Darren Appleton, the 2012 world champion and two-time US Open winner, has hit out at pool’s top-heavy prize breakdowns and accused promoters of battling over the headline champion’s cheque.
Predator notably increased their World 8-Ball Championship winner’s prize to $75,000 last year but decreased the payout for other finishes, with the champion now receiving three-tenths of the prize fund.
Appleton believes it’s a common predicament across the board nonetheless and called for promoters to disburse more players instead of solely the top end of the spectrum, unwrapping his concerns via Facebook.
“It seems that everyone is trying to get that first prize higher than the rivals like Matchroom in competition with Predator and WPA events,” Appleton said. “You all seem obsessed in giving all the money to the winner and only the top four or eight players making money.
“Basically the prize funds are way too top-heavy, especially the winners purse as there’s no need for it to be so big. The winner should never get more than 25 percent of the whole purse and the breakdown needs to go deeper.
“There’s too many events now where unless you reach the top 16, you’re always out of pocket and even some events only paying 25 percent of the field and that’s just wrong.
“If there’s millions involved like golf and tennis and you win one match or make the cut and you’re on 30k, great, do whatever you want with the winners purse, but we are nowhere near those types of sports yet.
“Snooker and darts – maybe I’m wrong with darts – but snooker players are guaranteed 20k a year and if they win one match every tournament they’re on 2-3k again. That’s great so do what you want with first prize if nearly everyone is getting paid good.
“It’s little like these heyball events. Nobody can really complain because most events players are getting expenses paid and if they’re straight to stage two, they are guaranteed some prize money. But still the money is so top-heavy and all because they want to beat the rivals to the top prize. Paying 40 or 50 percent of the total purse to the winner is not right.
“And some events like this one here at the World 8-Ball where only the top 16 are getting paid, it’s not right and there’s so many events now where you win two or three matches and you’re not getting paid a penny and it’s wrong.
“Last year in around eight tournaments I played in, I made it to the final 50 percent of the field six times and only two of them I cashed in and that’s not right. At least 33 to 50 percent of the field should get paid depending on the numbers.”
Britain’s Appleton also discussed the price of admission for players. He called for an increased entry fee for Matchroom events to cater for additional prize money, while he doubled down on Predator not paying enough players.
“There’s no consistency in entry fees,” Appleton added. “Some events are $250 to $750. Matchroom or WNT events with $250 entry for opens, the prize money is not good enough for how much it costs in expenses, and the $750-entry events like Predator events are a little too high and not paying enough of the field.
“$500 entry for most events is a good number, with everyone I’ve spoke to anyway. That would make a good difference to the prize money breakdown, especially the WNT open events, like the European, UK Open, Hanoi Open. I know one day the promoters want to do away with entry fees but I think we still years away from that at the moment.”
In addition, Appleton expressed his annoyance at the winner breaks format used on both the World Nineball Tour and in Predator Pro Billiard Series events. Numerous matches are one-sided contests due to one player dominating the break.
“[Winner breaks] in any tournament is just wrong at this level,” Appleton candidly said. “Imagine keeping serve all the time at tennis. Even more so winner breaks in eight-ball is bonkers especially on four-and-a-quarter inch pockets.
“It’s all about the break and that’s wrong when paying thousands to be in these events. Every event should be alternate break and we all should get the same rack. Plus, you will see more closer matches and more drama instead of so many one-sided matches.”
