GB9
Topic: 2015 Season Announcement

Jordy, I would estimate about 4pm for the first session on Friday afternoon.

Hi Andy, I agree with Robin's comments, but I also think you should respond to twominator, he is a world class 8 ball player who is trying to give some good feedback here about some possible changes.
The 8 ball circuit is still booming which I just never understand but they must be doing something right??

I actually think a blind 3 man event would be good fun but the finer details would need working out of course.

If you get a few ideas flying around I think you should send surveys to all the players regarding those ideas..... Ones that get voted in, make happen?

I love the game and the tour is fantastic! I hope we get 96 at least....
ozzie

Lots of people are going to have their own ideas on format of our events and indeed a lot of people have taken the time to give us feedback over the past few months which we are really grateful for. As a committee we have to take this feedback and decide what is both workable and most popular with players of all standards.

What we have announced is the format that will be used for the main, challenge and pro events in 2015. We have also announced that we will be running a series of side events at each tour stop and the intention is to let the players vote at each stop what type of event they want.

Running extra tour weekends such as a 3 man event is something that I agree would be good to introduce, but is certainly not something we can consider doing when we don't even know yet if we have enough players for the main tour stops to be viable.

If all the players get behind us and give us their support before 30 November then we will feel more comfortable about putting the time and effort in to grow GB9 and will give our hotel sponsors the confidence that our events are worthwhile hosting.


-----------------

Andy Warden, GB9 - Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor √

Get behind the tour people, it would be the worst possible thing to happen to the sport if it folded, after all the progress since GB9 launched....we cannot let that happen.

Need all the characters back on the tour that's what you need

Agreed Ozzie!!! Its a must our great national tour must continue or 9 ball pool is dead in uk!!!!! So everyone support GB9... Hotel prices have been reduced and fees r lower to which is a great effort by the tour and the prize monies r all still very good....

                                 Mark " Granite " Gray.

                                         GB9 No1.

                                            

First post has been updated with a list of applications received so far. This will be updated regularly.


-----------------

Andy Warden, GB9 - Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor √

Really hope you fill the 96 places.

I think all the changes are good changes, although the room rate is only a wee bit cheaper it all adds up and the tour is now in a position where it isn't really that much more expensive for players to play in the hotel as oppose to a club. Also the prize money isn't much different to what could be offered in a club on poorer quality tables etc.

1 thing that I would have changed/reconsider would be the distribution f prize money. I think it is obvious GB9 needs the support of the amateur players or it wont work, the proposed prize structure has the amateurs subsidising the pro's too much imo.

In total per event the pro's pay in £2880 and the amateurs pay in £7200 yet the pro's are playing for more money. Also it pays out 50% of the pro field but 20% of the amateur field.

If the pro's win 1 match they almost have won their entry fee back already and that isn't including the main event.

I think given the fact only 16 players get paid in the main event it makes it very difficult for the amateurs to cash in the main so the challenge events should offer more reward.

I think the below prize structure would attract more players:

    Main    Pro    C1    C2
1st    1200    800    700    500
2nd    600    400    350    250
3rd    325    250    200    150
5th    150         100     50
9th    100            


I know it is probably not going to change but I think the tour has done great to improve its structure but still has this 1 flaw.

Basically all pro entry fees go into pro event and they get a free run at the main event AND the costs of the tour £1500/event come from challenge entry fees. Don't think this is right.

^^^^^^^^ Agree ^^^^^^^^ Great post with research. more attractive for the amateur players who after all are the core players. The pros are always going to make the prize fund more often than not. At least the above makes its more valuable when the amateurs do. Only the 16 pros might not agree with this... the other 80 players who also matter to will. Overall though great work GB9 and I'm disappointed there isn't more on the list already supporting.

Just to clarify the £100 and £50 for the quarter finals is for C1 and C2 respectively. I would only pay semis of the pro event (25% of field) and keep the challenge events at paying 8 (20% of field).

The pros are paying double the amount of entry (£900 a year instead of £450) and you want them to pick up just £100 more for winning the Pro event than Challenge tier 1?! Where's the incentive to play in the Pro divsion?

Pro is double elim to the last 8 so that have to win at least 2 matches to make cash.

And of course the Challenge players pay in more collectively, there are 5 times more challenge players than Pro. The key is that each of them are paying half as much as the Pro's.


-----------------

Andy Warden, GB9 - Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor √

Hi Andy, not looking for a debate but I 100% disagree with what you have said above. Yes they EACH pay double but there is only 16 of them! 16*180 = £2880 and the pro division you have paying out £2600

Compare that to the challenge divisions combined = 80*90 = £7200 in fees and you are paying out £2275 in total across the 2 challenge events!

So everyone plays in the main event so lets forget about that, that leaves:

Pros - £2880 in and paid out £2600
Amateurs - £7200 in and paid out £2275.

Seem fair? Basically the amateurs are funding the main event and some of the pro division.

I did say overall you have done great but this is a big factor I think. Not a dig just my opinion.

And it is not about incentive to play in the pro its about standard and us playing a sport in which there is zero sponsorship money which means players need to play for each others money or not at all!

The way it is just now is pro's are playing for amateurs money. I don't mind that in 1 open event but when it is structured like this it isn't fair imo

Mark, with your proposed prize fund you would have £14.4k shortfall over the year because you won't have any pros that want to play for little more than the Challenge tier 1 event whilst paying double the amount for the privilege. Crazy.


-----------------

Andy Warden, GB9 - Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor √

its andy not mark.

I take it you mean a shortfall of £1400 across the whole season as if the pros arent entering they arent getting paid which is a net loss of £1400?

However that £1400(£280/event) loss could be spread over the main event and 2 challenge tours.

I think your point actually supports my argument. The pros pay £14400 a year and get paid £13000 JUST FROM THE PRO EVENT. Then add in the main event and it isnt looking too bad for them really is it??

You need to grow this tour from the bottom up not the top down.

Andy who?

£14,400 loss not £1,400 because no Pro's will want to play!

Yes but if they aren't playing they dont get the £13000 prize money surely?!

Andy Morris

On 2014-10-17 17:46 , panther Wrote:

Correct. So you're saying we should ditch the pros and make GB9 an amateur only tour?


-----------------

Andy Warden, GB9 - Authorised Pro9 forum advertiser/sponsor √

No I didnt say that, it was just in response to you saying that they wouldnt play and correcting your statement re the £14400 deficit.

Getting back to the main issue at hand. GB9 is the heart of 9 - 10 ball action in this country. As much as I agree in principle that leaning towards the amateurs for the future of the game - the pro's put the GB9 tour on the map if they play.

I personally would commit to every year if I wasn't tied up with work commitments. I will be attending this November and always support the tour as much as I can.

Keep up the great work, GB9.