why do some pros fly to England for the tournament, when they have a small chance of winning?

[judochoke]

Enjoyed watching the UK tournament on you tube this weekend. My question is this: the line up was the best of the best, the top 10 players in the world. Filler, ko brothers, Ruiz, Boeing, ect ect. Why do pros who are on a level below these killers attend this tournament? And I’m not naming names, thats not my point. That’s a lot of money to spend to get to England, hotel, food, transportation, ect. And they never get close to winning?

And they all do the same pattern: win their first match, lose the second, win their first match on the loser side, maybe win two or more. Then lose and they are out.

I know anybody can do as they please, and i get that. But it just seems to be an unproductive week to me.

And I’m not trying to be a butthead about this subject, just trying to figure it out. I can’t even think of a MAJOR tournament that a lower level pro has every won?

 

[judochoke]

It’s always the same group of ten guys that win the majors. The same every time.

 

[Black-Balled]

How are we going to know the others' decision criteria?

 

[skogstokig]

It’s always the same group of ten guys that win the majors. The same every time.

yep, but them 10 are not the only ones who have sponsors..

 

[easy-e]

I'd do it as a vacation. I'm sure they wouldn't fork out the money if they weren't getting some enjoyment out of the trip.

 

[Twocylndr]

You are 100% guaranteed not to win if you don't enter a tournament.
Maybe ask the question: Why is there dead money in any tournament?

 

[TheBasics]

Howdy;

If you don't go, you won't know.

Those Top 10, will change over time When do you feel it will be The Time?
You'll never know by staying away.

hank

 

[measureman]

I know of a low level "pro" that has no chance of winning a major event.
But he comes from a family with lots of money and can do what he wants.

 

[muskyed]

Why do some spend 100k+ on a fishing boat when for the yearly insurance cost on it alone, you could buy all the fish you would want to eat in a year?
Just something you like doing I guess. Thankfully for me, my wife supports my many hobbies, and I don't have to justify any of them.
I actually considered setting up to build custom cues last year. I already have a fantastic 26x40 fully equiped wood shop, and figured another 30-40k in additional equipment would get me started. Did, I hope to actually make money at it, no, just something I really would like doing.
Then reality hit home, I'm in my 70's, and there would be a few years learning curve to get started, then there is acquiring a vast amount of wood, although I know suppliers for most of that. But there would still be a substantial learning curve.
If I was in my 50's, I would have went ahead with this, but instead just went and bought a new boat.
Luckily there is those out there that enjoy pool enough to enter these tournaments where they have almost no chance of winning, or would these tournaments still exist if say only the top 16 people showed up?

 

[loggerhead12]

Because their sponsors expect the exposure and fund some/all of the cost.

 

[tim913]

Even a low level pro can hit a gear .. who knows might be ‘the tournament’ for them

 

[hang-the-9]

People get married with like a 50% chance of divorce also these days. There are 99 losers for every winner in every pro event. I think everyone knows who the favorites are to win they just go play cause the alternative is being an assistant manager at a Burger King.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I think there is a not insubstantial amount of people who do it for the experience of “being a pro”. Pool is a pretty unique experience where you can watch the UK Open in 2023 and then sign up in 2024. Imagine showing up to Wimbledon racquet in hand.

 

[arnaldo]

How are we going to know the others' decision criteria?

Billiards Digest magazine and Pool & Billiards magazine should get on the concept your valid question enterprisingly or inadvertently implies.

There's great reader interest/human interest in conceivable interviews and the resulting articles that emanate. It's an age-old -- why did HE enter -- question that goes all the way back to the days when Straight Pool was the official World Championship game and there was always very stimulating, informative, and dense coverage by all significant media of any given era.

The same behind-the-scenes-interest principle clearly applies to contemporaneous readers, viewers and fans of major rotation-games' championships.

Arnaldo
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[measureman]

Even a low level pro can hit a gear .. who knows might be ‘the tournament’ for them

Yes low level players can hit a gear for maybe a set or two but cant maintain it long enough to snap off a major event.
Been there and done that, beat a couple world class guys a set here and there but could not maintain that level day in and day out.

 

[SBC]

Enjoyed watching the UK tournament on you tube this weekend. My question is this: the line up was the best of the best, the top 10 players in the world. Filler, ko brothers, Ruiz, Boeing, ect ect. Why do pros who are on a level below these killers attend this tournament? And I’m not naming names, thats not my point. That’s a lot of money to spend to get to England, hotel, food, transportation, ect. And they never get close to winning?

And they all do the same pattern: win their first match, lose the second, win their first match on the loser side, maybe win two or more. Then lose and they are out.

I know anybody can do as they please, and i get that. But it just seems to be an unproductive week to me.

And I’m not trying to be a butthead about this subject, just trying to figure it out. I can’t even think of a MAJOR tournament that a lower level pro has every won?

Without bracket fillers, how else will you fill a 256 player field?

Don't matter if it's kids in a tournament, lady's or male pros...there are tiers in class. In a field of 32 only 3 should win. In the UK Open maybe 20.

I've played in Derby and Turning Stone....could I win it? Doubtful. But in playing about 7 pro events over the years I had Fiejen down 5 to 3 lost 9 to 5....and had Morra 7 to 7, missed a 7 ball and lost 9 to 7. I've only played top pros those 2 times. So for me those matches served as a benchmark for where I was at the time.

I expect you might be including Wolford in your category of pros who can't win it. Well he could. How else will he develop as a young pro, unless he's playing the best? In 3 to 5 years he might be in the top 3 US players. He continues to improve as does Styer and Woodward.

All the local guys who got crushed had their fun. Entry was only $250 for a shot at 200k added. It's like me playing the Turning Stone Classic for $200 where 70% of the field is AA and down. There's always players at those levels that cash. I know players my speed who drew good to top 8.

 

[Sharivari]

Because participating in tournaments is as important as practicing. You need that competition vibe to stay sharp and mentally strong. If you aren't going to tournaments because you can't win, then nobody would go to tournaments anymore. I am participating in the European Open, it will definetly be a financial loss, but it will be a really important experience to become stronger.

 

[pt109]

Keith Thompson won the Allround at the 1970 Johnston City with a borrowed cue.
Mohamed Soufi almost captured first prize in his first major 9-ball tournament.
……you'll never know if you don’t try

 

[gregcantrall]

I know of a low level "pro" that has no chance of winning a major event.
But he comes from a family with lots of money and can do what he wants.

My answer was going to be much the same. What's a lot of money to one person is easily pocket change to another.

 

[decent dennis]

It's what they/we do!