Kim Repeats as U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion

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

Kim Repeats as U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion
WPBA U.S. Open / Norman, OK

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ga Young Kim successfully defended her title against all comers during the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) U.S. Open 9-Ball this past weekend, ultimately fighting off Karen Corr in the finals. The four-day event was hosted by Riverwind Casino in Norman, OK, and featured a 64-player field.

Both Kim and Corr went undefeated through the field until the end. Corr had bested Dana Aft 9-3, Tamara Rademakers 9-3, and Nicole Keeney 9-5 to reach the final 16. There she had a close match with Iris Ranola of the Philippines 9-7. With only eight players left the races were shortened to 7. Corr eliminated Kim Shaw 7-5 and advanced to meet Vivian Villareal, whom she whitewashed 7-0.

Kim’s journey included victories over Veronique Menard 9-2, Dawn Hopkins 9-5, and Monica Webb 9-4. She edged past Webb again in the round of 16 after their hill-hill bout and went on to face Gerda “G-Force” Hofstatter, whom she defeated 7-3. A quick 7-2 drubbing of Julie Kelly put Kim in the finals against “The Irish Invader.”

View the Women’s U.S. Open 9-Ball tournament brackets

The final match went all the way to the hilt, with neither player giving up an inch. Finally, though, Kim broke the last rack and, though she left herself tough on the 9 ball, she dug deep to pocket it and claim her U.S. Open title for the second year in a row.

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Semifinals Set for WPBA U.S. Open

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

Semifinals Set for WPBA U.S. Open
WPBA U.S. Open / Norman, OK

by InsidePOOL Staff

The Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) U.S. Open is down to its final four competitors, with the semifinal matches leaving only two to fight for the title.

Defending champion Ga Young Kim is still in the hunt. Having survived a hill-hill clash with Monica Webb in the round of 16, Kim then advanced to meet Gerda “G-Force” Hofstatter, who had just bested Dawn Hopkins 9-3. In the shortened race to 7, Kim took control and easily ousted Hofstatter 7-3.

Kim’s opponent will be Julie “Motor Molly” Kelly, who outlasted third-ranked Xiaoting Pan in the final 16 after their hill-hill battle. She then disposed of Kyoko Sone 7-4 to become one of the four semifinalists.

Kelly’s fellow countrywoman Karen Corr, ranked fourth on the tour, is another semifinalist. Corr ousted Filipina Iris Ranola in the round of 16 after their close 9-7 match and then went on to eliminate Kim Shaw at fifth place 7-5.

View the Women’s U.S. Open 9-Ball tournament brackets

Corr’s semifinal opponent will be Vivian “The Texas Tornado” Villareal. Villareal went undefeated through the event and met up with Melissa Little in the final round of 16. After sending Little home 9-5, Villareal then went on to face the tour’s top player, Jasmin Ouschan of Austria. But the veteran Villareal didn’t let that bother her—she took Ouschan to the hill and then edged her out 7-6.

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