Would you have done this?

[CamposCues]

Split

I've split the money lots of times. In some of the smaller tournaments, I've had players who would almost for sure beat me, split the money with me and let me have first just to keep from getting banned for winning too much.

 

[ShootingArts]

from a competitors standpoint

Looking at it from a competitor's standpoint you didn't win. The tournament was never finished because you decided to split the money and leave. That can be the practical thing to do if other people are waiting on you but I couldn't call myself the winner of that event had I split.

There is only one winner in a competitive event. Second place is first loser. Odds sound pretty good that you would have won but you will never know now so if winning meant anything to you, yes you did cheat yourself. Too many strange things happen on a pool table to just assume you would have won.

All you can say is that you split first and second not "I won." Doesn't have quite the same ring to it does it?

Hu

I was playing in a local 8-ball singles tournament. Small tournament only ~25 players. I worked my way through the winners bracket and was the winner of the bracket. While I was waiting for the losers side to finish, I was watching all of the other games happening. A good friend of mine (whom I beat and put in the losers bracket) ended up winning on that side. So, for first place and second place is what the match was for. He would have had to beat me twice in order to take first. It was a race to 5 for both of us and the prior match I beat him 5-2.

What we did was split the money for first and second. I had people waiting on me, so we could all go out. The payout wasn't that biased towards 1st or 2nd place, 85-50 I believe. So instead of playing and wasting another (potentially) 1 1/2 hours, we just split the money.

I thought it was a good idea at the time because I had been playing pool for 8 hours and was getting a little cranky. But now, I wish that I would have played him and beaten him, just to say that I got first. I still consider myself the winner though. Should I feel cheated for robbing myself of the last match? Or just feel victorious because I went undefeated?

 

[Scott Lee]

Although I have done the same thing (split the $$$, instead of playing)...what I prefer to do, is add 1st & 2nd place $$$ together, and play winner take all. :smile: That really makes you want to play...and WIN!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Its not a bad thing really to split, and is often done when its getting late.

But if your asking for oppinions Ill give you mine. Its not about the money, its about learning how to play when your in the hot seat. The difference between first place money and what you got for splitting or what you could have gotten had he beaten you (short race anything can happen) is minimal. But the experience and confidence that comes with finishing out tournaments is priceless.

Not to mention that if I were going to split I would have atleast made him beat me the first set LOL.

Woody

 

[Brozif]

I must say that most small tournaments 25-32 players, end up with the final 2 splitting the money. That is depending on what the entry fee is. But for me, I don't mind splitting it with a friend, if it's a one set race for the win. However, if he/she has to beat me twice, I'll split it if they win the first set.