Interesting post. Yes, Predator has, and continues, to up its game, but it is not clear that the emerging competition for the services of the top pro players is a bad thing for pro pool or its fans. Yes, the discomfort of the moment has players and fans alike gasping.The Predator events in Las Vegas at the end of the month are interesting. Three WPA sanctioned events - men and women's 10 ball and mixed doubles. And five unsanctioned events, all invitationals, including banks and one pocket.
SVB is playing in the unsanctioned bank and one-pocket events. Woodward and Billie are in the bank event. I don't see Gorst listed on any of the events.
No list yet for the players in the sanctioned events. The promo shows Filler, Kazakis Patsura and Lin.
. Got to wonder if a Sky or Billie would go there for just one event.
In any case, Predator really seems to be stepping up its game. More events and prize money. They even seem to be creating their own year end events to try to mimic, to some extent, the idea of Mosconi. That is, players who do well during the year get rewarded at the end.
For example, Predator had a champion of champions tourney in December pitting the winner of the World 8 (WPA), 9 (WNT) and 10-ball tournaments against each other. Filler, Gorst and Biado were the trio.
Seems Predator is responding to the MR competition. Would be interesting to see if Predator eventually creates a tour of its own in either 8-ball or 10-ball.
The premise that one cannot hold a premier event without the WNT pros does not really stand up to scrutiny. The reality is that both WPA and WNT events will, in the short-term deliver very strong fields, but until there is some sort of reconciliation, neither will offer the kind of fields that the fans crave.
I just returned from Derby City two weeks ago. The buzz at Derby City was all about the Filler vs Gorst rivalry. In banks, Gorst beat Filler in route to the title. In one pocket, Gorst beat Filler in route to the title, and in 9ball, Filler beat Gorst in route to the title. These two, in the final at the World Pool Masters, gave us the greatest match of 2024 in pro pool. This rivalry is in overdrive.
These two are pool's headliners and might just remain so for another decade. WPA, Predator, and Matchroom all understand it well and I believe all of them will find a way to have as many events as possible that include both.
I believe that the pains of this moment in our sport will ultimately give way to a world in which fans get the fields they want, and players get the freedom to compete that they seek. How long it will be until we get there is the great mystery, but WNT's superb management team has shown it knows how to grow and globalize our sport and if Predator is following suit, it's probably a win-win for pro pool.