The Perfect Tournament...Your Ideas Please...

M

Mr. J

Jeff Jimenez
Silver Member
Something new for all of you to think about here and to comment on if you wish. Your writeups will surely be influenced by how well you play and what the reasons you play pool are. Maybe it's money, or trophies, or just the challenge, or recognition of some sort, or some other good or bad reason...

Basically you may have Money in the Purse, Added Money, The Format of the Event and the Players. Maybe just trophies, maybe just men, maybe just women, maybe both. Maybe a mix of 25% each of A, B, C, D players of skill level for your local area, or regional area, or national area, or a World Event.

I have always thought that paying only 25% of the field was very wrong and something that has been a black cloud over pool competition for way too long. Should at least half the field get paid? Something inside of me thinks that if you could be out in two, then if you win two then you should get a prize of some sort. Just a thought...

I believe the very successful WPBA was once all places paid, and now I think you have to just win one match to get into the money. Is this the best way??? What do you think???

Is the Round Robin format the Perfect Tournament??? What format of round robin then? The current IPT round robin format is much different from the round robin type that I grew up with. With the Ipt format, each round is basically a new tourament. I do like that fact that the IPT events are just like a World Championship Event but that is another topic or maybe not???

I know this in not going to be easy, so take your time and maybe we can collectively find and someday put on "THE PERFECT TOURNAMENT..."

Maybe the Right People who are in the Right Places will read here?

thanks again,


Mr. J.
 
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It depends ...

on what level of tournament you want it to be. My answers would be different for local, regional, national, or a professional event. Each type of would have downfalls for another category.

Local and regional events could not be too many days because people work, which in turn, would restrict the number of events (8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, one pocket, banks)

Just offhand though, I would say the DCC probably comes the closest with maybe a few adjustments, like offering a 10 ball event, extending banks to 4 or 5, the ring games are a nice added attraction.

I do like the idea of round robin play though, although making it a race and not just one game per opponent.

Usually the bigger the tournament, the more events there are, except for professional tournaments.

And no, usually 25% of the field for payout is enough, with the exception of national tournaments. I hate to play in tournaments where I am playing for 1st, and the difference between 1st and 2nd is only $20-30.

To me, going 2-2 in a tournament is average. Should average be rewarded? Let's see, in the academic world, to make any kind of honor roll, you must have a B average, not a B- or C average, a B or higher to get recognition. From 3.0 to 4.0 is the top 25%, just the same as the normal payouts in Pool, so I think 25% is right. Now, as a promoter, if you wanted to do something else, like give the 26-50% placess a tournament T shirt free, that would be a nice gesture.

Recognition in any sport (except handicapped) is based on excellence, and I think that should be the guideline for recognition and reward.
 
One goofy idea I had recently as far as tournaments go - and this would be more of the local tournament - is mix up the game types as you go through the tournament.

One option would be to have the winner's side 8-ball, and the loser's side 9-ball. Or vice versa. Maybe switch it up week to week, have it 9-ball winnner's side, 8-ball loser's side the next week, etc etc.

Another option is to have every game in a race switch back. Say, flip a coin for the first game - say it comes up for 8-ball. Next game is 9-ball. Back to 8-ball, back to 9-ball, etc. Or even flip a coin after every game to see what the next game will be.

The main problem I see with such a varying of games is, a 9-ball game is generally considered easier to win - less balls to deal with, the early-9 is an option, no chance on scratching on the eight or pocketing the eight in the wrong pocket for an early loss, etc. So depending on how the games come up, one guy could well consider it 'unfair' based on when he was breaking - the other guy could be winning more games because he's getting the break on the 9-ball games.
 
ScottW said:
One goofy idea I had recently as far as tournaments go - and this would be more of the local tournament - is mix up the game types as you go through the tournament.

One option would be to have the winner's side 8-ball, and the loser's side 9-ball. Or vice versa. Maybe switch it up week to week, have it 9-ball winnner's side, 8-ball loser's side the next week, etc etc.

Another option is to have every game in a race switch back. Say, flip a coin for the first game - say it comes up for 8-ball. Next game is 9-ball. Back to 8-ball, back to 9-ball, etc. Or even flip a coin after every game to see what the next game will be.

The main problem I see with such a varying of games is, a 9-ball game is generally considered easier to win - less balls to deal with, the early-9 is an option, no chance on scratching on the eight or pocketing the eight in the wrong pocket for an early loss, etc. So depending on how the games come up, one guy could well consider it 'unfair' based on when he was breaking - the other guy could be winning more games because he's getting the break on the 9-ball games.
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I was messing around talking to the regulars about the tourney's I run and told them my next big one will be as follows:

Winners bracket: 9 ball on 9 ft. tables Race to 9
Losers Bracket: 8 Ball on 8 Ft. tables Race to 7
Finals: 9 Ball on bar boxes One race to 20 :)
 
Thanks for the responses so for and Linda...

I guess this is the part where I tell you that I have now decided that it is you who I want to have my Baby!!! Ha Ha...Oh Wait!,,, you are already having KT's baby...ha ha...that was too funny when I read that some time back here in the forum...Ha Ha...
 
--Do a Calcutta, maybe even a second day calcutta as well.

--Have GOOD food, please thats such a bonus to have great food at a tournament and its so rare.
 
Mr. J said:
I guess this is the part where I tell you that I have now decided that it is you who I want to have my Baby!!! Ha Ha...Oh Wait!,,, you are already having KT's baby...ha ha...that was too funny when I read that some time back here in the forum...Ha Ha...
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Good luck on the baby thing, since the plumbing was yanked out years ago! :p

And aren't you about ready to become a grandpa???
 
No grandpa here...Linda

You must have me mixed up with someone else...I am just a little too young to be a grandpa...no hurry there...

see ya around town... Jeffy
 
Mr. J said:
Maybe the Right People who are in the Right Places will read here?

thanks again,


Mr. J.
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Woah! It's Jeff!

Hey man, you probably don't remember me, but you and I knocked around a few balls on City Lights' snooker table when I was stationed at Fort Lewis about 9-10 years ago. I had gotten to pretty much be City Lights' main stick by that point, as I had passed up Rick Jones a little by then. I think you put me out of the tournament that John Kenyon ended up beating John Horsfall in. No worries, though, because at least I beat John Campbell in that tourney. Good times! Nice to see you posting on here.

I really liked those Canadian tourneys they were having around that time. I think they paid entry fees back for those who won two matches. All the players seemed to enjoy those tourneys immensely even though the prizes for the top 25% were reduced by the payouts to the second 25%. What was the guy's name? Harold Danielson? sounds almost right. He ran some really good tourneys. Maybe you could get with him and see how he ran those tourneys.

As far as the current state of pool in Washington.. Well, have you had a slew of strong players move there? I see players like Dick Trichler playing in "B" 8 ball tournaments at www.onthebreaknews.com.

Isn't Dick one of the guys who broke and ran 3 racks on Don McKay in the City Lights Wednesday 9 ball tourneys? Don never shot once in that tourney. His winner bracket match, his opponent broke and ran 3, and so did his loser bracket opponent. If guys like Dick, Tyler Luce, and Al Perez are now "B" players, then Washington pool has definitely gotten tougher.

Russ
 
Action tourney

I have been running this type of tourney for over 20 years, and it seems to work quite well. A dbl elim format...each time you win a match >>> you get paid (immediately)! Example: $20 entry -32 man chart> first round winners ...you get paid $5/second round $10 / third round $20 and so on /// on the losers side the round payoffs are about half as much thruout the rounds because you will play more matches... the final match is about a $100 payoff = the winner has accumilated about $200 total after winning. I have $$$ breakdowns up to 128 players and a base unit payout structure depending on the amount of $ added and fees.
The reason I like this and the pool room owner likes this...the players are winning money and spending as they play thruout the day. And, the players like this because they get to use the money as they win it. How many players play in tourneys on short money?
And, In this format, many of the players who NEVER have a chance to get $, can get a small amount. Remember, the lessor players keep firing at the better players all the time, in tourneys.
 
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Russ Chewning said:
Woah! It's Jeff!

Hey man, you probably don't remember me, but you and I knocked around a few balls on City Lights' snooker table when I was stationed at Fort Lewis about 9-10 years ago. I had gotten to pretty much be City Lights' main stick by that point, as I had passed up Rick Jones a little by then. I think you put me out of the tournament that John Kenyon ended up beating John Horsfall in. No worries, though, because at least I beat John Campbell in that tourney. Good times! Nice to see you posting on here.

I really liked those Canadian tourneys they were having around that time. I think they paid entry fees back for those who won two matches. All the players seemed to enjoy those tourneys immensely even though the prizes for the top 25% were reduced by the payouts to the second 25%. What was the guy's name? Harold Danielson? sounds almost right. He ran some really good tourneys. Maybe you could get with him and see how he ran those tourneys.

As far as the current state of pool in Washington.. Well, have you had a slew of strong players move there? I see players like Dick Trichler playing in "B" 8 ball tournaments at www.onthebreaknews.com.

Isn't Dick one of the guys who broke and ran 3 racks on Don McKay in the City Lights Wednesday 9 ball tourneys? Don never shot once in that tourney. His winner bracket match, his opponent broke and ran 3, and so did his loser bracket opponent. If guys like Dick, Tyler Luce, and Al Perez are now "B" players, then Washington pool has definitely gotten tougher.

Russ
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Hi Russ,

Harold died last year or the year before. It was a tragic year for the pool world. Yes, they are letting everyone get in B tournaments here. The one at City Lights, the TD just said she would let everyone in, because she wasn't the one who signed up the players, but from now on, it would be more accurate. All the Filipinos were in the thing as well, except for Raul.

'A' players/short stops really seem the same - Mike, Danny, Geiler, JD, Todd, Raul, Atwell. Randy C. has stepped up, even Ed Hobbs may be now too. Tim Tweedell hasn't been playing or he would still be considered an A.
 
Most singles tournaments only a small number have any real chance of winning. Why not try scotch doubles, blind draw for partners. Nine ball, race to 7 winners, 5 losers. Most lower level players would be more likely to pay a higher entry fee in hopes of drawing a strong partner. I played this format years ago in Cincinnati and it definitely equalized skill levels.
 
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