Billard puzzle
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According to Digital Pool, the Peri Open is not included in the Fargo rankings. Very disappointing.
WNT Hanoi Open 2025, Vietnam, Oct 7-12
- Thread starter jbart65
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Yes, but we know how great these events were when they did include nearly all of the greats of international pool, so it's hard not to miss it. Still, you make a good point in saying that aspiring greats will have a greater testing ground than in the past, and this could, in turn, mean deeper, more talented fields.
I think it is becoming more and more difficult to determine what the majors are in our sport.
I am far from convinced of this. Until the day comes when WNT and WPA/Predator collaborate on the world pool calendar, date conflicts such as the one we have this week will persist and the most elite players will continue to miss some of the biggest events of the year, and if that proves to be the case, the professional pool product will have declined a bit in quality.
Overall, however, I'm trying to adopt your more optimistic view of things.
Frazer says WNT is just getting started in Vietnam. Not sure what else it can do. I am sure the Reyes will be held there eventually, perhaps even next year.
I'd imagine the PLP or World Pool Masters will be held there at some point. If the World Cup of Pool ever comes back, Vietnam would be ideal.
Not sure Vietnam can house another major. Maybe a mini-Peri event earlier in the year, but it's quite a ways to travel.
I'd imagine the PLP or World Pool Masters will be held there at some point. If the World Cup of Pool ever comes back, Vietnam would be ideal.
Not sure Vietnam can house another major. Maybe a mini-Peri event earlier in the year, but it's quite a ways to travel.
This schedule conflict is regrettable, but as a viewer, the choice is easy. I'll be paying a lot more attention to the Hanoi Open than the World 8-ball. Eight ball on the big tables is way too easy for the top pros and amounts to a breaking contest that is not easy to watch. Still, it's easy to understand why some of the most elite would rather chase a world title than a WNT major.
I can't wait for the 2025 Hanoi Open, a truly elite event, to begin! I'm sure that, as usual, Matchroom will stage an incomparable event.
I can't wait for the 2025 Hanoi Open, a truly elite event, to begin! I'm sure that, as usual, Matchroom will stage an incomparable event.
I think it's pretty easy, sjm, judging based on a combo of prize money, history, quality of the field and likely permanence.
MAJORS
No 1-2: U.S. Open
No 1-2: World Pool Championship
No. 3: European Open.
No. 4: UK Open
No 5: Hanoi Open.
No. 6. WPA/Predator World 10-ball Tournament.
I give the nod to the U.S. Pool Open. Biggest and toughest field of all, more history, better crowds, more pressure.
The WPC pays more and has a lot of history too, but we all know the crowd sucks. The WPA selections imo water down the 128-player field.
Both the Euro and UK opens lack the atmosphere of the U.S. Open or Hanoi, but they draw the same quality of field as the US Open because there have not been conflicts with big WPA events.
I would have put Hanoi No. 3 if not for the conflicts in the past two years that have watered down the field. Best atmosphere in pro billiards. The $40,000 prize for the winner can't compare to the WPC or US Open, however.
The WPA/Predator World 10-ball Tournament is the top 10-ball event globally with a big prize fund. A spotty history until after Covid, but Predator seems to have stabilized it into a regular event. Yet the 2 of 3 format in the first stage is too short, imo, and the shootout is not a great way to settle a great match.
NEXT TIER
Qatar 10-ball World Cup
International Open
Florida Open
China Open
WPA 8-Ball World Championship
Qatar tried 9 ball first, but seems to have discarded it due to the rise of the WNT. Now it's doing 10-ball, but the event is only a few years old. Still, a $100,000 top prize can't be ignored. It adds plenty of pressure, and the format is more traditional.
The International Open draws a good field, but not as good as the majors listed above. This year's China Open looks like it had a similarly strong field based on the players signed up for the International so far.
The Florida Open seems destined to become a full-fledged major. The inaugural event had a better atmosphere than any other MR/WNT event I've seen in the past several years aside from Hanoi and this year's US Open. And nobody puts on a tournament better than the WNT/MR.
The WPA 8-ball event has had a spotty history until Predator came along. A "World Championship" in name, but it's still 8 ball.
TBD
Philippines Open.
WNT hopes it's another Hanoi in the making. If it is, expect a full-blown major in Manilla next year. The 2025 inaugural event has a watered down field, 128 players and single elimination from the get go. This is just a trial run.
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Finally found out where the Ko brothers are this week. A big event in China called the Duya Legends Tour.
If I am reading the promo right, the prize for the winner is $280,000. Got to figure the two oldest Ko brothers are among the top favorites even with a strong Chinese field.
Lot of money. I can see why they passed up Hanoi.
If I am reading the promo right, the prize for the winner is $280,000. Got to figure the two oldest Ko brothers are among the top favorites even with a strong Chinese field.
Lot of money. I can see why they passed up Hanoi.
they're not. it's played on heyball tables.
Wow, your excellent post shows it is far from obvious.
My list, in order of importance, excluding any events that have yet to be contested.
1. World 9ball
2. US Open 9ball
3. China Open
4A. European Open
4B. Hanoi Open
4C. UK Open
4D. Florida Open
8. World 10ball
Other premier events that aren't majors in my eyes:
9. Las Vegas Open 10 ball
10. World 8ball
11. International Open
I do understand where you are coming from with regard to World 9ball vs US Open 9ball. It isn't easy to take the Jeddah WPC event seriously when so many matches are played in front of nearly empty stands. FYI, the field at the China Open 9ball was tougher than that of the US Open 9ball until Matchroom took over the US Open 9ball in 2019. Now, the US Open 9ball is probably the most electrifying event on the world pool calendar.
Geez. The only differences between my list of majors and yours is you add the China and Florida opens.
I left Florida out simply because it was the inaugural event. I want to know for sure MR will bring it back. Aside from that, it had all the hallmarks of a big major.
I know the China Open has been a big event for a while. This year the field was quite good. You have a strong argument it should be on the list of pool majors and I see no reason to disagree.
I accept your list as a substitute for mine.
You are as knowledgeable as it gets on our forum, and this is all a matter of opinion. Ultimately, my curiosity concerns how many majors the most elite (let's say that means Fargo 810+ players) are going to play in 2026. I continue to fear that the seeming lack of collaboration among the powerbrokers of the game will reduce field quality. Guess we will find out soon.
PS As for the Florida Open, which I attended, I just felt like it was the start of something big.
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Reading between the lines of recent interviews, I get the sense Predator and MR are both acutely aware the Hanoi/Bali conflict is not good for either of them.
On the Boomer and Freezer show, Scott Frost and Jeremy Jones voiced the hope that a similar conflict could be avoided in the future. They are careful not to try to speak for Matchroom, but it does sound like there might be something going on behind the scenes. I hope so.
That said, there is bound to be future conflicts now and then. Both Predator and WNT/Frazer have said this month they plan to expand next year. The calendar is already fairly tight and about to get tighter.
Totally agree. I thought it was the best event of the year until the U.S. Open. Frazer said WNT is expanding in the US and Europe. Wonder if another big U.S. major is in the cards. Texas would seem to be ideal, but we already know it's likely to be the next home of the US Open.
Agreed that the occasional schedule conflict is a near certainty no matter how things proceed, but collaboration among the event producers can minimize it, and isn't that what everybody (event producer, sponsor, pro player, fan) wants?
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You really think so? I myself find it rather easy to identify what the majors are at the moment:
1. US Open
2. UK Open
3. World 9B
4. Derby 9B(mainly due to the MotT title)
5. Hanoi Open
6. International 9 Ball(could be contested)
7. China Open (could be contested)
Those are easily the most important major titles if you ask me. You even said it yourself in a later post, you will be watching the Hanoi over the World 8B.
I just personally think that the game of 9 ball has been the most preferred and obviously recognized game for the pros for decades now that it's hard to look at anything else as a major. Oh sure, I do enjoy watching 8 ball, but not on the big tables. That's why I always make sure to watch Ultimate Pool. And as much as I enjoy the format that the Predator group has come up with, the overwhelming majority of pool fans find it to be too gimmicky for them to take any of those events seriously.
We can go on and on about this topic for days, as it is a very interesting conversation regarding this sport.
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in the end this scheduling conflict situation is a sign of the sport being on a good trajectory. remember when we were discussing bonus ball as the only thing happening, though ended up not happening, in pro pool?
Well said.
On reflection, Bonus Ball was built around two ideas that made no sense to me at the time:
1) the problem with pool was the game being played
2) pool fans had a rapidly growing appetite for team play
These assumptions were quickly proven false, and Bonus Ball collapsed like a house of cards.
In truth, the growth we have seen in pool over the past decade has been centered around 9ball. What we like about the Mosconi Cup (and may end up liking about the Reyes Cup) is that the crowd gets more amped up than at any other event. In contrast, Bonus Ball had few, if any, attendees, for its matches and no buzz surrounding it.
The past 10 years have been good for pool, and the standard of play worldwide has skyrocketed. On this forum, there are those that dare suggest that the players of the 1970s and 1980s played as well as the stars of today. In truth, the players of today are much better than those of just 10 years ago, and the standard is continuing to rise.
The growth of pool worldwide and the consequent depth of the talent pool has led to more and more events, and the unavoidable date conflicts, just as you suggest, are a good problem to have.
Sounded more like Maureen Ohlson.
I watched the opening day ceremonies of the World Eight Ball event and it was all pomp and circumstance with everybody but the janitor making a speech. Boring! After hours of that they played some doubles with insignificant teams competing. It wasn't so much about pool as it was about everybody patting each other on the back. Like I said, Boring!
Like I said before, competition is good for the marketplace in some ways and bad in others. Take one look at the ongoing conflict in golf between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. That has not been helpful to professional golf and it's image/brand. Ratings are down! If we (meaning the powers that be) are not careful the sport of pro pool will lose some of it's momentum. The general public (sports fans) are not enamored of all the squabbling between organizations. Those in control at the WPA and WNT better wrap their collective heads around this reality before it bites them both in the ass.