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 ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/laurance-claims-wpba-masters.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/wpba-soaring-eagle-casino-day-1-results.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/wpba-soaring-eagle-casino-day-1-results.html#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:05:34 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=16723 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 ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiard-news/wpba-soaring-eagle-casino-day-1-results.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/the-grand-joins-the-lone-star-billiards-tour.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/the-grand-joins-the-lone-star-billiards-tour.html#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:05:04 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=15053 THE GRAND JOINS THE LONE STAR BILLIARDS TOUR

The Grand will host its first Lone Star event on June 25th-26th, 2011 adding a generous $1,000 to the tournament prize fund. Formally named “The Grand Billiards and Social Club”, it’s nestled just off of highway 35, at 4631 Airport Blvd, in Austin, Texas. It was voted 2010’s Best in Pool and Billiards by the Austin Chronicle and has just become the newest hot spot for the Lone Star Tour. Billiard fans and Austin natives may recognize it as the former Eric’s Billiards circa 1986-2007, now reborn as “The Grand”, a rejuvenated, upscale adult pool room.

The Grand will host its first Lone Star event on June 25th-26th, 2011 adding a generous $1,000 to the tournament prize fund.

This historic room, gaining fame in the late 80’s for its famous State Championship originally held at the former Eric’s, has catered to the likes of Allison Fisher, Gerda Hofstatter, Helena Thornfeldt, Vivian Villareal, and numerous other WPBA champions.

The Grand offers a laidback, non-smoking atmosphere, hosting numerous APA events, leagues, and weekly open tournaments. They offer a full bar with flat screen televisions, great for watching your favorite sporting event, and an outdoor patio for smokers. Darts, foosball, and video games can also be found along with a friendly bartender or waitress to serve you. This pool room has (2) 7 foot tables, (10) 8 foot tables and (6) 9 foot tables. Tournament tables are all Brunswick brand, dressed in Simonis cloth, perfect for any billiard tournament.

LSBT players, friends and fans eagerly anticipate this premier event, as The Grand becomes the newest attraction on this Texas-based tour. For more information about The Grand, please call (512) 454-1986 or visit the “Venues” section at www.lonestarbilliardstour.com.

Challenge Yourself. Test Your Skill. Improve Your Game.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Fisher captured the title of Kwikfire Tour champion and her third title in a row when she bested Hofstatter in the finals of the December 12-13 event.

Kelly “Kwikfire” Fisher captured the title of Kwikfire Tour champion and her third title in a row when she bested Gerda Hofstatter in the finals of the December 12-13 event. Hosted by 150 ‘N Out Billiards in Mooresville, NC, the $1,940-added stop drew a field of 16.

Katie Cowans and Lisa Davids

Fisher went undefeated through the event to best Hofstatter 9-5 to win the title, but there was plenty of other excitement going on as well. After upsetting Belinda Calhoun and Lisa Davids early Sunday, Katie Cowan lost hill-hill to Hofstatter, earning a stellar third-place finish. With her strong showing throughout the year, Cowan finished fourth in the overall standings, behind three top professionals, capturing the highest ranking and coveted invitation into all of the 2011 WPBA Classic Tour events.

Earning a fourth-place finish was Davids, while Kristen Malone shared a notable fifth-place finish with Calhoun and ended the season with her highest finish to date. Holly Sholes and Cowan came into the event with hopes of securing the WPBA invitation, and Sholes looked promising early on with a win over Val Finnie. But then she lost a tough match to Hofstatter 9-5 and continued to struggle on the one-loss side after losing to a steady Lisa Cossette. This early departure put Sholes’ overall standings in jeopardy and left the door open for other players to overtake her. Davids saw the opportunity and, with her fourth-place finish, surpassed Sholes by 20 points and nabbed fifth place in the overall standings.

The tour champiosnhip drew a field of 16 players.

Results:
1st Kelly Fisher $700
2nd Gerda Hofstatter $470
3rd Katie Cowan $320
4th Lisa Davids $220
5th Belinda Calhoun $125
Kristen Malone

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – American Poolplayers Association star player rep Jeanette Lee, appearing in her first event since the birth of her baby daughter Savannah, is storming through the field at the Seneca Hotel & Casino. Lee defeated defending champion and newly crowned World 10-Ball champ Jasmin Ouschan moments ago in a 9-8 thriller!

16 players remain in action in the single elimination.

The Final Sixteen in the Single Elimination round represents players from nine nations and includes:
Cathy Metzinger (CAN) vs. Jennifer Chen (TPE)
Monica Webb (USA) vs. Brittany Bryant (CAN)
Melissa Little (USA) vs. Mary Rakin (USA)
Karen Corr (IRE) vs. Vivian Villarreal (USA)
Xiaoting Pan (CHN) vs. Gerda Hofstatter (AUS)
Julie Kelly (IRE) vs. Jeanette Lee (USA)
Allison Fisher (ENG) vs. Helena Thornfeldt (SWE)
Ga Young Kim (KOR) vs. Sarah Rousey (USA)
Matches begin at 6 p.m.

Saturday Day Session First Elimination Round
(Matches are races to 9 – First player to 9 games wins match) Eliminated players finish 25-32nd.
Brittany Bryant d. Nicole Keeney 9-7
Jennifer Chen d. Melissa Herndon 9-6
Eleanor Callado d. Melissa Rademakers 9-7
Belinda Calhoun d. Rhio Flores 9-2
Stacie Bourbeau d. Dawn Hopkins 9-6
Gerda Hofstatter d. Liz Cole 9-3
Mary Rakin d. Janet Atwell 9-5
Jasmin Ouschan d. Naomi Williams 9-6

Saturday Day Session First Elimination Round
(Eliminated players finish 17-24th.)
Brittany Bryant d. Kyoko Sone 9-5
Jennifer Chen d. Kelly Fisher 9-6
Vivian Villarreal d. Eleanor Callado 9-7
Helena Thornfeldt d. Belinda Calhoun 9-6
Sarah Rousey d. Stacie Bourbeau 9-4
Gerda Hofstatter d. Line Kjorsvik 9-8
Mary Rakin d. Jennifer Barretta 9-7
Read more ...]]> http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/final-sixteen-head-to-single-elimination-round.html/feed 0 http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/wpba-in-niagara-falls-underway.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/wpba-in-niagara-falls-underway.html#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:37:39 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=13987 WORLD’S TOP WOMEN POOL PLAYERS IN NIAGARA FALLS

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

Austrian female sensation Jasmin Ouschan will be gunning for the men once again at the 70th Annual Predator World Tournament of Straight Pool presented by KnightShot.com. She leads four other women in the 48 invitational field at Breaker Billiards which will host this year’s event playing on beautiful Brunswick Gold Crown tables and using Simonis Cloth. The event will start play today October 6, 2010 and ends on Columbus Day October 11th. The greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA’s east coast again to New Jersey, and attend this prestigious event to play for the coveted title of World Straight Pool Champion. The event is co-sponsored by Amsterdam Billiard Club, Master Chalk, Aramith Balls, Ultimate10ball.com, and Accu-Stats.

Ouschan made history this past year sweeping all the divisions of the European Championships in the ladies divisions including 9-Ball, 8-Ball, and straight pool.

Ouschan made history this past year sweeping all the divisions of the European Championships in the ladies divisions including 9-Ball, 8-Ball, and straight pool. Ouschan is used to making history, in 2008 she became the first woman in history to reach a major men’s semi-finals at the World Tournament of 14.1.

She will be joined by Japan’s Tamiko Kumatori, Turkish Women’s Champ Neslihan Gurel, top women’s pro Gerda Hofstatter of Austria , and USA’s top women’s pro Megan Smith who earlier won a open qualifier to earn her spot into the event.

The ladies will be eying superstar opponents in the field such as Thorsten Hohmann, Mike Sigel, Oliver Ortmann, Johnny Archer, Mika Immonen and defending champion Stephan Cohen of France and many more . The event is by far the most powerful list of world beaters in the 14.1 world who will come to play in the greatest straight pool tournament in the world.

Inside POOL Magazine cover girl Neslihan Gurel of Turkey.

The live streaming of the event at www.accu-stats.com

Additional coverage at www.DragonPromotions.com Info contact worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com

The 2010 Predator World Tournament is proudly sponsored by straight pool aficionados Dr.Louis Pannullo of NYC, Bill Austin of UT, Harold Siegel of NYC, Stu Mattana of NYC, and Badi Nazhat of Curacao. Other significant patrons include Dr.Michael Frank, and Ralph Rubin. Co-Contributors we like to recognize include Dennis Walsh, Bill Marapolus, Peter Burrows, Richard Klein, James Heller, and Jeff Mohl. For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.

by InsidePOOL Staff

Gerda Hofstatter went all the way through the 64-player field at the WPBA San Diego Classic unscathed to win the title over Shu-Han Chang of Chinese Taipei. This event was hosted by the Viejas Casino in Alpine, CA, March 10-14.

Hofstatter’s path to the finals included wins over Lisa Davids, Angelina Paglia, and Kyoko Sone. Once in the final 16, she bested Monica Webb and advanced to the quarterfinals, where she eliminated the tour’s number-one player, Ga Young Kim. In the semifinal match Hofstatter ousted Karen Corr, and then “G-Force” claimed the title over Chang in the finals.

After a first-round victory over Laura Smith, Chang was sent to the one-loss side by Corr. From there she fought back to the finals with wins over Jasmin Ouschan, Jeanette Lee, and Xiaoting Pan in the semifinals.

Hofstatter went all the way through the 64-player field at the WPBA San Diego Classic unscathed to win the title over Shu-Han Chang of Chinese Taipei.

The Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) has granted CueSports International (CSI) “Recognition Status” for the 2010 U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. This designation officially allows WPBA professionals to participate.

The U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship will be held May 17-22, 2010, in the Pro Arena at the Riviera Hotel & Casino immediately following the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters (May 12-16, 2010) and in conjunction with the 34th Annual BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships.

With this recognition, CSI, the producer of the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, is able to invite the top names in women’s professional pool to compete along the top men from across the U.S and the World.

The top ten-ranked WPBA players have been sent invitations to the $25,000 minimum guaranteed added event: Ga Young Kim, Jasmin Ouschan, Xiaoting Pan, Karen Corr, Kelly Fisher, Allison Fisher, Vivian Villarreal, Gerda Hofstatter, Jeanette Lee, and Monica Webb.

Entering its 17th year, The U.S Bar Table Championships is expanding.

U.S pool rooms and participating regional tours will be hosting U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship qualifiers. A list of qualifier dates and hosting tours and rooms will be listed on the CSI website by January 1, 2010 (playcsipool.com).

For more information about the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship, please call the CSI office at (702) 719-7665 or e-mail holly@playcsipool.com.

CueSports International is dedicated to creating more choices for all players. CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League, the National Championship Series (NCS), and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events such as the U.S. Bar Table Championships, the Jay Swanson Memorial and the U.S. Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit playcsipool.com, playbca.com, and playusapool.com for more information about CSI and its divisions.

Two rounds were completed on Saturday at the Kappa 209 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship. In the first round the field was reduced from sixteen players to eight. This round found number one seed Chou Chieh-Yu (CHN) upset 9-4 by Zhou Doudou (CHN) and Allison Fisher (GBR) eliminated from the field 9-8 by Chen Xue (CHN). The top-bracket action also found Fu Xiafang (CHN) beating Han Fang (CHN) 9-8 and Karen Corr (GBR) rolling over Tsai Pei Chen (TPE) 9-3, making Ms. COrr the only western player to survive into the round of the great eight.

The bottom bracket found crowd favorite Pan Xiaoting ((CHN) defeating qualifier Gao Meng (CHN) 9-4, Korean powerhouse Yu Ram Cha beating Gao Shu Pin (TPE) 9-3, Liu Shasha (CHN) getting by Chen Siming (CHN) 9-7 and former world champion Liu Shin-Mei ((TPE) progressing 9-5 over Gerda Hofstatter (AUT).

Two rounds were completed on Saturday at the Kappa 209 Women’s World 9-Ball Championship.

View the Kappa 2009 Women’s World 9-Ball Championships Double Elimination tournament brackets

View the Kappa 2009 Women’s World 9-Ball Championships Final Single Elimination tournament brackets

The round of the great eight began with five Chinese players still in the mix, an incredible feat for the representatives of the host nation. But Karen Corr kept western hopes alive as she defeated Zhou DouDou (9-3) to make the final four. She is joined in the elite group by Fu Xiofang, who easily escaped Chen Xue 9-2. The last two slots are filled by Pan Xiaoting with her victory over Yu Ram Cha (9-4) and Liu Shasha who steamrolled Liu Shin-Mei 9-1.

Sunday will find a single victor.