9-Ball
Topic: GB9BT Launch

Seems silly that for a growing sport, you turn away people... no business model (that works) turns down customers. I'm sure none of the big guns would get turned away. Perhaps we'll end up with two tours again ...

That may be the only solution, it would be a shame if people are turned away.

Personally, I just want to take part and try and improve. I know winning a tour is out of reach in 99 out of 100 tournaments for me, so a larger pro section makes more sense. If I miss out this time, I'll try again when the qualifiers start.

Everyone knows the top players are guaranteed a place already, its only sensible.

I notice you can still register yourself as a reserve on the GB9BT website. Everyone who hasn't got there application in on time needs to do this so Riggers can see how many people are interested.

If enough people do then maybe he will expand the tour. It would be great to have 128 players or more.

Am I right in thinking that despite having sent in the application and paying the first payment at Nottingham I am not guaranteed a place on the tour due to over subscription.

If this is the case and the field is not to be extended to more players how will selection be made. As a new guy to the 9 ball and having only played a handful of events I am concerned that this may go against me for being selected to the Challenge tour.

Would a random draw be a possibility for the 64 Challenge tour players?

Just curious as I would be absolutely gutted if I missed out as like many players I have been looking forward to this since it was announced.

I don't think you've got anything to worry about if you've paid already.

On 2007-11-25 19:16 , Pool-Ace Wrote:

I hope not as I bought a 2nd hand Predator Sneaky Pete Z Shaft cue for £130 the other day. Lovely cue, and has helped my play too.


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Multiple winner of the Solihull Wednesday knockout competition.

I did explain the situation to everyone who personally handed me cheques in Nottingham. No places are guarenteed at this stage and we will make a decision about the number to be accepted and method of selection during December. Of course we do not want to disappoint anyone but we have to balance this with the need to keep the proposed format as far as possible as we believe it is the format that has attracted so many people to apply in the first place.

Also please bear in mind that if there are some applicants and people on the reserve list whom we cannot accomodate there will be many other options open to these people i.e.:
- the many open comps arranged by numerous other people,
- regional competitions are being considered (not run by GB9 but possibly linked to GB9 in some way)
- and there is always the chance to join GB9 next year via the qualifiers at the end of 2008.

This is just the start of putting a great structure in place and the fact we have so many applicants is great news for all of us even if we can't accommodate everyone in GB9 season 1.

Can I ask how selection will be made, if over subscribed? Will certain players be automatically selected?

Yes, his mates are first ... i thought it was first come first served ...

On 2007-11-25 22:29 , jc Wrote:
Whatever method is chosen it will be agreed and voted upon by the GB9BT Tour Committee as documented in the Rules and Constitution for the tour (that new applicants will have had the opportunity to read).

jc what a ridiculous comment! you have obviously not noticed the amount of work and effort Riggers is putting in for nothing in return but a fantastic tour for Great Britain.

they have not yet decided what they are doing about over subscribers, and i'm 100% confident that whatever they decide to do, they will do in the best interests of UK pool.

Exactly... Imagine if Daryl, Imran and Raj all applied too late on a first come first served basis.

I sure hope to god that some rules would be bent to let them in.

Purely for the best interest of UK pool.

On 2007-11-25 22:29 , jc Wrote:

Stupid, stupid, comment. Hopefully flippant, but ill-considered all the same.

Because of the hard work put in so far to provide a tour that surpasses all previous efforts, and which gives players something they can really look forward to, the first problem is being over-subscribed!

A nice problem to have and one that I'm sure will be resolved in as fair and open a manner as possible.

Riggers et al, I apologise for my question which has provoked a response from another player that has obviously angered a few people. My question was not intended to do this and perhaps on reflection should have been sent as a private post or e-mail. It is only right that if some players have to be turned down due to over subscription that certain players (such as Peach, Hundal, Majid, Appleton etc) should automatically be selected due to there high profiles and the success of the tour. My question was really about the ordinary mortals like myself.

As reitterated I hope no offence was taken by my post as I do appreciate the large efforts for little reward that are being put in to make this all happen. And if I do miss out this time round I will make every effort to qualify for next year.

In case people are wondering y am I typing thid at 2am, I have just been kicked out of bed for snoring and am trying to sleep on a very uncomfortable sofa!!!!

lol, ouch. i think Hundal and peach and that will obviously have to be in, again depends on the number of people who have applied for the pro tour this season. cant leave the WPC put of the tour now can we, and i think everybody knows that

You've nothing to apologise for Craig but thanks for yours and everyone else's support.

Regarding Peach, he will be automatically selected if I get my way but not because he's WPC.... because he's one of the 7 people (the tour committe and one other) who have made a significant contribution to the setting up of this tour. It would not be fair for those people to miss out (and I include myself in that obviously). Whilst it's great to have support from Hundal, Majid, Appleton, Drago etc they will all have to pay their fees on time like the rest of you.

I've been texting Darren like crazy in Manila asking him to get an application form filled in and he eventually did do just in time. I managed to get Lynette to do Karl's. So I guess you could say I helped my friends but not by assuring them a place - just by making sure they stuck to the rules

Then again it's not just friends that we've been contacting to ask where their apps are. I even called darkside Obviously we couldn't call everybody but we called a few people, for exampel Kevin Uzzell is known to be travelling and out of teh country for some time so we've tried to contact him. Thankfully we managed to track him down.

We really want to include everyone if we can and obviously we'd be delighted if we could start out with the strongest possible field but it all has to be transparent and fair as this is one thing I want this tour to be known for, not just for the great format and great players.

It's a tough one but I think the people we have on the Committee are the right people to help us come up with a sensible way forward in sorting out the very high numbers of applications we've had in such a short space of time. We are actually around the 150 mark now including the reserve list. That's 150 people willing to commit to an annual payment of £529 or £739 for a tour with a radical new format. Who would have believed that? Some did - Appleton, Boyes, Peach etc told me we would easily fill the spaces but I wasn't so sure. Shows what I know

lol, and your running it. sounds like such an appealing format now so there is no reason for it to not fill the spaces, any update on the number of player that have paid so far?

You must be racking your brains cos I really can't think of a solution as I sit here!!

As long as all unsuccessful applicants are refunded then it is a fair system to all concerned, although that goes without saying I'm sure.

im sure that if there are enough players, the tour will be expanded. But it would be difficult to run a tour with an odd amount of players so it may even come down to who is drawn out of the hat.
Although saying that, if i wasnt to get in and my friend did, he may well not be able to turn up to tournaments as he is only 14 (although one heck of a player)