Billy Thorpe loses Mosconi Cup spot after missing three majors: Rules and financial burden in American pool

Billy Thorpe was preparing for his match at the US Open when officials told him he was no longer eligible to compete for a place on the United States team for the Mosconi Cup. It was not because he lost on the table, not because of a disciplinary issue. It was because of a rule that says a player cannot miss more than two majors during the selection window. Thorpe missed three: the European Open in March, the UK Open in May and the Arizona Open. The news created shock among American 9-ball fans, especially because Thorpe had been part of the U.S. team that won the Mosconi Cup twice. The Mosconi Cup is not an ordinary event. It is the most prestigious team competition in American 9-ball, matching the United States against Europe. Players are chosen not only by ranking but also by their ability to perform under pressure. For a two-time champion to be removed because of attendance rules raises serious questions about governance. The rule was designed to keep star players from skipping smaller events, but when applied to players who face real financial limits, it backfires. Many American pool players survive on tournament winnings, lessons and exhibitions. They do not have long-term sponsorship contracts like golfers or tennis players. Every major trip costs money: flights, hotels, practice time and transport. For someone who lives three or four hours from the nearest airport, traveling to a major tournament becomes a heavy burden. Thorpe did not deny the importance of the Mosconi Cup. He said he understood why organizers want commitment. But he described the rule as “one of the dumbest rules I’ve seen in pool.” That statement is more than frustration. It reflects a wider feeling of unfairness. Other players, including Lukas Fracasso-Verner and Ronel Nalaunan, have also been affected. They may not have Thorpe’s reputation, but that only proves the problem is structural. When a rule ignores financial circumstances, it punishes mid-tier players first. The Mosconi Cup team could lose experienced players and replace them with players who can afford to travel more, not necessarily players who perform better. The situation became worse because the warning system did not really work. Thorpe said he only heard informal comments through the grapevine about needing to play more events. There was no clear official notice at the start of the cycle. If a rule can remove a Mosconi Cup champion from selection, it must be published clearly. Relying on hidden warnings creates suspicion and weakens trust. Organizers may argue that attendance rules are necessary. Sponsors want to see big names, not long absent lists. But the right solution is not to force players into a financial trap. It is to define the rule clearly, support travel where possible, and consider individual cases. The broader impact matters more than one player’s absence. When players believe their eligibility can be taken away by administrative decisions, they will recalculate their schedules. Some will chase enough majors to stay safe. Others, especially those without strong backing, will simply walk away. Over time, the quality of the field declines, fans lose interest, and the commercial value of the tour drops. In the short term, this rule may increase participation. In the medium term, it may remove experienced talents from the very events the rule is meant to protect. Thorpe still respects the Mosconi Cup. He did not say the event is unworthy. He did not say he refuses to play. He said he cannot afford to attend three events in the same window. That is a career survival decision. A rule that fails to distinguish between a player who will not travel and a player who cannot travel will punish many innocent cases. This story also echoes problems in other sports, including football, when national team players lose opportunities because of travel or financial limits. American 9-ball does not need a revolution, but it needs a fairer system. In the end, the biggest question is not whether Thorpe deserves a place on the Mosconi Cup team. It is whether the rule exists to select the strongest team or merely to punish players for missing flights. The strongest team should be built on ability, not on attendance lists. If the Mosconi Cup wants to protect its reputation, it needs to protect the players who built that reputation. Billy Thorpe has proven himself twice. The rest is now in the hands of those who write the rules.