9-Ball
Topic: WPC list.

I think Steve Davis should show up at a few EuroTour events just to make it a little more valid, him having a spot at the WPC.

But quite frankly, I think his performance would make it less valid.

I thought that as well Danny that he might enter a few euro tournaments or even appear at a BPPPA event or two. A year or two ago in Cuesport magazine it said something about Steve Davis joining/signing with the BPPPA but I cant remember what the article was about...but there was talks/rumours about him appearing but was never to be seen.

I see John Wims is on the list as Ireland's only player. He is on the IPT list as an Australian!!

Hello,
I agree with your comments about Steve Davis to an extent but you've got to remember he has made it out of the groups stages in every single WPC he has been in which is better than Imran Majid, Daryl Peach etc. I think I'm right in saying Steve Knight managed that too but I think he'd be the only other Brit to have achieved this.
Steve Davis has also made it to the quarter finals at one stage knocking out Ralf Souquet, Efren Reyes etc on the way and he certainly gives anyone he plays something to think about.

Players who should definitely have been in the WPC this year for me:

Evgeny Stalev as Big Dave mentioned

Tom Storm (I suppose he doesn't play enough Euro Tour events anymore but he's still an amazing player),

Kim Davenport (he's performed consistently well this year and only just lost out in the Sands Regency to Orcollo).

Hopefully Kim'll be the expert summariser again at least.

Thanks,
Chris.

Not taking any credit away from Steve Davis but have you ever noticed he never gets any tough groups.

Last year's group stages how did he qulifiy? All I am going to say is Not saying its true but hearing from few people who went to play in or watch the tournament.....how does Shane Warne bowl a cricket ball?

I think Steve Davis planned on joined the BPPPA so he could play in the European Championships.

Hello Simsman2,

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree but I'd count a group with Yang, Luat and Foldes in (WPC 2005) as pretty darn tough!!! Sorry I didn't understand the Shane Warne comment, though, so if you were just joking and I've missed the point completely then I'm sorry!!!
Personally, though this WPC list has disappointed me as none of my 4 fav players (those I mentioned plus Steve Knight) will be playing! Oh well, there are still lots of my other players to cheer for I suppose! I'd like to see Francisco Bustamante finally win it so that he doesn't become remembered as the Jimmy White of Pool- the best player never to win the WPC or US Open.

Thanks,
Chris.

Chrstc I have sent you a PM

I dont think Davis would play on the BPPPA cause he would get harassed and midered all day long. If anyone deserves a wildcard then it should be Ronnie who has shown a genuine interest in playing pool. I have also heard Stephen Hendry expressing an interest in playing in the World Championships.

The World Pool Championship is a WPA event and the members of the WPA, ie. the Continental Federations decide who will play, they presumably decide on performances on Continental Ranking Systems and I see nothing wrong with that.
The promoters of this tournament are Matchroom Sport, a company without which we would be much poorer as previous World Championships were not as well organised and in many cases bordered on the edge of disaster, Alicante 1999 springs to mind.
Matchroom Sport are members of the WPA and as such are entitled to have their say in who plays and their experience tells them who will help the viewing figures most. Steve Davis certainly does.
A good young player, Radoslaw Babica is playing in the World Pool League this weekend, nobody would think of him first for a tournament such as this as there are many better players around but he is there for a reason.

             The event takes place in Poland

Too many of you are too insular, there are other countries in the world apart from England. All would probably say that they too, have many players who should be playing in the World Championships. OK, let them prove it.
The certain way to get a place is by playing in the Eurotour, if you are good enough to maintain a place in the top 24 you will play.
OK there are a few exceptions like Steve Davis or Raj Hundal for that matter but that has been covered above.
The UK has eight players not bad for a country of 60 million inhabitants but more importantly is that Europe has 40 participants, (41 if you count Russia) and that is a third of the field.
I think that the organisers have got it right...........