What, in your opinion, is the minimum Fargo you should have before entering a WNT Open?

I've played against pros when Hard Times Bellflower was still around. The novelty and excitement wears off quickly once you realize that you have absolutely no chance of winning the match- at my ability level, it is very difficult to even win a game, especially if it is winner break- the pros play such great safeties that you never really even get a shot.
 
westcoast said:
I've played against pros when Hard Times Bellflower was still around. The novelty and excitement wears off quickly once you realize that you have absolutely no chance of winning the match- at my ability level, it is very difficult to even win a game, especially if it is winner break- the pros play such great safeties that you never really even get a shot.
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Years ago I played Josh Roberts in the Texas Open. Race to 9. He wasn't doing anything spectacular in the match early on. When he took the lead at 5-4, he started playing safeties. I was kicking the rest of the match and lost 9-4.
 
JasonATX said:
With larger tournaments there is no practical way to use that sort of rule in my opinion. For reference, the Texas Open for 9 ball is at the end of the month and it sold out 160 spots in 9 minutes. The waitlist was full about 2 hours later.

I would also tend to believe that if an 800 plus Fargo player wanted to play in a particular tournament, they can probably contact the organizer to cut in line, so to speak. Especially so if their sponsor also sponsored the tournament itself.

I think that if I were to register as a lower ranked player, I would go to the organizer a couple weeks beforehand and see who was on the waitlist. If there was a pro there, I would consider giving up my spot.
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If there is either a higher ranked player, Or a player that brings in a lot of either action or high calcutta bid on themselves, then it's a no brainer.

You give up your spot for the good of the game and that extra $$$ that an 800 player introduces (potentially thousands) vs a 600 player means a few more people may get a chance at making some loot or breaking even.
 
500 seems a little low, IMO, and 600 seems a bit high for an open tournament.
I suppose the rating that would work best falls somewhere between these two.
 
Naoyuki Oi is playing a 572, who just won the first rack. That guy should make a poster of the score, quick:

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Just to have fun with a way outside shot? 700,you might win a game or two. Maybe. Trying to go a few rounds? 750-775ish. Even then you're swimming upstream against a serious current.
 
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If the questions is whether open tournaments should have skill based entries, my answer is NO. No Fargo or other rating required by definition.

If the question is whether someone should have minimum competence to compete in an open tournament, I leave this for you:

-td
 
almost everyone is donating except for the top ten or so players.

those much lower are competing for the bottom prizes. which dont really pay expenses.

i think buying fireworks is the best way to light your money on fire.
 
I entered one "open" tournament in my life it was the barbox in Reno back a dozen years or so ago. I was a 600 fargo. Lost to Oscar 10 ball 7-3. Lost to Amar Kang 9 ball 9-5. Lost in the 2nd chance 9 ball to a Canadian pro named Brian Butler 5-4 and had a chance to win. I won a few matches against lesser players. Really got my door blown off on the B side by the "truck driver" who was hauling Skyler Woodward and Rob Saez around. Some cat out of Kentucky called Robert Frost. Found out later he was a 700 something. It was fun and I didn't feel embarrassed. Oscar even complimented my case!
 
wlycdgr said:
Follow up question: if spots are limited and you are towards/at the low end of the Fargo range, do you think etiquette requires waiting to register until late, to give as many higher rated players as possible a chance to register before you? Or is it first come first serve, and tough luck to any 810 full time pro who was hoping to make a few bucks but forgot to early-reg? Is it on the organizers to implement a "players below X rating must wait until the week before to register" type rule?
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They could have standbys for walk ups. Not fool proof but a step.
 
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