9-Ball
Topic: World Cup of Pool 2007

On 2007-08-08 14:24 , Doug Wrote:

It doesn’t stop at players either. Earlier this year Peter Aprile was engaged by the promoter to work as senior referee on the World 8 Ball Championship in the UAE.
Our own Malaguista’s credentials are impeccible but he was replaced by two EPBF referees both without experience. Quite rightly he refused to work in these circumstances and departed forthwith for home.

agree doug couldnt believe what happened there pal

Arriving a little late on the scene here I know, but I thought I'd add my thoughts. For the last 4 years I've been playing exclusively in Switzerland on both the snooker and pool tours, I'm ranked no. 1 for snooker and no. 2 for pool right now. In the past it seemed natural for me to represent Switzerland. However, according to the rules of the EPBF, I cannot do so without a Swiss passport, which I don't have, nor am likely to have at any point in the foreseeable future.

So for players in my position, basically we are not well placed to ever get selected to represent any country. I can't play for Switzerland without a passport, and can't play for UK cause I don't live or play there.

What do you suggest guys?

The best I can do is continue to play my game and hope that one day my efforts will be noticed and rewarded.

You may have noticed that since I won the Swiss Open Eurotour event, I've been listed on the Eurotour as a UK player. This is my origin and where my heart lies of course. I am proud to represent the UK and will continue to do so from now on.

Any events I may have played in the past representing Switzerland were either before I knew I was not allowed to represent them or because the organizer of the event didn't realize that I actually represent the UK.

So, just in case anyone was wondering. I was a Brit, I am still a Brit and I will always be a Brit. If you see my name down as Swiss anywhere in the future please let me know.

My dream is to be selected to play in events such as the World Cup of Pool representing the UK and although it's going to be very hard while I live in Switzerland, I will do everything in my power to get there. Ultimately I believe our results speak for themselves so we should all just keep playing and if we deserve it, we should receive it.

Above all, enjoy the game and give all you can. See you all at the next event.

On 2007-08-08 14:12 , Doug Wrote:

Doug

There is a simple reason for this - and it's not the one that most of you will immediately jump to think it is.

The reason is one magical word that makes Matchroom - the promotors of the World Pool Championships - happy. Publicity. We have a spot in the World Pool Championships because of the publicity that has been generated in the past few years - especially since the event moved to the Far East - by our representatives wearing a kilt whilst playing. When Pat Holtz first went to the WPC in Taiwan, he ended up being in most of the newspapers over there because he was in the kilt. This made Matchroom very happy and since they give out Wildcard spots to whomever they wish, Scotland gets a spot.

SAPPA are eternally and immensely grateful to Matchroom for this. We make no secret about that. We are increadibly lucky to be in the position we are that we receive a Wild Card spot from Matchroom and we never forget that it is as easy for Matchroom to take it away from us as it is for them to give it to us. It's their call who gets it.

This year, there will be 2 Scottish players there. Pat Holtz will be there due to last year's 16 finish giving him an automatic qualification to this year's event, and whomever wins the SAPPA qualifier.

Best wishes

thecardman

www.scottish9ball.com and the SAPPA Forum's back!
SAPPA on MySpace
The Cardman's Blog
Heck, I'm even on MySpace!

Peter
The words Grandmother and Eggs come to mind. I am certainly not against Scotland having a spot - far from it!
Pat's performance last year more than justified that.

He wasn't too bad a commentator either. It will also be nice to have a second Scotsman there this year.

Maybe I could get a wildcard as I was born in Edinburgh?

Do some magic and make it happen. A Bra Ca ...

Non of the scandinavian countries have been invited!? They should have been there!

In connection to Cardman's post and Jonni's problem with living abroad I must say a big thank you to everyone in SAPPA for giving me a chance in the past to compete for the WPC spot although I am not Scottish.

For everyone questioning scotland's spots in matchroom events I think Cardman gave the answer. Wildcards are the way every sports body uses to promote the sport around the globe. The objections in my opinion should be aimed to the way qualification is decided and the fact that not every nation gets a chance to qualify for the event.

I don't think that it can truely be classified as a "World", when there are still a good number of countries, that aren't even being given the chance to enter this event, personally I'm disgusted at Matchroom for cherry picking the entrants, and it's a serious let down to the many other countries, who put the time, money and effort into organizing events or playing our time honoured sport.

The way I see it is, a "World Cup" event, should be open to all countries, and they should be able to send their 2 best players to the event, to compete, as I feel that this is a fairer way and better way of finding out, who really are the best players in the world, as it gives many more players a chance to compete, and also it opens up the playing field alot more, and so, it makes for a more interesting event, but that's JMHO

Scotland deserve their spots, no if's but's about it, because they put alot of hard work and dedication into their tour and for what they have achieved on their own already, speaks for itself, and is a taster of how good American Pool can be in the UK, if the time and effort is put into it, but I have a good feeling that the GB9BT will be a golden oppertunity for American Pool to really get going here in the UK, but in the end of the day, it's down to the players to turn up to play in all events, and not just those on their own door step.

Willie


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If ya got 'em, smoke 'em

well you are right but maybe because that there are no superstar pool player in scandinavia .don't get me wrong i know there are loads of them (very good players) but they need to win games against world class team or players on a daily basis not a one off as some player accomplished.On 2007-08-08 16:49 , Jykim Wrote:

hey guys. sorry, but my english is not the best.
just wanna say some words. why should ireland play at the worldcup, when i never saw an irish player at the euro tour the last 4 years? why should sweden play, when there is no swedish player at the euro tour. just because of chamat? but the other question is why schotland can play. just because of pat holz? i never saw him at the euro tour, too. in my opinion, that`s not correct and he should also qualifie for every event (same like raj). but for matchroom sports is just a show, nothing else. everybody likes to watch tony drago or the number one in europe (doesn`t matter they are the only players at the tour). maybe i`m the wrong person to say this because i`m very lucky they picked croatia, but i think: what should alcano think? as the world champion he has to watch it on tv. or engert as the masters champion and souquet as vice wc, or what should think guys like orcollo or corteza when they see the picks? new zealand, Qatar, india, south africa?
to answering a few question: one of you wrote, the countries should select the players. i don`t think so. the only right way to get invitet is to qualifie!
i`m sorry for jonni, he deserved it, cause ranking points don`t lie! it`s true that majid and peach played well all the years, but if they did the nomination after the last euro tour, than it`s not fair. and why should ray play before darren? darren shocked europe and the world the last year with awsome pool, while raj gets invited in every single tournament, without playing anything. if the best uk player should play, then darren has to play with one of the other two guys.
ok guys, just my opinons. i hope you understand my massage like i think. maybe some things sound a little bit hard or stupid, but it`s tough for me to comunicate in this language. i don`t wanna criticize anybody or anything. everybody practice hard and loves the sport. and this should be respected!!

best wishes, philipp stojanovic

On 2007-08-08 14:24 , Doug Wrote:

You couldn't afford my fee!!!

On 2007-08-08 21:40 , joma Wrote:

Marcus, for one, might disagree with you.

On 2007-08-08 22:37 , philstojanovic Wrote:

Hi Phil,

Well done for the effort, it is always difficult writing in a foreign language as I know myself, living in Spain.

I think you are still thinking about a certain LA Cafe and the massage

Peter

Your english is good Phil and I agree with everything you say. You have to feel for Darren because he's worked so hard to take himself up to the top level of the game in such a short space of time and in my opinion no one from our shores is better equipped to take on the worlds best than he is right now. At the same time I'm just glad that England is at least represented and with our other 2 strongest players so let's cheer them on.

Why no spots for the West indies????????

Open letter to Gre Leenders, president of EPBF and member of the board of WPA:

Dear Gre Leenders,

The upcoming tournament, World Cup of Pool is sanctioned both by the World Pool Association and the European Pool & Billiards Federation. The tournament is listed on the WPA and EPBF’s official sportscalendar, and will take place in Holland during September and the winners will be crowned World Champions!

How can you crown a world champion when not everyone in the world gets a chance to participate?

It looks like the countries are chosen very randomly, and without any criteria listed for countries/players in advance. I’ll set up 2 examples:

There are no nations represented from for example Scandinavia, nor asked, given information about how to qualify or what to do to get a spot. Nothing as I know off. (I am now no longer member of the board of the Norwegian Pool Federation, so there might have been some information given after May, but for last year there were none)

How can a player/nation compete in those events when there are no answers from the organizer (Haven't got the promised email), and no information available on EPBF/WPA sites.

The other example is England.
They have got one spot, and the players are picked to be Daryl Peach and Imran Majid. Not only does the organizer of the event chose country to be represented in the event, but also the players. Nice for Daryl and Imran, a great team, but is the system fair?

The correct here, in my opinion, would be that the BPPPA should pick their players to represent their country, based on their own criterias listed many months (a year) in front. As for now Mark Gray is leading the ranking in England, and Johnny Fulcher is the best Englishman on the Eurotour-ranking. None of them are playing, and the worst of all, they don’t know what they need to do next year to get a spot!!

Would like to know your thoughts about this, as President of the EPBF and also boardmember of the WPA.

How can EPBF accept, and even worse in fact contribute by sanctioning the tournament, that there is a World Championship organized in Europe, without a fair chance for ALL the European nations to participate in this tournament?

Who is picking the teams and players for the tournament, and what are the criterias used?

Most important, why do we even have to ask for information about how to qualify? Shouldn’t be obviously that the criterias should be available for countries/players months or a year ahead?

Yes, I know it is Matchroom Sport who is the organizer of the event, and that it’s called an invitational tournament, so in fact they can do what they want.

But if you choose that as your answer, I feel the worst with all of this is that EPBF is closing their eyes and ears, and let tournaments like this happen, even though it is clearly not for the best interest of all the members of EPBF.

Are EPBF doing the right thing with sanctioning tournaments like this? By sanctioning it EPBF accept the facts that many membersnations are getting a disadvantage.

I am looking forward for your answer. For your information, this subject has been heavily discussed in several poolforums, and I will post my letter to you and your answer too.

Roy Steffensen

EDITED: (Sent a new email minutes after)
Hi again,

I would like to add that the work you are doing with the European
Championships and the Eurotour is GREAT!

I understand that my last email might seem a little harsh, but I am not
critizing the overall work of the EPBF. It's just the matter of approving
a tournament as a World Cup when not all countries get a fair chance of
participating.

Just wanted you to know.

Roy


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The bangers consider me a pro - The pros consider me a banger

roydfish.blogspot.com

Im still wondering why the West Indies didnt get picked.


Darkside......

I haven't received an email from Gre Leenders yet, but I know he has read it because he forwarded it to Matchroom Sport and Luke Riches.

Luke called me and apologised for not sending me email last week, and then just told me some facts about the tournament. Fair enough. He told me that it is an invitational tournament, that it is Matchroom who is the organizer and that there is unfortunately not enough money in pool to invite all countries, or to organize qualifiers.

That's ok. I have no problems with Matchroom Sport putting up the tournament. In fact, I salute them for it, and think they are doing a great job with promoting pool.

The thing I am having problems with is WPA/EPBF who accepts that this tournament is a World Championship when not all countries gets a fair chance to compete.

In this case the WPA and EPBF are obviously not doing their job. The WPA is the World governing body for ALL nations, not only Holland, USA, Philippines and Germany. The EPBF should refuse to let the tournament be sanctioned by WPA, and take the name World Cup as long as there are so many European nations that does not get a chance to compete. In fact, the nations that's not invited doesn't even get any information about the tournament at all. Worthy the name World Cup????

WPA should somehow worked out a solution with Matchroom Sport where all nations could get a fair chance to play the tournament. For example 28 nations invited by Matchroom and 4 teams by qualifiers. Not perfect, but better.

What has the WPA/EPBF done to help the not invited nations?

I am still waiting for Gre's answer, and I will post the answer here.


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The bangers consider me a pro - The pros consider me a banger

roydfish.blogspot.com

On 2007-08-09 07:19 , malaguista Wrote:
hi, i thought marcus is from sweden. did you know that he married a filipina and own some pool clubs in the philippines and do plays a lot of pool there with some unknown players yet.