Open Competitions

[Q]

Lets attempt to find out the REAL reason that you enter (or dont enter) Opens, this poll will run for 7 days, can EVERYONE please vote, there is an option "I dont enter opens", lets see a good spread of voting from some of you silent majority.

I was going to vote for 'Other' and qualify it by saying 'to fly the flag for my local League' but instead have voted for 'fame and glory' as being near enough to match this very pertinent sentiment:

Sept 21, 2012 12:05:59 GMT Q said:

Surely the main reason for entering (for the majority) is the hope that they COULD cause an upset and make the quarters, just to have that recognised in a place like this or one of the many websites would be reward enough.

[colinm]

It is an opportunity to play different tables, better players and improve my game.

[milko]

I can’t put the fourth one because I’ve got that already 8-), so I would have to say to stop the greatest player ever in KT winning more titles but I usually fail miserably! ;)

On a more serious note I play Opens because of the BUZZ you get from winning an Open or playing to the crowd. (Entertaining) :P

I am also still learning all the shots that can be played on a Bar Billiard table, so that's why I like to watch others play to see how they perform different shots with side, etc, etc, etc.

Sorry if this sounds rather big headed! ::)

Keith :-*

[Q]

Sept 21, 2012 12:52:01 GMT milko said:

I can’t put the fourth one because I’ve got that already 8-), so I would have to say to stop the greatest player ever in KT winning more titles but I usually fail miserably! ;)

On a more serious note I play Opens because of the BUZ you get from winning an Open or playing to the crowd. (Entertaining) :P

I am also still learning all the shots that can be played on a Bar Billiard table, so that's why I like to watch others play to see how they perform different shots with side, etc, etc, etc.

Sorry if this sounds rather big headed! ::)

Keith :-*

Sounds anything BUT big headed to me

[BigPhilMac]

I play in the odd open when i can for a few reasons, to have a good laugh with new people, to try and take as many scalps as i can, i have a limited amount thus far with some near misses :p id love to make a name for myself too but most of all, its for more experience and to learn the game more, just like many of us, some of which are still doing so despite being champions, which is a testament to the humble nature of the game i love :)

Begging your pardon for going all soft :p

[bigtj]

I have stated before I enter to see the best play and learn shots, but always looking to cause the odd upset or two along with the buzz that goes with that. In any sport or pastime we need to watch the best and strive to improve to the best of our abilities.

[milko]

Sept 21, 2012 18:09:32 GMT bigtj said:

I have stated before I enter to see the best play and learn shots, but always looking to cause the odd upset or two along with the buzz that goes with that. In any sport or pastime we need to watch the best and strive to improve to the best of our abilities.

Ah!! that's how you spell it, I didn't think my "BUZ" looked right! :-[

[bigtj]

Sept 22, 2012 12:08:50 GMT milko said:

Sept 21, 2012 18:09:32 GMT bigtj said:

I have stated before I enter to see the best play and learn shots, but always looking to cause the odd upset or two along with the buzz that goes with that. In any sport or pastime we need to watch the best and strive to improve to the best of our abilities.

Ah!! that's how you spell it, I didn't think my "BUZ" looked right! :-[

I`m led to believe that your buz is alright Keith!!!!!!!!!!

[milhouse]

I have to vote for other here.  As i was saying to a couple of people today, this is what playing is all about! To be playing in games that really matter, are exciting, when all is won or lost with a shot and the excitement that brings.  Top sports stars must feel like this week in, week out, we only get to feel like this once or twice a year!

[BB Warrior]

When I first started to play in the Opens the main reason that I decided to enter was to be able to watch the best players, play against them and, hopefully, improve my game as a result of that.  Four and a half years later I am still watching, learning.... and sometimes even beating them! :o ;D

So, I suppose that I could have chosen "chance of fame and glory" as my reason for playing in them now.... but I also enjoy the "social" side of the game and meeting the players that go to the Opens that I don't see in the local Leagues that I play in so that would have been as much of a correct answer for me as well.  It certainly isn't for the money that you can win and although the trophies are nice to keep as a reminder of a good day it wouldn't make me stop entering the competitions if there were no trophies. ;D

I do agree very much with Milhouse who mentioned this to me yesterday at the County Championships...

Sept 24, 2012 0:04:05 GMT milhouse said:

I have to vote for other here.  As i was saying to a couple of people today, this is what playing is all about! To be playing in games that really matter, are exciting, when all is won or lost with a shot and the excitement that brings.  Top sports stars must feel like this week in, week out, we only get to feel like this once or twice a year!

... the atmosphere at Reading was fantastic yesterday with all of the teams supporting their players and the tremendous respect between the teams was everything that is good about Bar Billiards. 8-)

But, for me, the simple answer as to why I enter the Open Competitions would just have to be... "I love playing this game". ;D ;D ;D

I would imagine that votes for 'Others' will feature heavily, with no-one going for 'Money' 'Trophies' or 'Ranking Points' - who is going to admit to that ?

A good answer was Colin's:

Sept 21, 2012 12:41:20 GMT colinm said:

It is an opportunity to play different tables, better players and improve my game.

If you inserted that as one of the choices, Q, I reckon it would come close to winning the vote. :-/

[Q]

The votes are anonymous, even I dont know who has voted for what, so if anyone votes money or trophies its up to them I just want honest answers.

[Coleman Jnr]

To be able to play better, and learn from more experienced players

[bobhall]

il be honest i voted for trophie and if you want to know why it is because i would like to be recognised for my achievement yes there are players here now that win alot of trophies probably too many to count but im not one of those players i hope i am one day. i love this game and will never stop playing people may take what i say the wrong way but when your passionate about something the way you say something maybe different to how people take it if so im sorry if i offend any one.

many thanks

bobhall

Finally a decent topic to get involved with ;D

I am honest, so here it is lol

I enter some opens due to transport costs and wether or not im well enough at the time.
For me entering opens was about watching the great players and understanding how their minds worked to pull off 20k breaks when needed, plus the lovely competition tables are a dream to play mostly!

Now I enter more for my own personal glory, if I knock a big gun out they will have to come back stronger and get me back ;D ;D
I enter to win trophies, which will start to happen one day (i hope). Im not ashamed and I couldn't care less if your offended. More important things to worry about IMO.

Its also the challenge, its nice to feel I can do something in my life with confidence and talent. Gives me a purpose on a sunday morning 8-)

There you go, thats why I enter some opens :)

[David.G]

I have voted for the social aspect for the following reasons :)

Trophies-I doubt I'll ever win an Open Competition :'( But I'll keep trying :D

Don't enter opens-I enter when I can but lots of commitments does limit my time :P ;)

Chance of fame & glory-Oh come on ??? AEBBA Secretary :-X Been there done that bought the T-shirt ;D

Prize Money-Yeah Yeah Yeah ::) 10 kids & 34 years of marriage :-* Bloodhounds they are ;D ;D ;D

I look forward to every event I attend. I love the game and always enjoy the social side. There are so many nice people out there. It is always a pleasure to meet and chat about bar billiards and life in general.

And besides I gain the attention of all the nice ladies :-* :-*

You just can't beat it 8-)

Well put dave ;D

I forgot about the prize money.
Personally I think prize money should be scrapped altogether, its an amateur game with little to no funding.
At most get your entry fee back for winning, trophies have a purpose and mean something.
If you need the money spend your Sunday doing a Sunday job, I think its ridiculous personally lol

Rant over ;D 8-)

I know I've already voted, but some really entertaining views are being put forward, and like the last few offerings I too really have multiple reasons for entering Opens.

In fact, if I really analyse it, I can find a different reason for having entered each separate county's Open.....

Jersey - I was in on this almost from the start (1981) and took part in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 16th-20th inclusive and then the 26th onwards. The reason ? It was new and exciting and for a nice holiday break in a warm clime late in the year.

Sussex - Here too I entered the first few, before losing my confidence completely through perpetually failing to get beyond the first round.

At this stage I did not consider myself to be a worthy competitor at county level, the players I had watched and admired somehow seemed 'super-human' and I'd pop along to national events purely to support local star performers John Slee and Tony Franks, both of whom played for England at the time.

Northants - I was persuaded along to give three of these a go in the late 1990's - purely for the social aspect. To the last of these we were accompanied by a very young Gareth Lloyd who changed his cue action for the event - and reached the last eight!

Havingbeen destroyed in the 2000 Sussex Open by Les Green (29,000 - 2700) it was not until 2006 that I really felt 'worthy' of giving any of the other Opens a go. This was helped by being asked to 'guest' for the Surrey representatives in the National Team event the previous year - and winning all my games on the day including taking a couple of notable scalps ! So, armed with some new-found confidence, I joined the circuit which made a great diversion from all the worries from work that I was going through at the time..... And as said, the reasons for each are diverse:

Kent - fancied a nice drive through the Kent countryside. Also, was fascinated by Forum talk, and Farrelly's quarterly BBQ mag which I had started to buy, and the (unofficial at the time) national ranking list ! Kent remains my favourite, and I have reached the last sixteen a few times.

Bucks - entered as 'the nearest thing to a Northants'. Repeat visits have been due to the beautiful setting of a golf course set amongst the Chilterns.

Hants - first entered a year later as I wanted to increase involvement and this was the nearest.

Guernsey - having met the Guernsey guys at Jersey, had to give this a go and it was always a shame to dock at St Peter Port on the way without disembarking. Five great holidays so far, and that's the main reason to enter.

Surrey - an exciting new enterprise that I was honoured by having a hand in organising the first couple.

Oxon - conscience made me have a go.... Ray Sturgess had asked me the previous year why no Surrey players had been interested in taking part. Always seemed too far, but then I worked out that Didcot was about equidistant to Wycombe.

Berks - all the time I played for Surrey in the Counties, another fraught trip to Reading did not seem that attractive. However this year I began to miss the old place so entered the Open for the first time. And it was a good'un, starting with a great breakfast in the 'greasy spoon', had some good games - all close - and able to have a few Stellas as I wasn't driving.

I have only a couple more Opens left in me, unfortunately, but looking back the underlying reason for participating on the circuit was mainly the social occasion: Making the acquaintance of the country's top players, and discovering how down to earth they all are - genuine nice people, always willing to offer a word of encouragement or advice if needed.    

Social aspect for me. To meet different players from different counties and see how they are doing in their leagues :)

[gandalf the untidy]

Hi Open Comp Fans

Have to say being a big fish in a small pond is boring as hell, just started to venture out into the wide wide world of BB opens (other than Sussex) find it a bit daunting being a small fish in a big Pond but massively more fun competing with the "best of the best".

Great to go with a group of pals though.

Bit difficult when generally working 6 days a week, dont have a lot of focus left for when its really needed.

regs cs

Sept 27, 2012 13:23:22 GMT gandalf the untidy said:

being a small fish in a big Pond but massively more fun competing with the "best of the best".
regs cs

I would have thought that, being a Dab hand, you were unlikely to Flounder - so stop Carping on! ;D ;D ;D

[gandalf the untidy]

Sept 27, 2012 13:52:42 GMT tommo III said:

Sept 27, 2012 13:23:22 GMT gandalf the untidy said:

being a small fish in a big Pond but massively more fun competing with the "best of the best".
regs cs

I would have thought that, being a Dab hand, you were unlikely to Flounder - so stop Carping on! ;D ;D ;D

Hi Tommo,
Looks like you've got to the Sole of the matter sitting on my Perch taking in the Rays, but then i Smelt the old Trout in the shop moaning at little Jack wearing a leatherjacket, the Midshipman Plaiced on the Schooner SailBearer.

[BigPhilMac]

Sept 24, 2012 21:10:14 GMT David.G said:

I have voted for the social aspect for the following reasons :)

Trophies-I doubt I'll ever win an Open Competition :'( But I'll keep trying :D

Don't enter opens-I enter when I can but lots of commitments does limit my time :P ;)

Chance of fame & glory-Oh come on ??? AEBBA Secretary :-X Been there done that bought the T-shirt ;D

Prize Money-Yeah Yeah Yeah ::) 10 kids & 34 years of marriage :-* Bloodhounds they are ;D ;D ;D

I look forward to every event I attend. I love the game and always enjoy the social side. There are so many nice people out there. It is always a pleasure to meet and chat about bar billiards and life in general.

And besides I gain the attention of all the nice ladies :-* :-*

You just can't beat it 8-)

wise words dave, profoundly wise words ;) :p ;D

[BigPhilMac]

Sept 24, 2012 21:30:13 GMT @sithlord said:

Well put dave ;D

I forgot about the prize money.
Personally I think prize money should be scrapped altogether, its an amateur game with little to no funding.
At most get your entry fee back for winning, trophies have a purpose and mean something.
If you need the money spend your Sunday doing a Sunday job, I think its ridiculous personally lol

Rant over ;D 8-)

johnny are you seriously saying you wouldnt have the 100 quid cheque if it was dangled before you should you win the main or plate of an.open? :p ;)

Of course I would take the cheque Phil ;D
It is not my point however 8-)

[mikedaw1985]

I voted other.

My original reason for playing in opens was to test myself against the best. I had been playing in the Hastings league for many years and no one had spoken about county opens or competed in them from my league for many years. So I thought why not find out when one close to me is and have a go. I really enjoyed it but didn't go back for a few years.

Now I go to try and improve my game and be the best I can be.

[enzo]

The social part is a big chunk, all the top players from all counties meeting regularly, with a chance to play, watch and banter with them.

Opens are a test of my improvements, playing on nicer tables, against tough competition who are on their A game as it's an open whilst picking up different shots and how to deal with the pressure of being in front being hunted or behind and needing to keep the break going to win.

I'm not yet good enough to win opens so the trophies are secondary, but then again I am surrounded by the damn things daily! My reward is getting through 1 more round than last time, taking a leg or 2, getting a high break etc.

Same for the money, it's only pocket money and not exactly life changing but don't agree it should be abolished, I like the idea of a reward for a good day's playing.