NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The final eight undefeated players were determined tonight in the WPBA Tour Championships. They now wait on the final eight from the one loss side for the 16 player single elimination round.

The final eight undefeated players were determined tonight in the WPBA Tour Championships.

Friday Evening Session Round 3: Winners Side Box Scores
(Matches are races to 9 – First player to 9 games wins match)
Complete Round #3 Results:
Cathy Metzinger d. Helena Thornfeldt 9-4
Monica Webb d. Vivian Villarreal 9-3
Melissa Little d. Kelly Fisher 9-8
Karen Corr d. Kyoke Sone 9-6
Xiaoting Pan d. Jeanette Lee 9-6
Julie Kelly d. Jennifer Barretta 9-5
Allison Fisher d. Line Kjorsvik 9-2
Ga Young Kim d. Sarah Rousey 9-5

On the one loss side, the field narrowed as sixteen more players were eliminated. Further eliminations take place tomorrow beginning at noon to determine the eight who will compete against the remaining eight undefeated players. Toronto’s World Junior 9-Ball champion Brittany Bryant kept her hopes alive, while defending champion Jasmin Ouschan also moved forward:

Complete Round #3 One Loss Round Results:
Brittany Bryant d. Amy Chen 9-2
Nicole Keeney d. Erin McManus 9-8
Jennifer Chen d. Tamara Rademakers 9-5
Melissa Herndon d. Christiane Boulay 9-0
Melissa Rademakers d. Ewa Laurance 9-7
Eleanor Callado d. Emily Duddy 9-6
Rhio Flores d. Joanne Ashton 9-5
Belinda Calhoun d. Angel Paglia 9-6
Stacie Bourbeau d. Val Finnie 9-7
Gerda Hofstatter d. Laura Smith 9-4
Liz Cole d. Morgan Steinman 9-8
Mary Rakin d. Liz Taylor 9-6
Janet Atwell d. Vicki Paski 9-3
Naomi Williams d. Liz Ford 9-4
Jasmin Ouschan d. Kim Benson 9-5

Action was also heavy in the CPA Ontario Challenge team tournament, where the area’s top amateurs are competing for nearly $10,000 in prize money! Visit www.poolplayers.ca for more info!

Tickets are available at all Seneca Casino box offices, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 716-852-5000 (USA) or 416-870-8000 (Canada). Sunday’s ESPN televised finals are sold out!

SESSION #5: Saturday, Dec. 4 – noon to 4 p.m. – $12, $20 (VIP)

SESSION #6: Saturday, Dec. 4 – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. – $12, $20 (VIP)

FINALS: Sunday, December 5 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
(semifinals), 5 p.m. finals – $20, $35 (VIP)
TOURNAMENT PASS: $85, $140 VIP seating

(includes all days/times and finals)

To arrange press credentials or schedule an interview with a top player, contact Shari Stauch at shari@sharkmarketingco.com or call 843-834-1872.

About the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 under the name of 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 greatest women players from around the world. For more info about the WPBA, its top players and sponsors, visit www.wpba.com. 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 Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in located just minutes from the world-famous Niagara Falls in Western New York, near the Canadian border. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, and self- and valet-parking are always free. Guests can enjoy 147,000 square feet of gaming space with 4,000 slot machines and 100 table games, eight restaurants, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning, 26-story hotel with 594 deluxe suites, a spa and salon, fitness center and indoor pool. Please visit www.senecaniagaracasino.com for more information

WPBA Tour Championship Session #2 Results

The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour’s Tour Championship continued double elimination play in the first round of the winner’s side. Half the field has now been sent to the one loss side for tomorrow’s last shot at staying in the competition.

The second round of winner’s side play takes place at 8 and 10 pm this evening. Featured matches include Jeanette Lee vs. Canada’s Joanne Ashton; Ireland’s Julie Kelly vs. Ewa Mataya Laurance aka The Striking Viking; Allison Fisher vs. California’s Melissa Herndon; Korea’s Ga-Young Kim (currently ranked #2) vs. New York’s Nicole Keeney; and Toronto’s Brittany Bryant, who yesterday won the World Junior 9-Ball Championships in Reno, vs. former Junior national champion Sarah Rousey!

Hofstatter edged Callado in fer first round, 9-7.

Thursday Evening Session Box Scores
(Matches are races to 9 – First player to 9 games wins match)
Completed Round #1 Results:
Jasmin Ouschan d. Amy Chen 9-2
Helena Thornfeldt d. Tina Hess 9-3
Liz Ford d. Kim Jones 9-4
Cathy Metzinger d. Erin McManus 9-0
Vivian Villarreal d. Borana Andoni 9-5
Janet Atwell d. Tamara Rademakers 9-8
Monica Webb d. Christiane Boulay 9-3
Liz Taylor d. Cheryl Pritchard 9-6
Kelly Fisher d. Melissa Rademakers 9-4
Melissa Little d. Dana Aft 9-2
Laura Smith d. Emily Duddy 9-6
Karen Corr d. Rhio Flores 9-1
Dawn Hopkins d. Denise Belanger 9-8
Kyoko Sone d. Samantha Patton 9-4
Stacie Bourbeau d. Angel Paglia 9-4
Belinda Calhoun d. Megan Smith 9-5
Joanne Ashton d. Kim White 9-7
Jennifer Barretta d. Maureen Seto 9-6
Ewa Laurance d. Liz Cole 9-2
Melissa Herndon d. Mary Rakin 9-8
Jennifer Chen d. Vicki Paski 9-7
Nicole Keeney d. Naomi Williams 9-4
6 pm Final Round #1 Results:
Eleanor Callado d. Gerda Hofstatter 9-7
Jeanette Lee d. Lisa Davids 9-3
Allison Fisher d. Susan Williams 9-1
Line Kjorsvik d. Lisa Marr 9-0
Sarah Rousey d. Kim Benson 9-2
Brittany Bryant d. Sharon O’Hanlon 9-2

Tickets are available at all Seneca Casino box offices, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 716-852-5000 (USA) or 416-870-8000 (Canada).

SESSION #2: Thursday, Dec. 2 – 6 p.m. to midnight – $12, $20 (VIP)

SESSION #3: Friday, Dec. 3 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – $12, $20 (VIP)

SESSION #4: Friday, Dec. 3 – 6 p.m. to midnight – $12, $20 (VIP)

SESSION #5: Saturday, Dec. 4 – noon to 4 p.m. – $12, $20 (VIP)

SESSION #6: Saturday, Dec. 4 – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. – $12, $20 (VIP)

FINALS: Sunday, December 5 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
(semifinals), 5 p.m. finals – $20, $35 (VIP)
TOURNAMENT PASS: $85, $140 VIP seating

(includes all days/times and finals)

To schedule an interview with a player, contact Shari Stauch at shari@sharkmarketingco.com or call 843-834-1872.
About the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 under the name of 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 greatest women players from around the world. For more info about the WPBA, its top players and sponsors, visit www.wpba.com. 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 Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in located just minutes from the world-famous Niagara Falls in Western New York, near the Canadian border. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, and self- and valet-parking are always free. Guests can enjoy 147,000 square feet of gaming space with 4,000 slot machines and 100 table games, eight restaurants, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning, 26-story hotel with 594 deluxe suites, a spa and salon, fitness center and indoor pool. Please visit www.senecaniagaracasino.com for more information

by InsidePOOL Staff

Of the 16 women who participated in the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships for the first time, 13 have been eliminated. Ten went two and out: Angie Hawkins, Tracy Prescott, Loree Jon Hasson, Jackie Duggan, Borana Andonia, Morgan Steinman, Yomaylin Feliz, Belinda Beardon-Calhoun, Neslihan Gurel, and Cheryl Pritchard. Ewa Laurance bested Bill Mason 11-6 in the first round but then was bested by Chip Klein 11-6 and then Brian Brekke 11-3. Sarah Rousey was defeated by Chris Melling of the U.K. 11-2, won by forfeit over Michael Page, and then was eliminated by Chris Bartram 11-5. Amy Chen won 11-6 over Edmundo Ambrose but then was sent to the one-loss side after her match with Lee Van Corteza, which ended 11-3. There she was eliminated by Adam Kielar 11-0. JoAnn Mason Parker and Morgan Steinman both lost their first-round match and then faced each other. When Parker prevailed 11-6, she went on to meet Gerda Hofstatter and was herself ousted 11-4.

Hofstatter is still alive at the event.

Jennifer Barretta, the first woman to win a match in the U.S. Open, thereby making history, will vie with Gerda Hofstatter in order to win the extra $1,000 that event promoter Barry Behrman has promised to the top lady finisher. After winning her first-round match against David Ross 11-5, Barretta suffered her first loss to Nigel Francis 11-4. Barretta will next play Scott Higgins in the one-loss side.

Past U.S. Open champion John Schmidt survives—after winning his first-round match over Gregg McAndrews 11-4, he was sent west by Daniel Heidrich 11-2. There he whizzed through his match with Matt Riggs 11-5 and will face Steven Page in the next round. Shane Van Boening, who was upset in the first round by Mike “Fireball” Dechaine, still remains alive, having ousted Mike Badsteubner 11-2 and Omar Santiago 11-6.

New York’s Frankie Hernandez has been eliminated—he lost his second-round match to England’s Jayson Shaw and then suffered an 11-5 loss to Danny Mastermaker, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday. Charismatic Filipino Roberto Gomez rebounded from his second-round loss to Chris Orme 11-8 to win his one-loss side match over Blair Levandowski 11-6.

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

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships 256-player tournament brackets (updated continuously)

Live streaming provided by Accu-Stats.

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 1

272 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 2

150 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 3

132 Photos

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

40 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 4

162 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 5

368 Photos

Monday evening saw the bottom half of the massive 256-player bracket in play, with many of the players moving on hailing from the Philippines. The 35th installment of the U.S. Open began Sunday and will run throughout the week at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA.

BCA Hall of Fame member Efren “Bata” Reyes has won his first two matches over Nick Tafoya 11-3 and Ben Judge 11-7, remaining undefeated as yet.

BCA Hall of Fame member Efren “Bata” Reyes has won his first two matches over Nick Tafoya 11-3 and Ben Judge 11-7, remaining undefeated as yet. Joining him on the winners’ bracker is Francisco Bustamante, who is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this week. Bustamante has notched victories over Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam 11-9 and Michael Yednak 11-1.

However, their fellow countrymen haven’t let them down. Warren Kiamco has scored impressive wins over Richard Burns 11-2 and Chris Bartram 11-7, while Ramil Gallego defeated both Belinda Beardon-Calhoun 11-7 and Germany’s Ralf Eckert 11-3.

“The Leader of the Filipino Invasion,” Jose Parica, has won both of his matches so far, sending Jason Johann and Dave Bollman west 11-4 and 11-8, respectively. Lee Van Corteza, who placed fourth in last year’s Open, is also on a roll, having bested Alexander Fitzgerald 11-2 and Amy Chen 11-3. Former world champion Ronnie Alcano also remained unscathed, with his victories over Justin Hall 11-6 and Jason Richko 11-7.

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 1 (updated continuously)

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 2 (updated continuously)

Live streaming provided by Accu-Stats.

Mike “The Mouth” Sigel is going strong with two victories as yet over Walter Blacker 11-5 and Ray Reyna 11-4. Right below him, Earl Strickland is also undefeated. If the two of them win their next match, they will meet in Round Four.

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 1

272 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 2

150 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 3

132 Photos

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

40 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 4

162 Photos

2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Gallery 5

368 Photos

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Francisco Bustamante has won his first-round match at the 35th U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, held this week at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA. The event kicked off Sunday with a full field of 256 players.

Bustamante has won his first-round match at the 35th U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, held this week at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA.

Bustamante arguably had one of the toughest first-round matches in the event, playing Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam, who just won his fifty-fifth Ozone Billiards Tour two weeks prior. Halfway through the match, Putnam held a one-rack lead at 6-5, 7-6, and 8-7. However, the tables were turned when “Django” pulled ahead by a small margin. Bustamante won the next two racks in a row to make it 9-8 and then reached the hill. Putnam only won one more rack before Bustamante took their match 11-9. The recently crowned world champion will be inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame later this week.

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 1 (updated continuously)

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 2 (updated continuously)

Two more ladies have made it through the first round unscathed. Amy Chen triumphed over Edmundo Ambrose, while Gerda “G-Force” Hofstatter went hill-hill with Holden Chin and eked out an 11-10 victory.

BCA Hall of Fame members Mike “The Mouth” Sigel and Earl Strickland both won their first-round matches, besting Walter Blacker 11-5 and Mike Delaner 11-4, respectively.

Father-and-son team Ernesto and Oscar Dominguez sailed through their first-round matches. Dominguez the elder bested Dwayne Guillory 11-4, while the younger delivered a first loss to Edward Richardson 11-6.

Live streaming provided by Accu-Stats.

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

The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships boasts a full 256-player field for its thirty-fifth installment, with roughly 13 ladies participating in the event for the first time ever. The week-long tournament is hosted by the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, VA, from October 17-23 and offers a $50,000-added prize purse.

Immonen is looking to make this his third U.S. Open title in a row.

Defending champion Mika Immonen, one of three players to win the U.S. Open twice consecutively, will be playing in the first round to see if he can make it three in a row. His match will be against Joey Arbuckle.

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 1 (updated continuously)

View U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships tournament bracket 2 (updated continuously)

While top names on the WPBA, such as Karen Corr, Jasmin Ouschan, and Allison Fisher, are conspicuously absent, there are a handful of ladies who decided to be among the first to ever play in the illustrious event. Neslihan Gurel, Borana Andoni, Sarah Rousey, Ewa Laurance, and Loree Jon Hasson are among those who have signed up.

The Hall of Fame banquet this year will honor Francisco Bustamante, who just won his first world title this year. Bustamante’s first match will be against Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam. Other Hall of Famers competing for the title include Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Mike Sigel, Efren Reyes, and Allen Hopkins.

Player Roster for 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships

Adam Kielar
Adam Smith
Ahmed Ali
Alex Pagulayan
Alexander Fitzgerald
Allen Hopkins
Amy Chen
Andrew Aupin
Andrew Kane
Angie Hawkins
Antonio Lining
Aymen Neyaz
B.J. Ussery
Badi Nazhat
Bahram Lofty
Beau Runningen
Belinda Beardon-Calhoun
Ben Barber
Ben Judge
Bernie Kirby
Bill Bauer
Bill Carenbauer
Bill Dunsmore
Bill Mason
Billy Duggan
Blair Levandowski
Borana Andoni
Brandon Shuff
Brent Boemmels
Brent Hensley
Brian Brekke
Brian Parks
Bruce Nagle
Butch Croft
Carlos Carter
Carston Due
Cary Dunn
Chad Pike
Chan Nelson
Charlie Williams
Cheryl Pritchard
Chip Klein
Chris Bartram
Chris Bruner
Chris Futrell
Chris Melling
Chris Orme
Chris Pyle
Chris Szuter
Cleiton Darocha
Corey Deuel
Craig Houghton
Craig McPartlin
Curtis Coleman
Dan Ruden
Dana Michaud
Daniel Heidrich
Daniel MacIntyre
Danny Mastermaker
Danny Olson
Darren Appleton
Darryl Smith
Daryl Peach
Dave Bollman
Dave Fernandez
David Alcaide
David Cooper
David Hunt
David Ross
David Rowell
Delton Howard
Demetrius Jelatis
Dennis Harr
Dennis Orcollo
Don Steele
Donny Mills
Douglas Jones
Dustin Morris
Dwayne Guillory
E.J. Glode
Earl Strickland
Eddie Little
Edmundo Ambrose
Edward Richardson
Edwin Montal
Efren Reyes
Elias Patrikios
Eric Moore
Erik Hjorliefson
Ernesto Dominguez
Ewa Laurance
Francisco Bustamante
Frank Fennema
Frankie Hernandez
Gabe Owen
Gabriel Bitanga
Gary Lutman
George McLanahan
George SanSouci
George Vlacich
Gerda Hofstatter
Greg Harada
Gregg McAndrews
Gregory Diehl
Henry Lopez
Holden Chin
Huiji See
Hunter Lombardo
Imran Majid
Ivaylo Petrov
Jackie Duggan
James Gottier
Jason Johann
Jason Klatt
Jason Richko
Jayson Shaw
Jeff Abernathy
Jeff Crawford
Jennifer Barretta
Jeremy Sossei
Jerome Rockwell
Jesse Engel
Jim Lanning
Jim Murnak
Jo Ka Nim
Joann Mason-Parker
Jody McLaughlin
Joe Pierce
Joey Arbuckle
John Alicea
John Hernandez
John Mitcheltree
John Morra
John Schmidt
John Timmermans
Johnathan Pinegar
Johnny Archer
Jose Parica
Joshua Burbel
Joshua Newman
Jundel Mazon
Justin Hall
Kaloyan Rusanov
Karl Boyes
Keith Bennett
Kenichi Uchigaki
Kento Lacy
Kento Yonezu
Kiril Jeliazkov
Larry Kressel
Larry Phlegar
Lee Scott
Lee Van Corteza
Levi Meiller
Liwen Lo
Loree Jon Hasson
Manny Chau
Marc Vidal
Mark Tafoya
Matt Krah
Matt Riggs
Max Eberle
Michael Clay
Michael Connor
Michael Page
Michael Wong
Michael Yednak
Mika Immonen
Mike Andrews
Mike Badsteubner
Mike Champagne
Mike Davis
Mike Dechaine
Mike Delaner
Mike Fuller
Mike Harvey
Mike Lebron
Mike Sigel
Mike Stansbury
Morgan Steinman
Nelson Weimer
Neslihan Gurel
Nick Tafoya
Nick Varner
Nigel Francis
Olli Turkulainen
Omar Santiago
Oscar Dominguez
Pat DiBuono
Paul Song
Pedro Codon
Peter Benoit
Peter Jackson
Phil Davis
Raj Hundal
Rajesh Khanna Vannala
Ralf Eckert
Ralf Souquet
Ramil Gallego
Randy Labonte
Ray Reyna
Raymond Lee
Reyjon Carmona
Richard Broumpton
Richard Burns
Richard Glasscock
Ricky Yang
Rob Leeper
Rob Phillips
Robb Saez
Robert Begey
Robert Pole
Robert Ruffalo
Roberto Gomez
Rodney McLamb
Rodney Morris
Roman Hybler
Ronald Tutien
Ronnie Alcano
Ronnie Park
Ronnie Wiseman
Rory Hendrickson
Sam Monday
Sammy Wu
Santos Sambajon Jr.
Sarah Rousey
Scott Frost
Scott Higgens
Shane Norris
Shane Van Boening
Shane Winters
Shaun Wilkie
Shawn Putnam
Sho Tsuken
Stan Tourangeau
Stephen Hickman
Steve Lillis
Steve Sones
Steven Page
Stevie Moore
Thomas Giddens
Thorsten Hohmann
Tim Colvin
Tom Czaplicki
Tommy Kennedy
Tommy Tokoph
Tomu Takano
Tony Crosby
Tracy Prescott
Vergil Bedwin
Walter Blacker
Warren Kiamco
William Anderson
William Gallagher
Yomaylin Feliz
Zion Zvi

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