Laurance Claims WPBA Masters

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

Laurance Claims WPBA Masters

Epic Battle of the Hall of Famers

Allison Fisher US Open MT. PLEASANT, MI – The WPBA Masters at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has now concluded, and the winner is none other than Ewa Mataya Laurance (right), defeating #2 ranked Allison Fisher (left) in an epic battle of two veteran champions.

Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) Hall of Famer and former Grand Ledge, Michigan resident, Ewa Mataya Laurance took an early 2-1 lead in the short televised race to 7 against fellow BCA Hall of Famer, #2 ranked Allison Fisher. Ewa then extended the lead to 3-1, 4-1 and 5-1… And then Allison mounted a comeback!

Laurance took an early 2-1 lead in the short televised race to 7 against fellow BCA Hall of Famer, #2 ranked Fisher.

5-2, 5-3, 5-4 and suddenly the score was tied 5-5; a race to two, with Allison breaking. Ewa dug deep and pulled out the next two games for a 7-5 victory and $10,000 payday in the first WPBA event of 2012!

In the first sem-final, Ewa proved she’d be a formidable contender when she defeated #1 ranked Ga Young Kim 7-6 for her place in the title bout.

The other semifinal was a battle of the Fishers: Kelly Fisher vs. Allison Fisher (pictured left). Though they’re not related, they both hail from the U.K. and both yield a deadly cue. Allison pulled out all the stops and defeated Kelly 7-4 to head to the finals against Laurance.

Final Results Top 24 (24 Placed Paid):
1 Ewa Mataya Laurance $10,000
2 Allison Fisher $5,500
3/4 Ga Young Kim, Kelly Fisher $2,750 ea.
5/6 Helena Thornfeldt, Jasmin Ouschan $2,000 ea.
7/8 Jeanette Lee, Eleanor Callado $1,750 ea.
9/12 Liz Ford, Dawn Hopkins, Monica Webb, Brittany Bryant $1,500 ea.
13/16 Karen Corr, Line Kjorsvik, Jennifer Barretta, Gerda Hofstatter $1,250 ea.
17/24 Emilyn Callado, Susan Williams, Joanne Ashton, Teruko Cucculelli, Tamara Peeters, Jennifer Chen, Jessica Barnes, Nicole Keeney $1,000 ea.

To view the final tournament chart, visit www.wpba.com and click on “2012 Soaring Eagle Tournament Board.” The three final-round one-hour matches will be broadcast by ESPN for on Sunday, March 18, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm EST.

About the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)

The WPBA was established in 1976 as the Women’s Professional Billiard Alliance, and will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2011 as the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women’s Pro Billiard Tour, which features ESPN-televised events with the world’s greatest women players. Visit www.wpba.com for more. The WPBA Classic Read more ...

WPBA Soaring Eagle Casino Day 1 Results

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

WPBA Soaring Eagle Casino Day 1 Results
First Day’s Play Complete: 16 Undefeated Players Remain

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The Women’s Professional Billiard Association’s (WPBA) WPBA Masters kicked off with 11 am matches. The event is hosted by the Soraing Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI. The day session featured 32 unseeded players matching up to determine who would first face the top 16 seeds.

In the evening session, the top 16 played their first round. Upsets included Joanne Ashton over Cathy Metzinger; Dawn Hopkins over Gerda Hofstatter; Eleanor Callado over Line Kjorsvik; and Liz Ford over #5 ranked Monica Webb.

To view the chart and ongoing results, visit www.wpba.com and click on “2012 Soaring Eagle Tournament Board.” One-loss side matches begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday. The sixteen undefeated players compete at 3 and 6 p.m.

Ford upset number 5 seed Webb at the Saoring Eagle Casino WPBA event.

Round One (Unseeded) Results:

Jacqui Herrera d. Emily Duddy 9-5

Dawn Hopkins d. Emilyn Callado 9-2

Jessica Barnes d. Val Finnie 9-6

Joanne Ashton d. Susan Williams 9-7

Liz Cole d. Cheryl Pritchard 9-2

Belinda Calhoun d. Teresa Gifford 9-4

Liz Ford d. Teruko Cucculelli 9-3

Erica Park d. Janet Atwell 9-4

Laura Smith d. Barbara Lee 9-8

Morgan Steinman d. Lonnie Fox 9-5

Jana Montour d. Jennifer Chen 9-8

Eleanor Callado d. Tina Hess 9-3

Naomi Williams d. Rebecca Wagner 9-1

Maureen Seto d. Vicki Paski 9-8

Melissa Little d. Angel Paglia 9-6
Kyoko Sone d. Erin McManus 9-4

Round One (Seeded Round):
Ga Young Kim d. Jacqui Herrera 9-5
Dawn Hopkins d. Gerda Hofstatter 9-7
Ewa Laurance d. Jessica Barnes 9-5
Joanne Ashton d. Cathy Metzinger 9-6
Karen Corr d. Liz Cole 9-8
Brittany Bryant d. Belinda Calhoun 9-1
Liz Ford d. Monica Webb 9-6
Helena Thornfeldt d. Erica Park 9-3
Jasmin Ouschan d. Laura Smith 9-6
Nicole Keeney d. Read more ...

Northeast Indiana APA Hosts Legendary Allison Fisher in Poison Challenge

Posted by admin as APA, Billiard News, WPBA Tour

Northeast Indiana APA Hosts Legendary Allison Fisher in Poison Challenge

The Greatest of all time, The Duchess of Doom

Howe, Indiana – Dragon Promotions is pleased to announce The Northeast Indiana APA will be hosting 15x legendary World Champion Allison Fisher January 21, 2012 in The Poison Cues Challenge Match sponsored by Andy Cloth and Seyberts.com. “The Duchess of Doom” will be performing and meeting fans from 1pm-4pm during the NEIAPA Tournament at Piggy’s Brew Pub. The following day on January 22, fans can sign up for Allison Fisher‘s one day clinic and learn from the greatest women’s player in history.

“We are really thrilled to have Allison Fisher come to our event. We are celebrating our tenth anniversary of our league, so the timing is perfect. Our fans adore her, and to them it feels like a rock star is coming to town”, says Allan Gunthorp, League Operator for the NEIAPA which serves Northeast Indiana & South Central Michigan.

“The Poison by Predator Challenge Matches is one of our best series of events for pool enthusiasts during the year. We want the fans and players to enjoy a memorable experience and working with the Northeast Indiana APA will give everyone that!” , explains Nina Negros, Marketing Manager for Predator Group.

Fisher is a record 39 WPBA Tour stop winner including a record 5 US Open wins and an unequaled 4 World Championship titles. She has won major events on every major pool continent from Asia, Europe, and the USA. 75 total major pocket billiard titles, excluding her career as the greatest women’s snooker player in history as well. She was inducted without surprise into the BCA Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. She is currently the reigning WPBA US Open Champion.

“The NEIAPA team of Allan Gunthorp and Curtis Sperry have worked incredibly hard for their league and its growth. With a decade of experience now and over 1200 players it seems they know exactly what they’re doing. In their tenth year anniversary they’re planning on increasing their numbers to over 200 teams! I’m ecstatic that they chose to work with Dragon Promotions and host Allison Fisher at their event! It’s holding events like this that show how much they love their members and where the future of their league is headed”, said Joe K. Lee of Dragon Promotions Sports Management. Lee is the newest addition to DP’s talented team.

Allison Fisher‘s One Day Pool Clinic will be on January 22. Please email propoolschool1@gmail.com or contact the NEIAPA for more info. Allison Fisher is part of Dragon Promotions and is one of their elite stars including Mika Immonen of Finland, Rodney Morris of USA, Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Mike Davis of the USA, Charlie Williams of USA, and USA’s Johnny Archer. Visit www.Dragonpromotions.com and watch the 10 year anniversary music video with hundreds of the worlds most famous players.

The Northeast Indiana APA is celebrating its 10 year anniversay of serving Northeast Indiana & South Central Michigan. During that time it has grown to nearly 200 teams and over 1200 members. Please visit www.NEIAPA.com or call 260-562-9333 to join or for more info

Read more ...

New Billiards Magazine Download Released

Posted by admin as Billiard News, Mosconi Cup, Pool Lessons, WPBA Tour

January 2012 Issue of Inside POOL Magazine Released

Niels Fiejen Celebrates Mosconi Victory for Team Europe

Inside POOL Magazine has released the January 2012 online issue. The January 2012 online issue of Inside POOL Magazine, featuring Niels Fiejen on the front cover, has been released at InsidePOOLmag.com. This month the download features Niels Fiejen celebrating Team Europe’s victory at the Mosconi Cup, news from the top billiards events from around the world, pool lessons from top instructors, and tons of great new technology in online billiards magazine viewing such as enhanced clarity, Bonus Content, loads of full-screen videos of professional matches, links to favorite web sites, flipping pages, zooming, emailing, sharing, and printing.

January 2012 Inside POOL Magazine features Niels Fiejen celebrating a victory for Team Europe at the Mosconi Cup. Ga Young Kim defeats Allison Fisher in the finals of the WPBA Tour Championship. Learn how to feel your stick with Tom Sinmpson. Also, get a “Shot from the Cannon” by Shannon “The Cannon” Daulton. Get to know professional pool player Mike Dechaine. Catch up with all of the regional action from around the world.

Kamui Tips is offering a FREE Kamui Tip, valued at $19.95, online subscribers to a one-year Premium Membership for only $9.95.

Kamui Tips is offering a FREE Kamui Tip, valued at $19.95, online subscribers to a one-year Premium Membership for only $9.95.

Two versions of the download are available, Premium and Freemium. The Freemium version includes all of the same features of the Premium version, but the Premium version includes 100% of the print version, plus a few extra features.

View January 2012 Freemium issue.

Access to the Premium version is available by subscribing to the eSubscription to the Member Area at InsidePOOLmag.com.

Inside POOL Magazine publishes both print and online versions of each issue. The online version is made available for FREE (without a membership, but abbreviated) and Premium viewing and downloading around the first day of each month.

Want the real thing? Kamui Tips is offering a FREE KAMUI TIP with one-year U.S. Subscriptions and specially priced two-year U.S. Subscriptions to Inside POOL Magazine.

If you would like to receive the print version of Inside POOL Magazine, please visit InsidePOOLmag.com to subscribe and receive a FREE Kamui Tip.

About Inside POOL Magazine
Inside POOL Magazine launched in 2001 and, with pool player-based content and high impact photography, quickly became the largest magazine in the world for the sport of billiards. The official web site, InsidePOOLmag.com, followed shortly after and became one of the largest web sites in billiards. The web site features videos, image galleries, pool lessons, custom pool cue makers, online games, player profiles, tournament brackets, live streaming video, rules, product reviews, and the latest billiard news from around the world.

2012 Dates set for Women’s US Open 9-Ball Championships

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

2012 Dates set for Women’s US Open 9-Ball Championships
River Spirit Casino in Tulsa to Host Its 2nd U.S. Open, June 6-10, 2012

TULSA, OK – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour announced that the 2012 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships will return to the fabulous River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma June 6-10, 2012. Great Britain’s Allison Fisher will be on hand to defend her title, won on this very stage on June 19, 2011. The quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts.

The WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships is a major stop on the Women’s Pro Billiard Tour and is happy to make its home at the River Spirit Casino for a second year in a row. Said WPBA president Tamre Rogers, “The River Spirit Event Center and Casino staff were second to none, and Tulsa fans are simply the best! The event and staging were spectalular and the tour is already looking forward to returning to Tulsa in 2012.

“River Spirit Casino and the River Spirit Event Center are pleased to have hosted the 2011 Women’s US Open 9-Ball Championships and proud to have been selected to host the event again in 2012 and 2013,” commented Jerry Floyd, General Manager at River Spirit. “The Tulsa area and the entire state support and deserve world class events such as this one. We are committed to making this year’s event bigger and better than 2011.”

Already slated to compete are the best known names in the world of women’s pro billiards, including Jasmin Ouschan; famed “Black Widow” Jeanette Lee; Chinese sensation Xiaoting Pan, British “Kwikfire” Kelly Fisher; 2010 U.S. Open champ Ga Young Kim aka “Little Devil Girl”; Hall of Famer and defending champion Allison Fisher; USA’s own Monica Webb; and Ireland’s Karen Corr. The event will once again kick off with a charity pro-am on June 6, 2012 at 7 p.m. Open to the general public, fans have a chance to compete against top players while raising money for Komen for the Cure Tulsa.

The Women's Pro Billiard Tour announced that the 2012 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships will return to the fabulous River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma June 6-10, 2012. Jerry Floyd (left) General Manager & Bob Dimmick (right) Director of Marketing River Spirit Casino present 2011 WPBA US Open Champion Allison Fischer will her trophy.

It all takes place at the River Spirit Event Center, adjacent to the River Spirit Casino at 81st and Riverside in Tulsa. Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!

About River Spirit Casino and Event Center
River Spirit Casino, Tulsa’s $195 million casino project at 81st & Riverside, showcases 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma. With over 2,600 high-tech electronic machines, 23 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a steakhouse, a 24-hour café, a lounge and a sports bar. The newly renovated River Spirit Event Center is located at the site of the former Creek Nation Casino – Tulsa at 81st and Riverside Drive. The venue has nearly 20,000 sq. ft of useable space for sporting events, entertainment, conventions and meetings and all amenities. For more information on River Spirit Casino please visit www.riverspirittulsa.com.

As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive Read more ...

Allison Fisher Claims Women’s U.S. Open Billiards Title

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

Allison Fisher Claims Women’s U.S. Open Billiards Title

Defending champ vs. the world’s best woman player in the history of pool. Who would win? That was the big question and it got answered in a big way as Allison Fisher took the title from 2-time U.S. Open Champion Ga Young Kim in a heated battle that Allison won 7-4.

Fisher won the opening break, but couldn’t capitalize, giving the first game win to Kim. But Allison quickly tied things up after Ga Young missed a jump shot, then broke and ran the next two racks to lead 3-1 in the race to seven.

In game five, players traded safes for a few shots until Kim got the first clear look at a shot and ran out to trail 2-3. In game six, a missed bank on the two by Kim again put Allison in the driver’s seat. She ran the rack… to the nine… and uncharacteristically missed, leaving Ga Young Kim an easy nine to tie the match 3-3. She broke and ran to the five, nearly missing it but slopping it in the other corner (with apologies to her opponent), then made a 6-9 combination to pull ahead 4-3.

Fisher won the opening break, but couldn't capitalize, giving the first game win to Kim. But Allison quickly tied things up after Ga Young missed a jump shot, then broke and ran the next two racks to lead 3-1 in the race to seven.

Breaking in game eight, Kim ran to the three, played safe, but the cue ball slow rolled its way into the corner pocket. Fisher played safe and Kim kicked and made a ball, but missed a bank. Allison played a long six ball and caromed in the nine to tie it up 4-4!

A scratch on a safety attempt in the next game might have resulted in a runout for Kim, but missed position on the five ball caused a miss on a tough five. Allison ran out to again lead the match, 5-4. Fisher broke in game ten and played safe on the one. Ga Young made the hit with her jump cue, but left Allison a clear shot on the one. She executed a perfect runout to get to the hill 6-4!

Allison broke, pocketed the five on the break, made the one ball and then… made a 2-9 combination for the WIN! Visit wpba.com/2011usopen.pdf for a blow by blow of the final match!

About the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)

The WPBA was established in 1976 as the Women’s Professional Billiard Alliance, and celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2011 as the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women’s Pro Billiard Tour, which features ESPN-televised events with the world’s greatest women players. Visit www.wpba.com for more. The WPBA Classic Tour is sponsored by the American Poolplayers Association, Diamond Billiards, Iwan Simonis, Cuetec Cues, Delta 13, Pooldawg, Mueller Recreational Products and Aramith.

About River Spirit Casino
River Spirit Casino, Tulsa’s $195 million casino project at 81st & Riverside, showcases 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma. With over 2,600 high-tech electronic machines, 24 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four world-class dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a fine dining establishment, a 24-hour café, lounge and sports bar. For more information on River Spirit Casino please visit the website. www.riverspirittulsa.com
As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive economic impact for Tulsa and surrounding towns, adding 450 new jobs to the city. Proceeds from gaming operations help to fund a variety of Muscogee (Creek) Nation service programs such as housing, education, elderly assistance and healthcare. For more on the tribe’s history and government, visit the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s site at www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov

About River Spirit Event Center
The newly renovated River Spirit Event Center is located at the site of the former Creek Nation Casino – Tulsa at 81st and Riverside Drive. The venue has nearly 20,000 sq. ft of useable space for sporting events, entertainment, conventions and meetings and all amenities.

Women’s US Open 9-Ball Championships

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

WOMEN’S US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Field Set: Event Kicks Off with Charity Pro-Am June 15, 7 p.m.

TULSA, OK -The River Spirit Event Center will host the best female billiard players in the world June 15-19, 2011 when the Women’s Professional Billiard Association WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championships will play down to a single US Open Champion. Quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts.

The River Spirit Event Center will host the best female billiard players in the world June 15-19, 2011 when the WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championships will play down to a single US Open Champion

The legendary Jeanette Lee, known as “The Black Widow,” is slated to compete, along with Hall of Fame players Allison Fisher, Ewa Mataya Laurance and local favorite Rhonda Pierce. Also competing: the 2009 World Games Gold Medalist and reigning U.S. Open 9-Ball defending champion Ga Young Kim; 2010 World 10-Ball Champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria; and newly crowned World Junior 9-Ball Champion Brittany Bryant of Toronto, Canada.

The event kicks off January 15th with a Pro-Am Charity Event to benefit the Susan G Komen Foundation. Anyone can play or watch; and spectators will have the opportunity to challenge their favorite pros!

Tickets are just $10 on June 16th & 17th and $20 on June 18th and 19th! VIP tickets are available for $25. Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!
WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championships Player Field:

Jasmin Ouschan (AUS)

Xiaoting Pan (CHN)

Karen Corr (IRE)

Ga-Young Kim (TPE)

Allison Fisher (ENG)

Kelly Fisher (ENG)

Jeanette Lee (USA)

Vivian Villarreal (USA)

Monica Webb (USA)

Line Kjorsvik (NOR)

Stacey Bourbeau (USA)

Melissa Little (USA)

Kim Shaw (ENG)

Julie Kelly (IRE)

Liz Ford (USA)

Brittany Bryant (USA)

Teresa Gifford (USA)

Sarah Rousey (USA)

Cheryl Pritchard (USA)

Tamara Rademakers (NED)

Dawn Hopkins (USA)

Jennifer Chen (TPE)

Ewa Laurance (USA)

Nicole Keeney (USA)

Vicki Paski (USA)

Laura Smith (USA)

Angel Paglia (USA)

Borana Andoni (USA)

Cathy Metzinger (USA)

Naomi Williams (USA)

Stacy Novak (USA)

Eleanor Callado Read more ...

Xiao-Ting Pan Unleashes the Fury

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

Xiao-Ting Pan Unleashes the Fury

Fury Cues is proud to announce the addition of their most recent pro player representative, Xiao-Ting Pan. Pan’s talent and growing list of achievements have made her one of the most famous female players in China.

Fury Cues is proud to announce the addition of their most recent pro player representative, Xiao-Ting Pan.

Pan burst onto the American pool scene in 2006 with a number of wins in regional tournaments, and even secured WPBA Rookie of the Year honors. The following year, 2007, she proceeded to win the WPBA Great Lakes Classic event and the WPA World 9-Ball Ladies Championship. In 2008, she captured the GenerationPool.com Open 9-Ball Ladies Championship, and then went on to win the 2010 WPBA Tour Championship.

“To have a true international champion such as Xiao-Ting Pan representing Fury Cues is thrilling, and a testament to the progress of craftsmanship Fury Cues have made since they debuted at the Super Billiards Expo in 2003″ says Matt Carter, general manager of Sterling Gaming, the exclusive distributor for Fury Cues in North America. “Pan joins American John Schmidt and UK native Kelly Fisher as world champions who stake their careers on the quality of Fury Cues and we are very excited about what the future holds for this talented group of players.”

For more information about Fury Cues visit The official Fury Cues website or contact the exclusive North American distributor, Sterling Gaming, 3372 Smith Farm Rd, Matthews, NC 28104 877-283-7444, Sterling Gaming.

Cha Claims WPBA Regional Tour Championship

Posted by admin as Billiard News, WPBA Tour

Cha Claims WPBA Regional Tour Championship
WPBA Regional Tour Championship / Houston, TX

by Carl Miller

In late March, 63 women gathered at Bogies Billiards in Houston, TX, to compete in the annual four-day WPBA Regional Tour Championship. This invitation-only, pro tour qualifier was sanctioned by the WPBA and offered more than $13,000 in total prize money, plus the opportunity for eight women to earn the final eight WPBA tour cards available for 2011. The field, which included WPBA players who had finished out of the top 40 at the close of 2010 and top players from the nine regional tours, was topped by Yu-Ram Cha, who took home first place.

In late March, 63 women gathered at Bogies Billiards in Houston, TX, to compete in the annual four-day WPBA Regional Tour Championship. Pictured L-R: Williams, Ashton, Cha, Miller, White

Cha was at the top of her game, rolling over Becky Jones 9-1, Jana Montour 9-0, and Lisa Marr 9-3. At the same time, Briana Miller showed she was quite capable of making the move up from junior events by defeating Ashley Nandrasy 9-7, Monica Anderson 9-1, and Jacqui Herrera 9-4. Then, matched against Cha, the unflappable teenager fought gamely but succumbed 9-4.

Meanwhile, Susan Williams opened by winning her first three matches before dropping a hill-hill set to Janet Atwell 9-8. Canadian Joanne Ashton won her first four matches but relinquished the hot seat to Cha 9-4.

By the final afternoon, the field was down to eight, and the question of tour cards had been settled. Miller eliminated Veronique Menard 7-1 and Atwell 7-3, while Williams defeated Kim Benson 7-5 and Sharon O’Hanlon 7-3. Williams then went on to eliminate Miller 7-4, leaving the teenager with a respectable fourth-place finish. Williams then prevailed over Ashton in a tense hill-hill battle and earned a final match-up with Cha.

In the championship match, Cha and Williams each won a game, then Cha stepped out to a three-game lead. Williams fought hard to the end but had to settle for a second-place finish by a score of 9-4.

Results:
1st Yu-Ram Cha $3,250
2nd Susan Williams $1,930
3rd Joanne Ashton $1,320
4th Briana Miller $1,056
5th Sharon O’Hanlon $792
Janet Atwell
7th Veronique Menard $660
Kim Benson
9th Shelby Locati $396
Hiroko Makiyama
Suzanne Smith
Helen Laiche
13th Jana Montour $264
Marianne Merrill
Lisa Marr
Julie Comitini

Ouschan Cashes at WPBA Masters

Posted by admin as Billiard News, Tournament Brackets, WPBA Tour

Ouschan Cashes at WPBA Masters
WPBA Masters / Mount Pleasant, MI

by InsidePOOL Staff

Jasmin Ouschan swept through the 48-player field at the inaugural WPBA Masters tournament held January 6-9 to defeat the tour’s number-three-ranked player, Karen Corr, in the finals in a close 7-6 victory. The event was hosted by the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI.

Ouschan swept through the 48-player field at the inaugural WPBA Masters tournament held January 6-9 to defeat the tour’s number-three-ranked player, Corr, in the finals in a close 7-6 victory.

Corr went undefeated into Sunday’s matches after having dispatched the tour’s former number one, Ga Young Kim, in a delicate hill-hill match the evening before. In her semifinal match against Monica Webb, the score seesawed to 2-all in the short race to 7. Despite the crowd’s hopes of a close battle, it was all Corr as Webb was forced to sit in her chair and watch “The Irish Invader” run out time and again. The final score was 7-2 in Corr’s favor.

View the tournament brackets

The other semifinal match featured Ouschan going up against Kelly Fisher, the other undefeated player among the four. An unexpected scratch by Fisher gave Ouschan the first rack, and the Austrian ran with that momentum until she reached a 4-0 lead. But Fisher dug deep and fought her way back into the match, and soon the score was knotted at the hill 6-all. Despite that, though, it was Ouschan who advanced to the finals against Corr with a 7-6 win.

A cloud of tension surrounded the final match. Corr broke and ran out the first two racks to make her presence known. Ouschan countered by taking the next two—one after a miss by Corr on a 3-9 combo and one after Corr scratched on the 7 ball. They split the next two games, and then Corr took another two-rack lead after a couple of errors by Ouschan, making it 5-3. Another error by both players led to the score moving to 6-4 in Corr’s favor. At that point, though, Ouschan bore down. When Corr scratched on her next break, Ouschan swiftly dished up to draw within a game. She then broke and ran out to make it a hill-hill encounter. In the final rack, Ouschan smashed the rack and pocketed three balls on the break. Coolly she ran the remaining balls in under a minute to win the match 7-6 and take the title. With this victory Ouschan clinched the tour’s number-one spot on the rankings as well.

Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.