UK Open (9B), May 17-22, 2022 -- field full already

[Bob Jewett]

The entries are full at 256. There's a waiting list. I'm going to try to get there for the inaugural event. From a Matchroom press release:

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UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRIES SELL OUT IN UNDER AN HOUR​

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Player entries for the first-ever UK Open Pool Championship have sold out in under an hour with 256 spots quickly snapped up ahead of the inaugural tournament from May 17-22.​

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Sign up for the Waiting List here​

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A prize fund of $200,000 will be on offer as 256 players battle it out to become the inaugural winner of the UK Open Pool Championship with the Major Event contributing towards the newly announced Matchroom Nineball World Rankings.​

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World No.1 Albin Ouschan will go into the tournament as a red-hot favourite with the likes of World No.3 David Alcaide, World No.4 Shane Van Boening, and World Cup of Pool winner Joshua Filler set to feature in what promises to be a special week of action. [...]​

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The entry fee was only $250, so the added money is about 67% of the prize fund. Pretty good money odds.

 

[pt109]

Looking a lot better for the pool world...but I still want to see lots of one-hole.

 

[jsp]

Would be interesting to find out exactly what percentage of the natives in the field are actual American-pool players (as opposed to snooker or English 8-ball specialists).

 

[MattPoland]

Makes you wonder how many pros would have gone but slept on the opportunity.

 

[sjm]

Fantastic! When you put together a first-rate event, this is the kind of response you get. Well done, Matchroom.

I'm hoping to attend, but it's far from certain.

 

[Swighey]

Would be interesting to find out exactly what percentage of the natives in the field are actual American-pool players (as opposed to snooker or English 8-ball specialists).

Yes, I think there will be a fair number of 9 ball dabblers in this tournament. With the overlay in prize money and races to 9, any elite cueist should fancy their chances of a deep run. And some of those players will be very capable at 9 ball, most have played it to some degree competitively against good players and the rest have played it when it's the only game in town, even if it's after a few drinks at a beach resort.

I believe though that it is Matchroom's intention that entries will eventually be based, at least partly, on rankings like they are in snooker. This is an embryonic year.

 

[Swighey]

And I will also add that that is surely what 9 ball wants and needs to grow. At a time when English 8 Ball is making really good decisions and growing as a televised sport with increased prize money (but being ridiculously stubborn with the undersized cue ball - therefore it is still stuck in the mud like a 5 year old trying to build a skyscraper), it is never too early to steal their players with a game that is better for TV.

 

[gerryf]

Would be interesting to find out exactly what percentage of the natives in the field are actual American-pool players (as opposed to snooker or English 8-ball specialists).

Would be interesting to know if Judd Trump or other snooker players are taking part??

 

[alstl]

I'd like to see Shane take it down.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Would be interesting to know if Judd Trump or other snooker players are taking part??

I believe it takes place right after the World Championship, so their schedules should be free.

 

[skogstokig]

I'd like to see Shane take it down.

his chances are better now than they will be when all the east asian players are released to pasture..

 

[Shuddy]

I

Would be interesting to know if Judd Trump or other snooker players are taking part??

I think they mentioned Judd has entered.

 

[fishless]

I

I think they mentioned Judd has entered.

I had also read that. cheers,

 

[Shuddy]

I’d love to see Selby play. He’s a ridiculously good English 8 ball player. And imagine the crowd if Jimmy White played.

 

[garczar]

Looking a lot better for the pool world...but I still want to see lots of one-hole.

Maybe you could combine it with cornhole. Have the 'World One-hole Corn-hole Tour' Hey look, i love 1p but don't expect it to ever be anything near mainstream. I could possibly see a small 1p tour being successful. Keep the entry's down so time wouldn't be a huge issue. Say 16man single elim. format. Get a good streamer with good commentary. I'd buy that stream every time.

 

[Thunder Thighs]

I'll be there to watch this

 

[Bob Jewett]

I'll be there to watch this

Here is what the venue looked like for Olympic handball. I wonder if they are going to hang lights or just go with room lights. Presumably there will be 32 tables.

This is the "Copper Box" in London.

By Delusion23 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20545826

 

[iusedtoberich]

I wonder how many spots were truly open to the "public", before announcing "full". I'm guessing out of the 256 field size, MR reserved 100 spots for their 40 ranked players, plus "known pros". Leaving 156 spots open to Joe Public.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I wonder how many spots were truly open to the "public", before announcing "full". I'm guessing out of the 256 field size, MR reserved 100 spots for their 40 ranked players, plus "known pros". Leaving 156 spots open to Joe Public.

There was a ranking list for the US Open that Matchroom published (which I can't find now). I suspect the UK Open will be about the same.

Edit: Here is the start of the ranking list for the 2021 US Open. 92 players received ranking seeds and the rest were presumably open, unseeded entries. There were some seeds who did not show up judging from the numbers reserved and the numbers of players, so the real number of initially reserved spots might be 100-120. I imagine this rather complicated structure is going away as soon as the Matchroom ranking list is in place.

Above is from: https://matchroompool.com/wp-content/uploads/US-Open-Seeding-Categories.pdf

 

[Geosnookery]

Nice venue.

I suspect a half dozen Snooker pros have been approached and offered incentives to participate. This will draw in the Snooker fans…like me.

Be nice to also see vets Jimmy White and Doherty in it. I can’t see Hendry or O'Sullivan as players but definitely as commentators.