Sounds just like the way we produced tournaments 30 and 40 years ago

. Winner breaks 9-Ball, races to eleven and two hour time frames. Almost all matches finished on time for the next round, with one or two slow players (always the same guys) having to be prodded to speed up their play. The arenas (hotel ballrooms) were packed with fans and we typically had seating for several hundred people. The crowd was rooted to their seats and cheered hard for their favorites. I always liked when a rowdy crowd would grow dead silent before an important shot. Ahh, the good old days. Yes, Matchroom's got that part right.
Just watched the opening game of the match between Thorsten and Tyler on youtube. Good old fashioned 9-Ball and they must have gone eight or nine innings of safeties to start the very first game. I loved it, wish I was doing the commentary for that match.
Haven't been watching the matches live but have followed the results each day. It feels like almost anyone (Pia?) can beat anyone else on a given day. That makes these matches more interesting. Yes, there are favorites, but they are all vulnerable. I think Pia's been stalling, probably looking for a bet.