The WPBA used to hold Qualifiers for their stops: If you won an event on a Regional Ladies Tour (there were about 10 Regional Ladies Tours across the U.S. in 2009), that could sometimes include a PAID spot for certain WPBA events! This was a great way for numerous players to get a chance to play on a pro event. Furthermore, the year-end point’s winner of each regional tour from the previous year were guaranteed a spot into the WPBA Tour for the following year.
The Qualifier system has changed - starting this year. Now, the only way to get a spot in the WPBA is to place high enough at the RTC - and only the top 9 at the RTC will get a spot. (the only exception is: State Championships can be qualifiers for a spot at the WPBA US Open) Even the year-end point’s winner of each Regional Tour will no longer get a spot into the WPBA Tour. The only way to get a spot now is to place high enough at the RTC.The invitation to the RTC is for the top-most eligible players on the Regional Ladies Tours across the country. "Exempt players" on the WPBA Tour are not eligible for the RTC (top 48). However, the RTC not only includes top players from the Regional Tours across the US, but the End of Year '09 WPBA Ranked players from places 49-64th receive automatic invitations to the RTC.
The top 9 (NINE) finishers from the RTC event will receive a full year's unpaid spot into all WPBA Classic Tour Events for 2010 (excludes Tour Championships and the US Open). The winner of RTC will receive a full year's paid spot into all WPBA Classic Tour Events (same stipulations).
What this means is, now, if you are the other 8 players at the RTC, you get a spot, but it's not paid for. Whereas before, if you won or placed high on a Regional Tour, you could get a paid spot for a WPBA event. Hmm... interesting.
The tournament is being held at Hard Times Billiards near Los Angeles February 19th - 21st, 2010. Round Robin Format, 64 player field. Hard Times is a huge billiard establishment - non-
So, with the new changes come new concerns from the players who want to turn pro and/or get a chance to play on the pro tour. One event to determine if you get spots on the WPBA? Hope everyone who wants to play on the pro tour can go that weekend! I wonder if anyone will have to skip a relatives wedding? Hope everyone stays healthy (can you imagine getting food poisoning and this was the only chance at the pro tour in 2010?). I am sure it will all work out for everyone. And wow - Round Robin - that will be brutal and exciting all at once.
Now, let's see why these changes were done. From the WPBA:
Potential new Regional Tours would hinder the previous Qualifier system. Imagine having to divide 45 spots between 15 tours - that would mean each tour would only get 3 qualifiers for the year. Or, as what was experienced in 2009, the number of available qualifiers had been severely diminished because there are more Exempt Pros guaranteed entry into each Classic Tour event, plus there are simply less events due to the economy.
Because the WPBA is committed to the growth of its organization, they implemented these changes. This new business model solves several problems:
* Allows for an unlimited number of Regional Tours (RT) across the US
* Allows for the creation of International Regional Tours
* RTs will no longer have to fight for a limited amount of qualifier spots
* RTs will be able to book more events/venues because the $500 qualifier spot will no longer be an issue. If an RT operator can find rooms that will add $200, but not $500 or $1000…they will be able to include that room in their tour now.
* The new systems allows for the “cream of the crop” to rise. The top RT players will be competing against each other for the 8 spots, which gives the best players the fairest chance at earning their Exempt status.
I wish all my friends a wonderful time, hope they play well, and I'll be following you all on the live stream that February weekend!
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