Close Friends and Countrymen Collide

Posted by admin as Independent Tournaments - EnjoyPool.com Open

Close Friends and Countrymen Collide

Eight unbeaten remain in each EnjoyPool.com 9-ball Championship events

By Paul Berg, Inside POOL Magazine Staff
It’s getting crowded on the one-loss side of both professional brackets at the EnjoyPool.com 9-ball Championships. With some strong victories, eight men and women remain unbeaten in each invited 64-player field, and for the ladies, close friendships will have to be set aside for the fourth round of undefeated action tomorrow.
Helena Thornfeldt and Monica Webb are not only two of the most feared players on the WPBA tour, they are practice partners and close friends where they reside in Atlanta. They will face off tomorrow evening, Thornfeldt on the strength of a 9-6 win over the sensational Ga Young Kim. Kim was nearly beaten last night, as Sarah Rousey had her chance to win their hill-hill contest. The Swedish “Sledgehammer” led the match wire to wire, and Kim was thwarted in her comeback efforts, first by a slow-rolled 8ball in the side that softly rattled and hung impossibly with a chance to tie the match at 6-all, and then by a tough call from tournament director Steve Tipton. Down 7-6, Kim was again shooting the 8ball, which was tied-up with the 9ball, and Tipton called the pocketed shot a foul, to the disbelief of Kim and many spectators. Thornfeldt didn’t hesitate to capitalize and close the door.
Webb had much less tension in her match, a 9-1 sprint past Amanda Lampert. In their half of the draw, Alison Fisher and Gerda Hofstatter are the other remaining pair, both coming off of impressive victories. “The Duchess of Doom” bested Melissa Herndon 9-3, while her friend “The G-Force” upended Jeannette Lee 9-5. The other match-ups for the fourth round are scintillating, as Xiaoting Pan will play Jasmine Ouschan, while Karen Corr tangles with Miyuki Sakai.
In the fourth round of the men’s event, all eyes will be on Francisco Bustamante facing countryman Dennis Orcollo. Bustamante was able to hold off Santos Sambajon Jr. 11-9, keyed by a streak of four winning racks to grab a 9-7 lead. Orcollo survived Niels Feijen by sheer will, as “The Terminator” made the most of his every break with relentless run-out play. In the end, Orcollo won a lengthy defensive struggle for the 1ball in the case game, Feijen scratching and sealing his fate 11-10.
Mika Immonen is one player entering the fourth round with a head of steam, having blown past Earl Strickland 11-4. He’ll face Jose Parica, who kept up his flawless track record against Fabio Petroni. Barely. In an 11-10 defeat, Petroni came as close as he could come to his first win over the legendary “Amang,” faltering on a 2ball safety and leaving Parica just enough room to pocket it rail-first and clear for the escape. For Parica, hill-hill is becoming a norm, having toppled Corey Deuel in that fashion last night.
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Mike Davis and Ronnie Wiseman also have some double-hill thriller experience in their immediate rear view, Davis edging Raj Hundal and Wiseman slipping by Thomas Engert. Those narrow third round victories should make for some steely nerves when the young gun tries the vet tomorrow night. Next to them on the chart are Shane Van Boening, an 11-9 winner over 17 year-old phenom John Morra, and Satoshi Kawabata, who turned a large early lead and his powerful break into an 11-8 win against cagey Warren Kiamco.
If the names of the sixteen unbeaten players aren’t enough to prove that the EnjoyPool.com 9-ball Championship is the same major event in our sport its antecedent the BCA Open was, nearly everyone else at the top of the game can be found on the one-loss side. Stay tuned to insidepoolmag.com for continued coverage from the swirling pool paradise occupying the Riviera in Las Vegas, as they duke it out in the desert through Saturday.

Sang Lee Honored by BCA

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Sang Lee Honored by BCA

By Inside POOL Staff
“I want to make billiards beautiful in America” was the slogan of three-cushion champion Sang Chun Lee, who was posthumously honored by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Tuesday at their annual Hall of Fame banquet. Lee was the fifty-first inductee and was represented by his wife Kyung and his daughter Olivia, as well as friends Ira Lee and Mazin Shooni.
Other Hall of Fame members present at the banquet, which was held at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, were Ewa Laurance, Mike Massey, Loree Jon Jones, Robert Byrne, Eddie Kelly, and two players sharing a birthday today: Nick Varner and Lou Butera. Mitch Laurance guided the ceremony elegantly, and many people in the audience were in tears at the end of a moving video production showcasing not only Lee but his many friends within the world of three-cushion.
After the banquet, the much-anticipated Challenge the Stars event began downstairs. This annual event benefits the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) and offers the chance to anyone—for a modest fee—to play the top pros here participating in the EnjoyPool.com 9-ball Championships. Taking part in this event, which commanded 12 Diamond bar boxes, were Jeanette Lee, Thorsten Hohmann, Jasmine Ouschan, Johnny Archer, Ralf Souquet, Jennifer Barretta, Ewa Laurance, Raj Hundal, Francisco Bustamante, and more.

Visit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest news from the sport of billiards and pool.

Pro Women to Participate in Predator World 10-Ball Championships

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Pro Women to Participate in Predator World 10-ball Championships

Six women will join the predominantly male 96 player invited field at the Predator World 10-ball Championship May 23-27,2007 in Jacksonville, FL. Included in this female team are WPBA pros Gerda Hofstatter of Austria, Kim Shaw of England, and Anna Kostanian of New Mexico. Three junior talents will also join the Big Boys with Yu Ram Cha and Bo Ram Cha of Korea and Amalia Matas of Spain.

It is rare for women to be included in major men’s pro events and especially world title events and here’s what some of the ladies had to say of the opportunity.

I’ve been playing with Predator for many years now and I’m very happy to be invited by them to participate against the world’s best players. I know I can beat any of the men at any given time so I hope they’re ready! warned the soft spoken Austrain Gerda Hofstatter, currently ranked #9 on the Womens Pro Tour.

I am excited to be able to play in the men’s World Championship. It will be a great challenge and I will practice and try very hard. said 19 year old Yu Ram Cha of Korea, currently #1 Woman’s Player in Korea.

Events will start off at 7pm with a Challenge the Pro Night benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville, FL. Fans can come watch for free and play the pros for a donation to the charity.

For more info on event and tickets call Bankshot Billiards at 1-904.998.2100.

Mr Billiards and Beringer Tables Sponsor Canadian 9-Ball, Snooker Championships

Posted by admin as Billiard Tour News - Pool Tour News

Mr Billiards and Beringer Tables Sponsor Canadian 9-ball, Snooker Championships

Mr Billiards and Beringer Tables will join with Extended Stay Hotels as a co-sponsor for the Canadian 9-ball Snooker Championship.

In 1967,Terry Haddock, a great snooker player, had a dream of providing quality equipment for players and Mr Billiards was born. Mr Billiards, operated by John Haddock, Terry’s son, is the largest distributor of billiard and gaming products in Canada.

We are delighted to be working with Mr Billiards and Beringer Tables. John’s father was a great supporter of the sport and we look forward to a successful partnership. Sue lemaich, CBSA Director and promotor of the championship.

The championship will be held in Ottawa, at the SuperEX, from August 16 to August 26, 2007. Further information may be found at:

ottawasuperex.com
shooterville.com
cbsa.ca

For further information about this article please contact
Mel Divine
simplyonechoice@yahoo.ca (mailto:simplyonechoice@yahoo.ca)