WPA Threatens Sanctions (Hanoi Open)

[easy-e]

You don't know the circumstances of the issue, yet you automatically take Matchroom's side. Interesting. Do you have a problem with women?

I guess you read what you want to. He said good on MR for standing their ground as well, saying MR or WPA don't have a monopoly, and saying all players have their choice. You interpret that as favoritism towards MR and then add some sexist crap at the end? If you still consider yourself as a relevant voice in the pool world, you really need to tone it down.

 

[Black-Balled]

Without speaking to the wpa's apparently evolving position...

Imo, it is a huge business error to do anything that discourages billiards in Vietnam.

The country is billiards crazy, I've never seen crowds like those in ho chi Minh, so enthusiastic and a part (not apart) of the drama they watched.

I'd be trying to establish a foothold up in thrrre for sure.

 

[garczar]

Without speaking to the wpa's apparently evolving position...

Imo, it is a huge business error to do anything that discourages billiards in Vietnam.

The country is billiards crazy, I've never seen crowds like those in ho chi Minh, so enthusiastic and a part (not apart) of the drama they watched.

I'd be trying to establish a foothold up in thrrre for sure.

Wow, pro pool org's shooting themselves in the foot. How novel. Never heard that happening before.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Without speaking to the wpa's apparently evolving position...

Imo, it is a huge business error to do anything that discourages billiards in Vietnam.

The country is billiards crazy, I've never seen crowds like those in ho chi Minh, so enthusiastic and a part (not apart) of the drama they watched.

I'd be trying to establish a foothold up in thrrre for sure.

Absolutely. Maybe WPA is drawing the line there because it’s so valuable for MR? But yes I haven’t seen such an enthusiastic crowd aside from the mosconi cup.

 

[FranCrimi]

lmao... no. Do you have a problem with men?

Pretty sure I didn't take a side. Just did the same as you and praised a group for not being manipulated by another. Of course my praise didn't mesh with your narrative, so I must be a misogynist...?

The world is ruled by those who own a keyboard and a random axe they can find to grind.

Just wondering what your logic is concerning making decisions for yourself. Do you normally make choices without knowing the facts? Are you like Pelosi who says you have to approve the bill in order to know what's in it?

 

[FranCrimi]

Here we go, lets play the 'sexist card'. Who didn't see this coming. You gotta problem with men?? Last time i checked MR's pool division is run by a woman,right??

Oh get over it. Lol! I'm not that kind of person. I was just razzing him because he took a side without knowing the facts. I didn't survive in pool rooms with men for 30 years by playing the sexist card.

 

[garczar]

Oh get over it. Lol! I'm not that kind of person. I was just razzing him because he took a side without knowing the facts. I didn't survive in pool rooms with men for 30 years by playing the sexist card.

Nice attempt at a lame backtrack. Does that mean everything else you say about the WPA is all joking? Please.

 

[FranCrimi]

Nice attempt at a lame backtrack. Does that mean everything else you say about the WPA is all joking? Please.

It's not an attempt. You just don't know me. Have a great day and relax.

 

[skogstokig]

Without speaking to the wpa's apparently evolving position...

Imo, it is a huge business error to do anything that discourages billiards in Vietnam.

The country is billiards crazy, I've never seen crowds like those in ho chi Minh, so enthusiastic and a part (not apart) of the drama they watched.

I'd be trying to establish a foothold up in thrrre for sure.

and when hoang plays on a youtube stream the viewers shoot up with like 50k.. definitely the hottest market right now in terms of viewership

 

[garczar]

and when hoang plays on a youtube stream the viewers shoot up with like 50k.. definitely the hottest market right now in terms of viewership

If i was MR i'd build a Vietnam office with a teaching center and a bunch of tables. Time is right to plant their flag in this emerging hotbed. Tell the WPA to pound sand.

 

[jbart65]

I was just razzing him because he took a side without knowing the facts..

The problem with the "you don't know all the facts" argument is ... we never know all the facts. Neither WPA nor MR offers much in the way of detail.

Thus we all have to draw our own conclusions from partial information.

I started watching pro pool two and a half years ago, just as MR was getting the WNT underway. I knew nothing about the WPA and MR. Nothing.

What have I learned since? Pool sank into a pit from the late 1990s to circa 2020. It disappeared from TV and no longer got any public notice in the U.S.

Was the WPA all to blame? I would assume not, but the game certainly did not advance.

Enter MR. Pool internationally has been on an upswing. TV production has improved. The events have become more professional. And new markets like Vietnam are being nurtured. All that before the $1 million prize fund in SA.

Do I have some nits to pick? Sure, but I like the direction pool is headed in.

The WPA, on the other hand, tried to intimidate players into not playing in MR events. That was a big no-no in my eyes. Kind of told me all I needed to know.

It got so bad that Shane Van Boening basically denounced the WPA and said he would not play in their events if they persisted with their approach.

MR has not tried to force players to choose sides. And the players almost universally praise MR. I hardly hear anyone say anything good about the WPA.

Not surprisingly, I have drawn some conclusions. And they clearly are not the same ones you have drawn.

I think I will trust the voice of SVB over others such as yours.

 

[Positively Ralf]

Every professional tour (and fringe professional) needs a farm system. The WPA is that system. Whether they want to accept it or not.

It's amazing that the WPA does not realize. they have a gold mine on hand with this idea. They literally would be the Korn Ferry Tour and be raking in a ton of cash and events as they basically control amateur pool as it is and there are a ton of mid level non travelling pros who would love to participate in something of a semi tour.

 

[The_JV]

Just wondering what your logic is concerning making decisions for yourself. Do you normally make choices without knowing the facts? Are you like Pelosi who says you have to approve the bill in order to know what's in it?

What decision...? I don't even know what the dispute was over. All I know is, the women were apparently presented something the majority (presumably) felt was not in the their best interest, and the those doing the presenting decided that their offer was fair and not willing to alter it. Good on both of them. That's what's called objectivity.

Big question is who is worse for wear after "talks" ended. MR seems to be doing fairly well on the surface without a women's tour.

 

[skogstokig]

Absolutely. Maybe WPA is drawing the line there because it’s so valuable for MR? But yes I haven’t seen such an enthusiastic crowd aside from the mosconi cup.

it's the same thing as last year, ACBS gets triggered because it's in asia. and since this weird qatari bunch seem to have such big clout in WPA, the threats of bans are back

 

[Badpenguin]

Not sure what you mean, but it's the WPA that's guaranteeing fairness in events it sanctions. Not the other way around.

The WPA won't sanction an event where the promoter wants to unfairly control who plays and their positions in the chart, which is unfair to the players. This is a BIG reason why some events don't get WPA sanctioning. You have no idea about some of the things that go on behind the scenes at these so-called events. The players are often not treated fairly by some of these event organizers. The WPA will not support that kind of behavior by event coordinators.

WPA is the only body doing what I have bolded above.

The WPA is _actually_ unfairly controlling who plays (banning pool players because of what players from another discipline did). There is no transparency with the WPA and what is discussed and why decisions are made (unless you can point me out where minutes are available). The WPA is the one threatening players with bans.

Frankly, I don't believe that you are an objective commentator on this subject. I'm sure the WPA has done some wonderful things in the past, and probably some wonderful things currently. But they are acting like assholes with these idiotic threats of bans and destroying any/all goodwill.

 

[book collector]

Here are a few reasons why events don't get sanctioned by the WPA. Some you already know, but I bet others you don't know.

1.) Date conflicts

2.) Calling your event World Championship of ....... which conflicts with organizers of actual World Championships with hundreds of thousands invested in each event.

3.) Unfair practices in choosing players. This is big. In WPA sanctioned events, each continental federation receives a quota of spots to be handed out to whoever qualifies through their own qualification systems. There are also a series of open qualifiers organized by the event organizer and the WPA where players who don't qualify through their federations can play and try to qualify. The organizer of the sanctioned event also gets a few wild card spots.

The WPA won't sanction an event where the promoter wants to unfairly control who plays and their positions in the chart, which is unfair to the players. This is a BIG reason why some events don't get WPA sanctioning. You have no idea about some of the things that go on behind the scenes at these so-called events. The players are often not treated fairly by some of these event organizers. The WPA will not support that kind of behavior by event coordinators.

4.) Unfair prize money distribution. Loading all the money up top or not meeting the minimum required added money will result in non-sanctioning.

5.) Unacceptable venue and hotel. Players should have a reasonable place to play and sleep.

I can agree with all but number 5 , the days of the DCC in the old venue, were half the price,or less. the food and selections were better and you were not trapped in a place built to rob you. I think most people would gladly go back to the Executive or whatever it was called ,as long as there were no bed bugs ,and the ones who would not, are not qualified to be real pool scuffs, anyway. Half the fun of the old place was to see how many people you could cram into one room and not get a knock in the middle of the night.

 

[garczar]

I can agree with all but number 5 , the days of the DCC in the old venue, were half the price,or less. the food and selections were better and you were not trapped in a place built to rob you. I think most people would gladly go back to the Executive or whatever it was called ,as long as there were no bed bugs ,and the ones who would not, are not qualified to be real pool scuffs, anyway. Half the fun of the old place was to see how many people you could cram into one room and not get a knock in the middle of the night.

Its still there but re-modeled and re-branded. I went in '07. It was epic.

 

[garczar]

WPA is the only body doing what I have bolded above.

The WPA is _actually_ unfairly controlling who plays (banning pool players because of what players from another discipline did). There is no transparency with the WPA and what is discussed and why decisions are made (unless you can point me out where minutes are available). The WPA is the one threatening players with bans.

Frankly, I don't believe that you are an objective commentator on this subject. I'm sure the WPA has done some wonderful things in the past, and probably some wonderful things currently. But they are acting like assholes with these idiotic threats of bans and destroying any/all goodwill.

BOOM!! Homerun post. Agree 100%.

 

[garczar]

The problem with the "you don't know all the facts" argument is ... we never know all the facts. Neither WPA nor MR offers much in the way of detail.

Thus we all have to draw our own conclusions from partial information.

I started watching pro pool two and a half years ago, just as MR was getting the WNT underway. I knew nothing about the WPA and MR. Nothing.

What have I learned since? Pool sank into a pit from the late 1990s to circa 2020. It disappeared from TV and no longer got any public notice in the U.S.

Was the WPA all to blame? I would assume not, but the game certainly did not advance.

Enter MR. Pool internationally has been on an upswing. TV production has improved. The events have become more professional. And new markets like Vietnam are being nurtured. All that before the $1 million prize fund in SA.

Do I have some nits to pick? Sure, but I like the direction pool is headed in.

The WPA, on the other hand, tried to intimidate players into not playing in MR events. That was a big no-no in my eyes. Kind of told me all I needed to know.

It got so bad that Shane Van Boening basically denounced the WPA and said he would not play in their events if they persisted with their approach.

MR has not tried to force players to choose sides. And the players almost universally praise MR. I hardly hear anyone say anything good about the WPA.

Not surprisingly, I have drawn some conclusions. And they clearly are not the same ones you have drawn.

I think I will trust the voice of SVB over others such as yours.

SVB just announced he will play Texas Open(GREAT event btw) at Skinny Bob's instead of going to NewZealand for World8b.

 

[MattPoland]

SVB just announced he will play Texas Open(GREAT event btw) at Skinny Bob's instead of going to NewZealand for World8b.

Can't blame him. I looked at flights from Detroit to New Zealand. Flights were from $1,600 - $2,200. Flight times were from 19 hours - 28 hours. Might as well hold the event in Antarctica.