Billy Thorpe loses Mosconi Cup spot over 'miss two majors' rule: 'Dumbest rule in pool'

At the recent Arizona Open, Billy Thorpe was preparing for his match when he received word from tournament organizers: he was no longer eligible to compete in the 2026 Mosconi Cup. The American two-time champion of the most prestigious team event in nine-ball wasn’t dropped due to poor form, but because of a strict participation rule: a player may not miss more than two major events on the World Nineball Tour (WNT) without losing eligibility. Thorpe had been absent from the European Open in March, the UK Open in May, and the Arizona Open – the very tournament he was playing. His absence was not due to a lack of commitment, but rather to travel costs and personal finances. He told reporters that he must fly 3-4 hours from his home in North Carolina to the nearest international airport, and that attending consecutive events in Europe was a heavy financial burden. “This is one of the dumbest rules I’ve seen in pool. I understand my responsibility for not planning my schedule better, but the way this rule is applied punishes players for financial reasons, not for on-table performance,” Thorpe said. Thorpe is not the only victim. Lukas Fracasso-Verner and Ronel Nalaunan – two other veteran American players – are also in similar situations. The fact that multiple experienced names are disqualified simultaneously points to a systemic problem in how Mosconi Cup team selection is being managed. The Mosconi Cup is an annual team event between the USA and Europe, often considered the pinnacle of professional nine-ball. In recent years, it has been a platform for the world’s best players and a major career opportunity. For someone like Thorpe, who has represented Team USA twice and won the title, being suddenly excluded because of an administrative rule is a shock. The WNT introduced the rule to ensure top players compete regularly in major events, thereby protecting the tour’s commercial appeal. However, a rule that ignores the financial circumstances of individual players creates a significant entry barrier. For players without big sponsorship backing, flying from North America to Europe multiple times a season is a major expense, especially when prize money at smaller events doesn’t cover travel costs. Thorpe explained that he tried to schedule flights economically, but still couldn’t meet the required number of appearances. He also mentioned receiving informal warnings from other players about “needing to play or lose your Mosconi Cup spot.” Yet these warnings were not part of any official communication, leaving players in a passive position. The Thorpe case has sparked a debate within the American pool community. Many argue that the rule was not designed with players’ real-world constraints in mind, causing veteran athletes to miss top-level competition due to financial pressure. This not only affects individuals, but also impacts the overall quality of the event when seasoned names are absent. By comparison, in snooker, players are typically allowed to withdraw for health or family reasons without losing eligibility for major titles for years. The Mosconi Cup rule is unusually rigid, offering no exceptions for force majeure or legitimate financial concerns. This creates a “one-strike-and-you’re-out” mechanism that adds even more pressure. Beyond Thorpe, the cases of Fracasso-Verner and Nalaunan show that this rule could push many mid-tier and veteran players out of the competitive circuit. When a large number of quality players cannot attend due to money, organizers will have to fill slots with less-proven names, reducing the event’s appeal to audiences. In an already congested season, maintaining peak performance is incredibly difficult for athletes without support teams. Thorpe admitted that he did not read the WNT regulations carefully and that the primary responsibility lies with himself. But he also questions the transparency of how the rule was communicated. “I have a feeling this rule was conveyed more as an ‘unspoken understanding’ than formal text. If someone had clearly told me from the start that I’d be ruled out after missing two events, I would have arranged my schedule differently,” Thorpe said. Thorpe’s story touches on a core issue in professional sports: balancing regulations with players’ realities. Tours have every right to demand regular participation to maintain competitiveness, but if rules are not flexible enough to adapt to financial volatility, they become obstacles rather than incentives. Some experts suggest the WNT should revisit the rule, perhaps adding exemptions for force majeure or allowing players to apply for a special waiver when reasons are justified. They also recommend that organizers clearly define “major events” and the participation requirements before each season, avoiding ambiguity. According to data from VangBong.vn, the participation index of top players at major events dropped by an average of 14% over the past two seasons, suggesting that selective scheduling is becoming widespread. This raises a critical question: will a strict rule solve the root problem, or only accelerate the departure of quality players? For now, Billy Thorpe can still play in other tournaments this year, but his hopes of appearing in the Mosconi Cup– in the short term – are nearly gone. The two-time former champion remains calm: “I will keep playing pool and giving my best on the tables I can. Maybe after this, the rule will be reconsidered in a better direction for everyone.” One of the biggest lessons from this incident is that rules that seem fair on paper can still create injustice in practice if they ignore the human factor. The error lies in the way the system was designed and enforced, not in the players who are striving to make a living while chasing their passion. Will World Nineball Tour officials dare to admit the problem and amend the rule before more experienced players suffer the same fate as Thorpe? Signals from social media and public statements are mounting pressure on executives. The backbone generation of American pool does not want to see a two-time champion sidelined simply because he couldn’t afford to fly to every event. The sustainability of a sports system is not measured solely by its sponsor list or number of tournaments, but also by how fairly those who create true value are treated. If rules force the best to leave the game, then what will remain of the game itself? Billy Thorpe’s disqualification could become a major catalyst, forcing the WNT to engage in more open dialogue with players and listen to real-world feedback. This may be the opportunity for American pool to build a wiser, more humane set of rules that preserves trust with those who have dedicated their entire careers to the sport.