Hi all there,
I'm one of those semi-pro level players who hardly cash in Pro events, but doesn't complaint much. I like the game.
However, I want to bring this to the organizers attention, since it is a concern to me and it may very well be to other players planning on attending this great major tournament.
-Could players play in the tournament with Black Air Max or any other similar type of Nike sneakers? (as long as they are black?)
About Black New Balance sneakers, Puma,Brooks, and such?
(I saw many players at the recent US Opens promoted by CSI in Las Vegas this past july, playing with Nike Running sneakers,while most other players had hard black leather shoes on)
Criteria for the shoes should be specified well. It's not fair that some players are allowed to play with sneakers just because they are black, while others play with leather shoes.
-Why does this tournament keep on the "Break from the box" rule?
The WHOLE WORLD plays 9ball "Break anywhere behind the line"!
Any big 9Ball tournament in Asia is played "break from anywhere behind the head string". And there aren't more 9ball tournaments being played at the same time anywhere else in the world, than Asia!
Most prestigious tournaments like the China Open, Derby City 9Ball,World 9Ball Championship in Qatar , Japan Open (actually this and the All-Japan switched to 10Ball recently,but they used to be 9Ball and they used to "Break from anywhere"), allow breaking from the side rail.
WPA rules allow breaking from the side in all these big World Class events.
How can an event, like the US Open 9Ball, be a WPA event and then not follow the WPA Rules for 9ball?
The "Break from the box" allows for soft breaking and favors rack mechanics with the soft break.
With breaking from the side it's easier for players who do not want to spend time learning about how to rack, and what gaps to leave on,to be able to actually make the corner ball.
As much as there are a few things I don't like about rack templates, it is nowadays the ONLY way to give both players the same exact rack. Simply because it eliminates all gaps in between balls.
It also makes for faster racking and the pace of the tournament is faster too, matches do not take as long
I believe this is the reason, why the whole Europe and all of Asia use template racks, especially for 9ball,in all weekly,regional, and Pro events
Even when Breaking from the side and using template racks,it's not that easy to see huge packages in these big events, but when they happen they are fun to watch.
I dislike alternate break in 9Ball, so I do like continuing with the tradition of the "winner break" at the US Open.
Although if you are having a winner break 9ball tournament with the very best players in the world, the races should be longer than just 11.
Especially with a $1000 entry fee.
Race should be 15 at the very least.
Ok, yes I understand the logistics part and time constraints to have the Open.
But is this about money? It shouldn't be.
Most of the better players do not work, or they don't work full time.
So it's ok for them to commit for 10 days to play in the greatest 9Ball tournament in the US and part of the world. This is a once a year thing!
Pay more rent. Rent the space longer, it's more money for the hotel anyways.Do not shorten the field Open it up, make it attractive enough for qualifiers around the country and the world to be successful and bring in money to the purse, and give all of the true Professional players of this game a fair opportunity to win.
Race to 11 is too short. Lot of surprises can happen and they do happen.
A little more respect and fairness to the Professional players is due. They make very little money doing what they do.
Why not give them a tournament once a year, with long races, so that the best player most times will win the match.
"Ball in hand" should not be allowed neither, just like it isn't in many other pocket billiards games. The made for TV rule should vanish (there is no pool on TV anymore, at least in the US)
MOST IMPORTANT:
-Are the tables going to be too close to each other in this new location in Norfolk?
Can a player finish his run without having to wait for a player next to him to finish his?
I don't see something like this in any sport. It goes to show you how little we have evolved...
Imagine ping pong tournaments with tables to close to each other? Darts? Bowling?
Golf??? A player having to wait to shoot, because another player is on his way?
It totally messes the player's concentration, gets him off his rythm,etc. It's shameful!
Most of the biggest events (W9BC and China Open) have enough separation in between tables, thank God.
And the US Open should also be like it.
-Is there information already out of what type of rack,balls and cue balls they will be using for the Open?
Is it possible to be precise on the brand and model?
-Many other Pro tournaments around the world have many flaws,I think.
But I have never seen a tournament that allows so much unsportmanship conducts like the US Open, and I won't be precise on details here. I think most of the people who's played or watch it can agree on this.
Players being loud, not seating down while their opponents are playing, sharking the crap out of their opponents, drinking alcohol during matches (sometimes on the TV table),doing their weed and other substances freely in the bathrooms, coming out high and drunk out of their minds!!
It's funny and interesting at times for the spectators,I guess... not so much for others.
This is supposed to be a sport..
There are I'm sure many reasons why certain things are the way they are when we talk about the logistics and other technicalities of producing a big Pro event.
And I understand everyone works very hard and all.
But I still see, like I see in many daily world conflicts and problems, that the reason for all this is money.
Money seems to be the owner of everything these days...It's sad.
It would be nice to think about the Pro players a little more, and it would be nice to have their opinions count.
I like the US Open, but every year I go I come back feeling it could be so much better.
Anyway, looking for a good one this year! And looking for it to be run professionally!
