UK open Dynamite!
- Thread starter Monti
- Start date
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
He's back! Good luck Darren!
Here’s a hot take. In a few years the UK Open will be considered more prestigious of a win than the US Open.
Quite a bold take! I suspect it would definitely suit Matchroom to have a '4th major' (after the US Open, World Championships & Masters), but I'm not convinced it will overtake the US Open as when it comes to prestige its more linked to history than prize money (i.e. its plausible the winner's pay could overtake the US equivalent, but not sure in terms of prestige).
That said, its definitely good for the game if the UK Open becomes higher profile!
Inclined to disagree. It's a fine event that is on the upswing, but it will be hard pressed to ever match the buzz surrounding the US Open.
For me, pre-COVID, the majors were the World Pool Championship, the US Open, and the China Open. Now, the UK Open, the European Open, and the World 10-ball must be viewed as majors, although I doubt any of them will catch the US Open in prestige. A case can be made for the World 8-ball, but I'm not yet sold. At least for now, the China Open is not in the conversation, but it could reemerge.
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The strongest field is made up of international players. The UK is more convenient to get to than US for the majority of them. Matchroom gives it nearly the same level of production. The US Open has a $1,000 entry fee meaning only $44k is added get to $300k. The UK Open has a $250 entry fee meaning $136k is added to get to $200k. So already UK Open is getting more love from Matchroom.
The top 16 players will likely play in both. But what if the UK Open gets more of the next top 32-64 players due to travel convenience? And little by little the UK Open gains in popularity bit by bit, the US Open still has its history but its field weakens bit by bit. Maybe next thing you know Matchroom starts increasing the UK Open entry fee and the prize funds equalize if not flip.
Maybe I’m not saying the writing is in the wall. I’m just saying the recipe is right there and all the ingredients are available for it to happen.
And to me prestige is fickle. The history is compelling. But if you end up with two events where one has a demonstrably stronger field and higher payouts, it inevitably will be viewed as the greater accomplishment. There’s been years where the US Open was revered higher than the World Pool Championship. Right now I’d put the WPC on top. So…
I’m British but agree that the US Open will retain its prestige. When new guys are winning it, they are looking at who has won it before them as well, greats like Earl , Efren etc
It’s similar to tennis. The 4 big ones are all great but Wimbledon will always have a certain prestige and history that pushes it ahead. (Or maybe I do have UK bias!)
It’s similar to tennis. The 4 big ones are all great but Wimbledon will always have a certain prestige and history that pushes it ahead. (Or maybe I do have UK bias!)
I think the US Open has a particular prestige which will endure. However, I think that the UK will be harder to win because the "rest" of the field will include more players from other cue sports. While these players will struggle at, or to get to, the business end of the tournament, they are better 9 ball players than the amateurs who pay to play in the US Open.
That said, just like a European soccer player would rather win a World Cup than the tougher European Championship, pool players will always take a World Championship or a US Open win over a UK or China Open or any other tournament.
That said, just like a European soccer player would rather win a World Cup than the tougher European Championship, pool players will always take a World Championship or a US Open win over a UK or China Open or any other tournament.
I appreciate you guys humoring me. It was a “hot take” for a reason. It is a stretch but it’s also thought provoking.
in the last world cup 8 of 16 teams in the L16 were non-european and the tournament was won by a non-european team. in 2014 the majority of L16 were non-european, all time winning records are held by a non-european country, etc..
Looks like he has a warm up event in the Scottish open this Friday. Playing Josh! Not a very nice way to welcome him back
sure wasn't. josh served him the donut. finished with 5 or 6 BNRs so not really saying much about where daz is at in his game atm
An area of concern for Matchroom Nineball Tour in UK is filling the seats in the audience. In the U.S., the seats seem to fill up more often than overseas. Snooker is king in Great Britain. Pool is still king in U.S. when it comes to pool enthusiasts. We're just not that great in number compared to other sports, e.g., snooker, golf, tennis, basketball, baseball, football, soccer.
Where pool is lacking, however, is getting mainstream viewers interested and watching. We pool enthusiasts enjoy watching pool live streams and in person, but as a global sport, it still needs to grow in popularity. I hope it happens in my lifetime and that Barry Hearn has deep pockets.
Where pool is lacking, however, is getting mainstream viewers interested and watching. We pool enthusiasts enjoy watching pool live streams and in person, but as a global sport, it still needs to grow in popularity. I hope it happens in my lifetime and that Barry Hearn has deep pockets.
Nearly so. The US Open seems to consistently draw more of the top Asians than the International, but I'm on board if you wish to suggest that that the International 9-ball is a major title.