The headline is about the snooker event, but it later mentions the WPC in the article too!
World Pool Championship to leave Saudi!
- Thread starter vjmehra
- Start date
The headline is about the snooker event, but it later mentions the WPC in the article too!
As expected
There is talk that WPC would be moved back to Qatar especially since WPA tight with QBSF
Huge blow to WNT , this is jewel in their crown. This could be start of the downsizing of WNT.
Without WPC, US Open is only event will really attract players and fans. Their other Open events like European Open have been disaster. Reyes Cup was super underwhelming did not deliver the fanspectacle they were hoping for. And MC has become a joke, rewarding those who fall in line and their buddies while penalising rebels
There is talk that WPC would be moved back to Qatar especially since WPA tight with QBSF
Huge blow to WNT , this is jewel in their crown. This could be start of the downsizing of WNT.
Without WPC, US Open is only event will really attract players and fans. Their other Open events like European Open have been disaster. Reyes Cup was super underwhelming did not deliver the fanspectacle they were hoping for. And MC has become a joke, rewarding those who fall in line and their buddies while penalising rebels
On the matchroompool website:
TLDR: moving, not announced where. Purse still 1MM USD.
matchroompool.com
TLDR: moving, not announced where. Purse still 1MM USD.
WNT Statement - Matchroom Pool
Following constructive discussions between The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom following the conclusion of the 2025 editions, it has been mutually agreed not to proceed with future editions of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. Across 2024 and...
matchroompool.com
too many tournaments. some have to go. it isn't like baseball games.
anything that loses money loses its sponsors after a time. that is the way it is and should be.
tournaments are boring to watch except for the diehard spectators. and it will get worse as they keep getting less interesting to sit through.
anything that loses money loses its sponsors after a time. that is the way it is and should be.
tournaments are boring to watch except for the diehard spectators. and it will get worse as they keep getting less interesting to sit through.
Get it out of the Middle East entirely. They are not sporting nations. Fans don’t show up. We have 15 years of proof of that now.
Throwing oil money at it doesn’t work.
Move it to the Philippines or Vietnam, or Taiwan, or Germany, or the USA, etc.
Throwing oil money at it doesn’t work.
Move it to the Philippines or Vietnam, or Taiwan, or Germany, or the USA, etc.
About the snooker event, the announcement said:
This is the sort of thing that happens when an event (or an organization) depends on a single person or unrelated entity rather than being "organic". One person dies or changes his mind, and poof, it's gone.
“Thousands of spectators attended from nearly 40 countries, many experiencing elite live snooker and pool for the first time."
From what I saw of the snooker tournament stream, the thousands of spectators must have been watching from the camel tent.This is the sort of thing that happens when an event (or an organization) depends on a single person or unrelated entity rather than being "organic". One person dies or changes his mind, and poof, it's gone.
I hope the WPC moves back to Cardiff. I could go for that again.
or manila.
jax_joe
Well-known member
God no. Wouldn't watch a minute of it.
I imagine that wherever it is, the production will look close to the same. What's wrong with Manila?
kling&allen
Registered
On the matchroompool website:
TLDR: moving, not announced where. Purse still 1MM USD.
WNT Statement - Matchroom Pool
Following constructive discussions between The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom following the conclusion of the 2025 editions, it has been mutually agreed not to proceed with future editions of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. Across 2024 and...
Are they skipping 2026?
jax_joe
Well-known member
Time zone.
I wonder if the prize fund (or most of it) had already been committed. It will be interesting to see who the sponsors are.
Several possibilities here:
1. WNT will continue to produce the event and will find a new venue sponsor, with prize money unaffected
2. WNT will continue to produce the event and will find a new venue sponsor, with less prize money
3. WNT will coproduce the event with WPA, Predator or some other event producer
4. WNT will cede/sell control of the World 9ball Championship and let somebody else produce it
5. The World 9ball event will become part of one of the Predator PBS events
6. other possibilities
I sure hope the World 9ball will remain in WNT hands, but the signs here are ominous. As Bob Jewett noted, the claims that fans really took to these events in Saudi Arabia are false. I can't remember a major event where the level of live attendance was more embarrassing.
1. WNT will continue to produce the event and will find a new venue sponsor, with prize money unaffected
2. WNT will continue to produce the event and will find a new venue sponsor, with less prize money
3. WNT will coproduce the event with WPA, Predator or some other event producer
4. WNT will cede/sell control of the World 9ball Championship and let somebody else produce it
5. The World 9ball event will become part of one of the Predator PBS events
6. other possibilities
I sure hope the World 9ball will remain in WNT hands, but the signs here are ominous. As Bob Jewett noted, the claims that fans really took to these events in Saudi Arabia are false. I can't remember a major event where the level of live attendance was more embarrassing.
It was announced as 10 year deal originally. Of course it’s not specified as to whether there are opt-out provisions and/or what penalties there are for ending early.
Agreed
