by InsidePOOL Staff

The WPBA San Diego Classic kicked off March 11 at the Viejas Casino in Alpine, CA, with a full field of 64 of the top women players. The winners’ bracket is down to 32, while the other half of the field is making the uphill battle through the one-loss side.

The tour’s number-one-ranked player, Ga Young Kim, is at the top of the bracket and has won her first two matches. Her first victim was Stacy Novack, and her second was recent U.S. Open Bar Table Championship winner Melissa Little. Kim’s next match will be against Line Kjorsvik. The tour’s number-two player, Jasmin Ouschan, is also undefeated, having bested first Jennifer Chen and then Julie Kelly to face Helena Thornfeldt in the next round.

The WPBA San Diego Classic kicked off March 11 at the Viejas Casino in Alpine, CA, with a full field of 64 of the top women players.

Number three on the tour, Xiaoting Pan is set for her third-round match against Tracie Hines, having bested Kim Benson and then Morgan Steinman. Hines was responsible for sending Veronique Menard and Erin McManus to the left side of the chart. The tour’s fourth-ranked player, Karen Corr, will play Sarah Rousey in the third round of this event. Corr earlier bested Cristina De La Garza and Shu-Han Chang, while Rousey defeated Dana Aft and Lisa Marr.

A featured third-round match will be between recent Hall of Fame addition Allison Fisher and Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee, who just won the St. Louis Louie Award at the Derby City Classic. In the first two rounds Fisher sent Mary Rakin and Jennifer Barretta to the west side of the chart, while Lee defeated Amy Chen and Nicole Keeney.

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There can be no doubt as to who the best player in the world is now. Mika Immonen of Finland has won the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Ten Ball Championship in Manila scant weeks after winning his second consecutive US Open and the Challenge of Champions. These wins push him over the $200,000 mark for the year and cement his place firmly in pool history.

Immonen entered the final day as one of four players left out of the 128 who started the week. His first victim for the day was Antonio Lining of the Philippines whom he beat 9-7. Just after this win the other semi-final between Lee Van Corteza of the Philippines and David Alcaide of Spain ended with Corteza earning the right to face Immonen 9-7.

Immonen continued his assault on the sport of pool as he captured the title of WPB World Ten Ball Champion. With this win, his winnings this year puts him over $200,000.

Corteza began the final with a hot hand and led 2-0 after the first two racks. But from there Immonen found his game and slowly pulled away to take the title 11-6 in a convincing victory.

View the WPA World 10-Ball Championships Groups tournament brackets

View the WPA World 10-Ball Championships Single Elimnation tournament brackets

Congratulations go out to Raya Sports for their production of this year’s championship and the Republic of the Philippines for being such gracious hosts.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Another installment of the much-anticipated $25,000-added Turning Stone Classic began February 19, bringing a full field of 128 out through a snowstorm to compete for first-place honors. Hosted by the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY, this event is put on twice a year by the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour.

Defending champion and a four-time winner of this event, Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer has already moved one step closer to claiming another title with his first-round victory over Paul Dreyden 9-2. His next match will be against Tony Robles, who just came through his match against Derrick Pogirski the 9-1 victor.

Archer will be looking to defend his title at the Turning Stone Classic this week.

Frequent Joss Tour victor Dennis Hatch dealt his first opponent, Sean Martin, a donut to advance 9-0, while Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant also won his first match against Edward Hugh 9-1. 

View the Turning Stone Classic brackets updated after each round

There are several women who entered the tournament, including top WPBA pros Karen Corr, Allison Fisher, and Sarah Rousey. Corr dealt her first victim, David Wetmore, a stunning 9-0 loss to advance, while Fisher came through 9-6 against Kean Thomas. Rousey also won her first match, advancing 9-3 over Bob Cunningham.

The European contingent is doing nicely so far. Former world champion Thorsten Hohmann survived a hill-hill bout against Joe Tucker 9-8, while 2008 InsidePOOL Player of the Year Mika “Iceman” Immonen dusted Jonathan Gilbert 9-1 in the first round. Darren Appleton and Daryl Peach, reigning 10-ball and 9-ball champions, respectively, are also both in attendance. Appleton won 9-2 over Damian Sobers, while Peach sent Marco Kam to the one-loss side with an identical 9-2 score.

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by Jeff Williams
Twenty-six billiard players entered Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, with one goal in mind: to win this Tri State Tour C-D event held October 6. However, Dave Fitzpatrick was the only one up for the task.
Fitzpatrick’s first victim was Teddy LaPadula, whom Fitzpatrick took down 7-4. He then took on a confident Steven Brush, winning by virtue of a 1-9 carom shot. Fitzpatrick’s next match was a true test, playing tour newcomer Emily Duddy. The score was knotted at 3 when Fitzpatrick left the next two 9 balls hanging in the pocket, allowing Duddy to reach the hill. With better then normal safety play, Fitzpatrick fought his way back to a strong hill-hill finish.
After winning the hot seat from Alex Borukhovich, Fitzpatrick was afforded a break while he waited for his next opponent, and Dave Shemperis was happy to oblige. Shemperis took a 5-3 lead, needing to win one more rack to send the race to 8, but Fitzpatrick on the alert with tricky and strong defensive play, winning rack after rack. In the last rack, there was a great safety battle, with Fitzpatrick emerging the victor.

Results:

1st
Dave Fitzpatrick

2nd
Dave Shlemperis

3rd
Alex Borukhovich

4th
Rhio Anne Flores

5-6th
Emily Duddy

Leo Liu