots to our pool.

Or better yet go ask some pool forum based in Dubai, or Brunei or wherever the hell else they got pool forums in the middle of the damn desert and ask them if they know exactly where the U.S. Open is held and who the Governor, Senators, Represenatives and dog catcher is of that state.

<------unwashed, geographically challenged, big hairy agressive American
 
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memikey said:
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed that you were capable of posting such ridiculous drivel Mike. I know that USA citizens sometimes have geography problems outside their own state but this is something else:rolleyes:

Brunei is a completely separate country thousands of miles from Dubai and this prince and his family are totally and utterly unconnected to Dubai or the United Arab Emirates in any way. You might as well say that the King of Spain is the ruler of USA!!!!

He is presumably there in the same way as he was at other tourneys....as the nominated representative of the controlling body for pool in Brunei. How Brunei select their allocated representative is their business and if it's ok with the WPA I don't see what anyone else's beef is.

On a more general note, for the record, "Dubai" has nothing whatsoever to do with The World 8 ball Championships in any case. They are being held in Fujairah which is one of the other emirates of the UAE. The local patron of the event is a Sheikh from Fujairah. He simpy loves pool and contributes generously. He has no family members in the event.

Edit......Sorry...slow typer. Hadn't seen the other replies:)
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Its OK. I guess my education in billiards (You know, the whole wasted youth thing) really came out in my post.

It wasn't soo much as a Geography problem as it was that I wasn't paying attention to what was written and I crossed referenced it with an early morning foggy memory.

Mj
 
JCIN said:
Dude if Americans bother you so much and are so stupid why do you waste your time on a message board full of them?

Your responses to damn near every topic look like they are cut and pasted.

"Americans dont know Geography...blah blah blah.....Dont know how the rest of the world works.....blah blah blah....crude and unsophisticated ...blah blah blah.." Then you put a smiley face at the end and everything is supposed to be all good.

How bout if we are so terrible and unwashed you just go spend some more time on your golf courses with the sheiks and the jet set you talk about all the time and leave us idiots to our pool.

Or better yet go ask some pool forum based in Dubai, or Brunei or wherever the hell else they got pool forums in the middle of the damn desert and ask them if they know exactly where the U.S. Open is held and who the Governor, Senators, Represenatives and dog catcher is of that state.

<------unwashed, geographically challenged, big hairy agressive American
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Whoa there big guy. I see you woke up a little crabby this morning ....LOL

I usually suffer from the same problem. I used to blame it on all the Jack I had the night before and people forgave me but now since i dont drink much anymore people are just realizing I'm just plain mean in the mornings.

Take it easy on our foreign counterparts.
 
JCIN said:
Dude if Americans bother you so much and are so stupid why do you waste your time on a message board full of them?

Your responses to damn near every topic look like they are cut and pasted.

"Americans dont know Geography...blah blah blah.....Dont know how the rest of the world works.....blah blah blah....crude and unsophisticated ...blah blah blah.." Then you put a smiley face at the end and everything is supposed to be all good.

How bout if we are so terrible and unwashed you just go spend some more time on your golf courses with the sheiks and the jet set you talk about all the time and leave us idiots to our pool.

Or better yet go ask some pool forum based in Dubai, or Brunei or wherever the hell else they got pool forums in the middle of the damn desert and ask them if they know exactly where the U.S. Open is held and who the Governor, Senators, Represenatives and dog catcher is of that state.

<------unwashed, geographically challenged, big hairy agressive American
Click to expand...

Only one of us is displaying any prejudice or impatience with another nationality and it's not me.
 
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