Canadian Billiards & Snooker Association

[LuckyPhil]

World Billiards Ltd is delighted to announce a brand new Major event on the billiards calendar; The Americas’ Cup will take place in Winnipeg, Canada, between 24th & 29th August 2013.

For more details see here.

[noel]

Are you up for a few frames Noel??

Do polar bears make snow?



=o|

Noel

[checkSide]

Are you up for a few frames Noel??

[noel]

I also would love to go to Canada one day. To hold a ranking event there is a great idea.

I hope it does make a comeback in Canada and think they should hold a ranking event over there that would encourage the growth of our sport and involve some of the former and up and coming pro's/players back into the fold.
I liked Cliff Thourburn, who was a real nice guy and could play some shots that looked impossible. He actually did the best clearance I have ever seen, but there where many others too and I personally would love to come go out there and watch/play some snooker with you guys, take in some sights and share the odd bottle of single malt.

:snooker:

Bring it on!!!


=o)

Noel

[checkSide]

I also would love to go to Canada one day. To hold a ranking event there is a great idea.

[1lawyer]

I hope it does make a comeback in Canada and think they should hold a ranking event over there that would encourage the growth of our sport and involve some of the former and up and coming pro's/players back into the fold.
I liked Cliff Thourburn, who was a real nice guy and could play some shots that looked impossible. He actually did the best clearance I have ever seen, but there where many others too and I personally would love to come go out there and watch/play some snooker with you guys, take in some sights and share the odd bottle of single malt.

:snooker:

[noel]

I talked with my mentor, and local billiard hall owner, for a few years about hosting snooker tournaments. The short answer was consistently no. The problem is that it is uneconomical to be operating snooker tables at the venue from the perspective of running a business -- about two pool tables can fit in the space of one snooker table. He has been running the venue for 25 years and the business was snooker-only back then. This is why there are only two snooker tables at this venue today and they charge a 40% higher hourly rate. There aren't enough tables for a tournament, anyway.

Really, the root cause of why snooker events are so few and far between is that it isn't popular as it used to be. The youth in the '80s and '90s didn't have the temperament for the gentlman's game, so pub-style pool had become increasingly popular. Businesses respond to the diminished demand by taking out snooker tables, which, in turn, reduces exposure, thereby reducing interest again. It's a cycle. On the flipside, snooker is at the dawn of a huge comeback now in Canada. The high penetration of Far Eastern and South Asian communities has attracted a lot of ethnic youth interest -- primarly from countries of the former British Commonwealth. Four years ago, I never had to wait in line for the snooker table. Today, I always find myself drinking at the tap to wait for an open table. It will take time, but snooker is coming back, undoubtedly influenced by the attractive, sensationalist flamboyance of players like O'Sullivan, Allen, and Robertson.

Correctamundo mate! Absolutely vodka!
Just add Ding. Wenbo. Fu.
A powerful concoction sure to knock the cobwebs off the snooker balls!

Cheers!

=o)

Noel

[Lux]

I talked with my mentor, and local billiard hall owner, for a few years about hosting snooker tournaments. The short answer was consistently no. The problem is that it is uneconomical to be operating snooker tables at the venue from the perspective of running a business -- about two pool tables can fit in the space of one snooker table. He has been running the venue for 25 years and the business was snooker-only back then. This is why there are only two snooker tables at this venue today and they charge a 40% higher hourly rate. There aren't enough tables for a tournament, anyway.

Really, the root cause of why snooker events are so few and far between is that it isn't popular as it used to be. The youth in the '80s and '90s didn't have the temperament for the gentlman's game, so pub-style pool had become increasingly popular. Businesses respond to the diminished demand by taking out snooker tables, which, in turn, reduces exposure, thereby reducing interest again. It's a cycle. On the flipside, snooker is at the dawn of a huge comeback now in Canada. The high penetration of Far Eastern and South Asian communities has attracted a lot of ethnic youth interest -- primarly from countries of the former British Commonwealth. Four years ago, I never had to wait in line for the snooker table. Today, I always find myself drinking at the tap to wait for an open table. It will take time, but snooker is coming back, undoubtedly influenced by the attractive, sensationalist flamboyance of players like O'Sullivan, Allen, and Robertson.

[wayync]

Well the way I see it is it's all about the passion for the sport...

There will be many different people you have to deal with when organizing anything at all and the main thing is to keep focused.

Can't satisfy everyones needs so when a problem comes up you deal with it.

[Terry Davidson]

Just a little advance warning though...it's a thankless job, as I just found out. As I play in them and organized them I was accused of rigging the draw and a few of the players will be really hard to manage.

We had to write up a whole bunch of rules to cover things like being late for a match, walking out on a match, using unsportmanlike conduct, dress and a few other things like if you enter you better show up or else you will pay double the next time.

A lot of players seem to think the world revolves around them and you should tailor your organizing to suit them. These are usually the better players but the real thing is the tournaments are organized to encourage the weaker players to compete and improve so it should be organized with the majority in mind.

An example...'why do we have to start at 11am? I like to sleep in on Saturday and Sunday. Can I have a late draw so I can sleep in?' My answer was, 'gee, I would hate to ruin your sleeping in, so why don't you just do that instead of entering as it's always a random draw?'

Terry

[wayync]

Yea, that idea is awesome

I was always thinking of organizing tournaments at the local snooker rooms...

[Terry Davidson]

Where have you been wayync? There has been an annual Canadian Championship held forever, however a lot of provinces just don't have the players nor is there someone to organize it for them.

Nova Scotia has the Maritime Open and the Provincial Championships, usually organized by Ray Saunders. New Brunswick also has provincial championships and Quebec has too.

Ontario has 12 ranking tournaments per season plus one for the 'A'-players only to qualify for the Canadians.

Forget Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia but Brad Grierson has been organizing qualifiers in Alberta for a couple of seasons now, usually held in Red Deer.

Instead of complaining about a lack of tournaments why don't some of the players go out and organize tournaments? All you need is a facility and some energy although of course some sponsorship would help.

Gotta ask the question...why can Ontario hold 13 tournaments per year (along with a bunch of invitational ones) and except for Quebec and Nova Scotia why can't other provinces do something similar.

The reason is not one person is willing to step up and volunteer his time to do the organizing and that's why snooker is going downhill in Canada.

Terry

[wayync]

Yea, that sucks

It would be nice to have provincial and national tournaments in canada

[jb134]

People like you do things because they love the sport. Others seem to do it for free trips and spots in the Canadians etc. Based on what I have seen if these guys, "snooker director, player rep", try to squeeze too much fees out of the members, there will be no league. You of all people know that the members have no interest in doing anything but taking advantage of playing time, and they may be too cheap to pay the extra fees.

Not to paint with a large brush, but I always found it interesting how Snooker is considered a gentlemanly sport, but a lot of the members in the OBSA sure have not demonstrated that type of behaviour or been generous in doing anything for the league.

If associations take to much for admin and expenses, the association cannot survive.

[Terry Davidson]

lux:

The only requirement is that you are an Ontario resident as these tournaments are to qualify Ontario players for the Canadian Championships, which will be held in Ontario in June 2010.

The next tournament is Jan 8/9 at the Annex Snooker Club at 507 Bloor St W (Green P parking is one block west)

Dress regulations are relaxed, golf shirt (or shirt with collar), dress pants and dress shoes (that take polish) or if you prefer to wear a vest (waistcoat) then you have to wear a long-sleeved dress shirt.

The schedule of tournaments and regulations are posted under the 'OBSA' link at www.snookerline.com

Terry