9-Ball
Topic: The 2007 UK 9 Ball Championship

On 2007-06-05 11:12 , Rocky404 Wrote:

ok, if we have 5 events over the course of a year, each with 128 entrants, how many of those entrants are seriously in with a chance of breaking even financially with fees and expenses?? Why would the 80 or so who don't have a hope in h3ll keep turning up?

This is one of the main reasons the BPPPA has died this year because the rankings mean nothing and people are needing to get to the last 4 to cover their costs. If the rankings meant something like the top 32 getting entry to an end of season comp or end of season bonuses etc then people will play. As for those players just starting out or improving, rankings over the course of a couple of seasons all them to see how they're improving and allow them to set goals for themselves.

Cash only comps only suit those with a serious chance of winning the top prize.

Oh by the way is this UK 9-Ball championship going ahead, people need an answer it is so simple to answer.... Yes or No

We'll take the silence as a 'no' then.

Yes cash comps only suit those with a chance of winning but there is no alternative. Only now have you said that you think the rankings should mean something ie entry to a comp at the end of the year.

My point was that if rankings mean nothing then why bother having them? If you are now saying they should mean something ie cash bonus or tourny entry, then fair enough.

But the fact is, like Dazzler said, they're arent enough serious pool players to whole heartedly support a tour. People might say it on here, but in reality they wont go to each event.
If there are well organised cash events on a regular basis, with 2 tier structures like mentioned on the other thread, this would undoubtedly be more successful than the BPPPA.
People then arent penalised for missing one event if they need to so it encourages more players. No membership fees, and a fully transparent operating system that people would support.

I managed to get inside the top 50 whilst hardly winning a game. I ended up being embarassed by my ranking rather than feeling any sense of achievement or improvement.

just received a press release from the bpppa by email confirming the event is cancelled, due to sponsorship withdrawal !!!!

was there ever a sponsor in the first place??

That old chestnut....

This is the letter received:


PRESS RELEASE

British Professional Pool Players Association

Manchester, England

4th June 2007-06-05



2007 U.K. 9 Ball Championships

The British Professional Pool Players Association (BPPPA) has announced today the cancellation of the 2007 U.K. 9 Ball Championships.

The tournament originally scheduled to be held at the magnificent City of Manchester Stadium (home to Manchester City F.C. and built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games) would have been the largest and most spectacular event of 9 Ball ever held in this country.

Speaking on behalf of the BPPPA, the Federation President Mr Ted Bristow said earlier today “ We are extremely disappointed that we have been forced to cancel the event. Through our contacts at Manchester City F.C. we identified a potential sponsor for the event earlier last year and preparations and planning have been going very smoothly with a small team working very hard on this project. However, we encountered problems when our potential sponsors were unwilling to sign contractual agreements until nearer the time and more recently, only a few weeks ago we were advised that their company had restructured their financial budget for 2007 and could no longer be considered as being the Title Sponsor for the event. As soon as we learned of this decision we contacted many companies in an effort to secure a last minute Title Sponsor and unfortunately we had little interest or response for varying reasons”.

Mr Bristow continued: “ Although this is a huge blow to our sport and has cost the Association a considerable amount of money in preparations we will not lie down and we will continue our attempt to secure a Title Sponsor in order to reschedule the event for later in the year or early next year. This will be a major disappointment to our Members and players worldwide who would have participated in this tournament. We are very aware of this and can assure them that we will do our utmost to secure sponsors so this event can be rescheduled. I see this as a temporary setback and still believe as many others do that 9 Ball if presented and produced more spectacularly than we have seen in the past is a sleeping giant and can be a huge asset for future potential sponsors. We have all seen the interest and excitement recently with darts and poker and as pool players are becoming athletes in their own right, with a little fortitude together with a new and modified format in production, it is only a matter of time before the American disciplines of pool become a more recognised sport with the general population”.

The British Professional Pool Players Association is the world recognised governing body for Great Britain for the American disciplines of pool, which includes 9 Ball and is a member of the World-Pool Billiards Association through the Continental Federation of the European Pocket Billiard Federation.

BPPPA PRESS OFFICE

Is anyone really that surprised???

The worst kept secret in 9Ball is finally out then, UK Championship cancelled. Well actually its just delayed, personally for me a good thing as I need to get used to my new cue before competing. Quite nice to be called 'athletes' in their letter though, right?! Walking to the bar inbetween matches certainly keeps you fit.

Pool-Ace - True, rankings don't mean alot till you get to the top players. I beat a top 30 player having only played the game 3 times. Big woop!

Rankings mean nothing. If you had attended each event for the last 18mths, you be top 10 probably without even doing that well. I doubt the top players are all that concerned with being no 1 - as its means nothing. The only small advantage is potentially having a bye in the first round.

But lets be honest here, if you're a top player, you should be more than capable of playing a 1st round match anyway. The ranking structure protects the top 16 and lets be honest, then dont need much protecting & the little guys probably need more help anyway.

Scrap rankings completely I say! Utterly pointless at present.

No not a surprise, but wait a minute pay your membership fees in November then again you could be in this event next year, what was the considerable cost to the federation nothing has taken place and no outlay anywhere as far as I could see, So now what are your membership fees going towards now this is cancelled, all members should request a yearly financeal sheet now so you can see where everything has gone you have a right as a member, I am a member of the BPPPA and I want one.

Just my opinion but I dont think there will be too many members next year at this rate!!!

I am regretting buying membership now, i havent recieved a thing from the BPPPA no membership pack, rules etc, when i joined i was informed i would get a polo shirt and set of rules now i will just get a bagde, why is this?is the £15 shirt too much to take out of the £165 fee?i am really considering writing to BPPPA and asking for a pro-rata refund, i have only been in 3 events because they are all in Manchester..what about the minutes from the last meeting are they ever going to be published?did the meeting take place?
i feel for the EPT boys they put alot of effort into it but the only reason i didnt play is a just don't like 8-ball in general and could't justify paying £75 for a day which i won't enjoy.

What an extraordinary coincidence. We must all be psychic!!!!!!

it said in that statement that there was a 'potential' sponsore, i could have sworn in one of the early press releases that they said they'd SECURED sponsorship for this.........bit of a difference.
And if it was only a potential sponsor....why advertise the comp until a time when things become definitive cos otherwise you end up looking like a 2nd rate organisation delivering false promises!!

P!ss up and brewery spring to mind here

I agree with Mark Mills on this one........all the members should get a full refund!


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how is the BPPPA set up is it a company or a charity do the accounts have to be published ??

just wondering cause it seems here that everyone thinks they can do better and as such why not put your name foward to take over or buy control ????

i personally dont think anyone is giving any credit to ted and i think that is a shame.

i have not been in the sport that long but long enough to learn nearly everything that has been tried long term has eventually collapsed and i have no answers except to say i think over the last 3 years the BPPPA has done a fine job

On 2007-06-05 14:16 , pooljedi Wrote:

Hi pooljedi, if you read my main post earlier in the thread, i mention how much hard work it takes for people to run a tour and that it often goes unnoticed.

The point we need to look at here is that the bpppa have announced this tournament for the past 3 years just before the memberships are due......we are still waiting to see it!
You cant really blame the players for thinking the worst when it happens year after year can you?

I'm sorry to say that but it is what everyones thinking!


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