Which major tournament would you choose if you could only attend one per year?

Z-Nole said:
Good question. I’ve been to buffalo's so it would have to be the Derby. It’s on the bucket list, but so is a bunch of fishing trips. It’s considerably easier to find people to go fishing in exotic locations than go to IN in the dead of winter.

Maybe they can move the Derby to the Turks and Caicos.
Click to expand...

America needs tourism just as much as Turks and Caicos. Attractions near Derby are business or sports organization related. That area attracts a wide deviation of business developers.

Unregulated business market that is a description for derby. Think people that arent top pros but want to taste the deep end.

Every sport has a mixer, Derby does that for a variety of games. If they create a virtual or distance based event Im registering.

Every event has to sell pool tables or pool time or pool merch.

I will livestream attempts at a trickshot to be part of the player roster.
 
For those who want pro pool to be merely a part of their vacation, I recommend the Mosconi when it's in Las Vegas.

The Mosconi sessions are scheduled to coincide with prime time in Europe, so they typically run from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You're free every evening! Whether you like to dine, go to a show, go to Grif's to shoot/sweat pool, or something else, there's lots to do.
 
Last edited:
iusedtoberich said:
To play or to spectate?
Click to expand...

Is there a husbands section at the women pro events? I plan to be around for added security.

My imaginary wife is a killer at tournaments, but that means she is a public target. Most events don't have intelligence based security. Or even use intelligence sharing tactucs.

With the increase in global tensions large international meetings are on heightened alert.
 
The only major I've been to is Derby. Been there a few times as a spectator, it's a 3 hour drive for me. Always a great experience (other than the outrageous food prices), practically rubbing elbows with the world's finest players. I recall the very first time getting there and going up to my room. Who other than Reyes and Bustamante got on the elevator with me. Another time due to some weird circumstance I ended up sharing my room a few nights with Johnny Archer. I annoyed him with my snoring. Hope to get back again this January though I'm sorry they stopped holding the straight pool challenge.
 
sjm said:
Based on your list, it's a very close choice between the Derby City Classic and the US Open 9-ball.

What makes Derby City one of a kind is that four disciplines are contested (bank pool, one pocket, nine ball, ten ball) and there's action all day and all night. If you like the fringe games and enjoy sweating the action matches, you'll do very well to attend the Derby, which offers great fields but not as strong as what you'll find at the US Open 9ball.

If you want to watch the giants of the game duking it out for one of the titles of which every player dreams, the US Open 9ball is your best choice. Attending any Matchroom produced event is a unique treat, as no event producer sets up the playing arena with greater skill.
Click to expand...
I think this post is a bullseye. Not a surprise. Nice write up Stu. 👍
 
sjm said:
For those who want pro pool to be merely a part of their vacation, I recommend the Mosconi when it's in Las Vegas.

The Mosconi sessions are scheduled to coincide with prime time in Europe, so they typically run from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You're free every evening! Whether you like to dine, go to a show, go to Grif's to shoot/sweat pool, or something else, there's lots to do.
Click to expand...
For those who like international travel, the Mosconi Cup in London is similarly convenient, except you have your days free to see the sights. That time of the year you are not battling with mobs of tourists and the viewing is more relaxed. Also, it is relatively inexpensive.. Lots of museums, historical stuff, gardens and quite good food. Getting around is easy.
 
sjm said:
For those who want pro pool to be merely a part of their vacation, I recommend the Mosconi when it's in Las Vegas.

The Mosconi sessions are scheduled to coincide with prime time in Europe, so they typically run from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You're free every evening! Whether you like to dine, go to a show, go to Grif's to shoot/sweat pool, or something else, there's lots to do.
Click to expand...
Do people still go to Vegas for a vacation? Whenever I see a Vegas trip on my outlook calendar my liver and kidneys immediately start hurting. It’s always been a work trip for me so I’ve never really thought people went there for vacation. Just a guys/girls trip.

What time of day do they have the Moscone when it’s in Europe? I probably have a better chance of going there than the Derby. I’m envious that you get to see so many of these awesome events SJM. I can only imagine the stories that don’t make your event recaps!
 
Z-Nole said:
What time of day do they have the Moscone when it’s in Europe? I probably have a better chance of going there than the Derby. I’m envious that you get to see so many of these awesome events SJM. I can only imagine the stories that don’t make your event recaps!
Click to expand...
In Europe, the Mosconi sessions start at about 6:00 PM.

Yeah, many stories of things going on at or on the periphery of pool events don't make the cut in my recaps. LOL.
 
Z-Nole said:
... What time of day do they have the Mosconi when it’s in Europe? ...
Click to expand...
This year entry begins at 5:30 and play begins at 6:30 according to the tickets. I think matches actually start at about 7PM for prime-time viewing in Europe. That's why they start at 11AM in Las Vegas -- 8 hours difference.

For me, Las Vegas has felt like a total rip-off for at least 20 years with higher prices and lower value each year.
 
sjm said:
In Europe, the Mosconi sessions start at about 6:00 PM.
Click to expand...
As long as the world doesn’t go to hell in a hand basket I will see you next year at the Mosconi. The wife gave me the kitchen pass and even said she’d come along as long as I don’t make her go a match. I’m a winner both ways. Is it always in London or do they move it around? First bottle of wine on me
 
Z-Nole said:
As long as the world doesn’t go to hell in a hand basket I will see you next year at the Mosconi. The wife gave me the kitchen pass and even said she’d come along as long as I don’t make her go a match. I’m a winner both ways. Is it always in London or do they move it around? First bottle of wine on me
Click to expand...
It's in London next month, but it's in Las Vegas at Bally's in 2024. It goes back and forth between Europe and America. It will be in London in 2025.

Thanks for the first round of drinks offer!
 
sjm said:
It's in London next month, but it's in Las Vegas at Bally's in 2024. It goes back and forth between Europe and America. It will be in London in 2025.

Thanks for the first round of drinks offer!
Click to expand...
Dang, I could’ve sworn it was Vegas this year and London next…bummer. See you in ‘25.
 
I'll offer one more reason to choose the Derby, momentarily overlooking the issues with accommodations and scheduling.

One thing you get to see is the professional development of the game's superstars that results from playing in the fringe games.

1) SVB got serious about one pocket in about 2010 and by January 2012, he had two Derby City one-pocket titles. His one-pocket game had clearly improved his speed control, and it began to show up in his 9ball game. Sure enough, he won the next three US Open 9ball titles.

2) Jayson Shaw played bank pool and greatly improved his banking skills, which became a strong point of his 9ball game. He has won a lot of major titles.

3) Fedor Gorst and Josh Filler keep honing their all-around skills in the fringe games. At the last DCC, Fedor won Master of the Table and Josh had a top five in all each of banks, one pocket and nine ball. They are, in my view, the two most complete players in pro pool today.

Some Americans who honed their all-around skills by playing in every event at the Derby were Sky Woodward, Billy Thorpe and Justin Bergman. Each made gains in his 9ball game by doing so.

Watching the stars of the game taking it to an even higher level is part of the joy of attending Derby City.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top