P.I.O.S Events - Referees?

[snooker66]

Are there no referees for these PIOS matches? Seen a few videos on Google and there does not appear to be especially in the early rounds. Given the amount it costs to enter the events I was surprised.

Can it also be problematic when applying the miss rule?
I have never been to a PIOS event in person playing or watching so I'd love to know the answers from somebody who knows?

Thanks,

Jon.

[Matt_2745]

Can't answer for the PIOS but I found it interesting to see at the English Open/Pro Challenge when they had no referees and had to score for each other. The miss rule generally seemed to be handled ok actually, the main issue seemed to be regarding scoring as I saw a few instances where they players were unsure and ended up having a discussion about it.

Was also an incident between Ricky Walden and Ben Woollaston where they could not decide whether or not it was a free ball and had to call Eirian Williams over for another opinion.

[DawRef]

I have refereed at tournamnets where there have been more matches than available refs. In cases like that, you find that the referees will 'rove' around the tables, offering asistance as and when necessary. Oh. And setting up the balls.
Also, I thought it was tournament rules that players SHOULD NOT DRINK ALCHOHOL when playing. Referees are certainly not allowed to.

[Matt_2745]

Yes i played in english open i lost in last 32 and didnt have a referee all the way thru a joke really especially when refs got paid,all they did was set balls up now and again or moan when i was avin a pint of john smiths

Yeah I didn't get that, there seemed to be quite a few hanging around, wondered why they didn't at least have one on the main table for all of the matches there. Think Robert Milkins had one but that was about it.

[Souwester]

If a player refused a request to stop drinking alcohol during an EASB tournament then he would be disqualified. It's clearly in the T&Cs that no alcohol is permitted whilst playing:
24) Alcohol will not be permitted at the tables for players at any
EASB events. Mobile phones will be banned from the playing
arena.

[Souwester]

Yeah I didn't get that, there seemed to be quite a few hanging around, wondered why they didn't at least have one on the main table for all of the matches there. Think Robert Milkins had one but that was about it.

The last 16 through to the final had referees: I reffed a last 16 match and a semi-final.

There were three referees on duty at any time during the previous three days, who were on 'roving' duties, although the idea of having the match table refereed is perhaps something to consider. Certainly the Premier Junior Tour and the Regional Junior Tour now have one table individually refereed.

Apart from the sheer difficulty of getting 16 referees to attend for each session, especially seeing as they are weekdays when (despite their appearance!) many referees still work, the cost is prohibitive, and would almost have halved the prize fund. Unfortunately there is just not the money in the game to be able to afford to provide referees for all rounds of all tournaments: there has to be a trade-off with entry fees and prize funds.

Now if the number of entrants doubled, to the sorts of numbers achieved some years ago, then it makes it a lot easier to cover the expenses, but for the last three years we've had no more than 100 entries at the PHEO.

[Matt_2745]

Ah fair enough, I wasn't there for the final weekend.

Yeah I can totally understand them not being able to get 16 referees for the week, particularly for a pro-am. To be honest it did seem to work pretty smoothly anyway, though there is the potential for a disagreement I guess.

The PIOS is perhaps another issue due to what is at stake but with the sheer amount of matches going on, particularly in the first couple of rounds, I'm not sure how they could do it really.

[JanieWatkins]

The issue with the PIOS and WSA Pro Challenge is exactly the same at the EASB events.

The cost of officials would come directly out of the prize funds.

At the PIOS there are 4 referees, roving, maintaining tables, sorting out any rules queries for Rounds 1-3. The last 16 onwards is refereed.

If it's thought likely that there might be an issue on a particular match or with a specific player, a referee will discretely monitor part or all of a match.

[DawRef]

Unfortunately there is just not the money in the game to be able to afford to provide referees for all rounds of all tournaments

World Snooker manages to get sponsorship so that their finalists get high cash prizes, as well as cash prizes for the highest break, a maximum, etc. Also, they manage to get referees to injudicate not only at the finals but also in the pre-televised rounds.
Can't sponsorship be gained for PIOS and other amateur, pro-am tournanents?

[dcrackers147]

Its clear from this conversation that Fisher is a moron, your not ronnie o sullivan so lose the attitude

[dcrackers147]

if your pure genius on the baize with one eye why dont you push for snooker to become a paralympic sport. is that why you drink whilst you play in hope of double vision.

[gloveman]

I'm loving this- never laughed so much

[bongo]

m8 im better than ronnie and who you calling a moran il snap u in 2 if we ever meet and show you that im a pure genius on the baize the problem is ive only got 1 eye

What a ridiculous post.

[bongo]

what do you mean rediculous them bifoculs youve got on are even more rediculous bongo face

And which bifocals are those may I ask?

[snooker66]

This thread went downhill I see. I posted just to find out about referees at P.I.O.S events - lol