NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Toronto’s Brittany Bryant, fresh off her win in the World Junior 9-Ball Championships in Reno earlier this week, defeated Jennifer Chen 9-5 to secure her first ever ESPN semi-finals appearance tomorrow in the WPBA Tour Championships! She’ll play that semi-final against veteran champion, Ireland’s Karen Corr, who defeated Mary Rakin 9-4.

Bryant, fresh off her win in the World Junior 9-Ball Championships in Reno earlier this week, defeated Chen 9-5 to secure her first ever ESPN semi-finals.

The other semi-final will feature China’s Xiaoting Pan, who defeated Ireland’s Julie Kelly 9-3, vs. Korea’s Ga Young Kim, who narrowly defeated BCA Hall of Famer and pool’s record-holding titlist, Allison Fisher 9 games to 8.

Quarter-Final Results
Brittany Bryant (CAN) d. Jennifer Chen (TPE) 9-5
Karen Corr (IRE) d. Mary Rakin (USA) 9-6
Xiaoting Pan (CHN) d. Julie Kelly (IRE) 9-3
Ga Young Kim (KOR) d. Allison Fisher (ENG) 9-8

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/final-eight-undefeated-players-left-in-niagara-falls.html http://www.cuesandpool.com/billiards/final-eight-undefeated-players-left-in-niagara-falls.html#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:58:10 +0000 Pool and Billiards News http://www.insidepoolmag.com/?p=13997 WORLD’S TOP WOMEN POOL PLAYERS IN NIAGARA FALLS
WPBA Tour Championship Friday Evening Results

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

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.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Rakin is making her mark on the Reno Open.

The 46th installment of the prestigious Reno Open saw the field considerably taken down in number, leaving only 16 players on the undefeated side of the chart, with 64 on the one-loss side. Players making it to the 9 p.m. rounds Friday will be in the money.

Twenty-year-old Mary Rakin is still unchallenged as yet, having won her first three matches with relative ease, including a 9-1 trouncing of Stan Alameda. Her next match will pit her against Los Angeles’ Corey Harper, who had a first-round bye as Rakin did, and then went on to defeat Chris Kent, William Anderson, and Trevor Smith.

Melissa “The Viper” Little also remains unscathed. Her latest victim was Las Vegas resident Vince Tedesco, whom she sent west 9-5. Little will play Michael Deitchman in the next round. Deitchman is fresh off a hill-hill victory over Jose Parica.

The father-and-son team of Ernesto and Oscar Dominguez seems to be on a crash course in the winners’ bracket. Ernesto recently sent Bob Halloran to the left side 9-3 and will play Jim Fabionar in the next round. Oscar, one rung above, defeated Mark Haddad 9-6 and next faces Jeff Carter. If both Dominguezes win their match, they will meet in the following round.

Another featured match-up on the winners’ side will be between Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant and Mike Davis. Both players were of the few who did not receive a first-round bye and have played four matches so far to reach this point. Davis recently bested local player Ace Brown 9-3, while Bryant bested Roger Bordley by the same score.

Recent Players Championship one-pocket winner Gabe Owen dealt Adam “GQ” Smith his first loss after their hill-hill battle and advances to meet Ronnie “Everything’s Funny When You’re Winning Big Money” Wiseman. Steve Moore is also still undefeated and will play Brian Parks in the next round, and Justin Whitehead and Stan Tourangeau will match up as well.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Little, one of seven women pool players to play in the Reno Open, and Mary Rakin are still undefeated.

The Reno Open began its elimination rounds Wednesday—having started with 167 they are currently left with 153 players. The $50,000 total prize purse will be divvied up between the top 48 contestants, with $15,000 going to first place and $7,500 to second.

Of the seven ladies in attendance, two are still undefeated: Melissa “The Viper” Little and Mary Rakin. Both had a first-round bye. Little defeated Bill Brown in the second round while Rakin sent Dennis Hostak to the one-loss side.

There have been no major upsets as yet at this long-running event. Of the 64 undefeated players, the favorites remain, including Kim Davenport, Steve Moore, Ronnie Wiseman, Gabe Owen, Mike Davis, Charlie Bryant, Jeff Carter, Tyler Edey, Oscar and Ernesto Dominguez, Corey Deuel, and Stan Tourangeau.

Thursday will see more rounds in the winners’ bracket, and some of the featured match-ups will include Deuel versus Louis Ulrich, Jose Parica versus Leonardo Andam, and Max Eberle versus Oscar Dominguez.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Van Boening is looking to defend his Reno Open title this week.

The annual Reno Open kicked off December 9 at the Sands Regency Hotel & Casino in Reno, NV. This event brought in 167 players from all over the world to vie for the first-place prize.

Defending champ Shane Van Boening is not present, as he is playing for his country at the Mosconi Cup, held in the country of Malta, this week. However, there are plenty of players ready to step up and take his place. Among them are Gabe Owen, Corey Deuel, Charlie Bryant, Jose Parica, Mike Davis, Ronnie Wiseman, Steve Moore, Tony Chohan, Adam Smith, and Kim Davenport.

There are also several women playing. First-time player Noelle Campos is the reigning BCA National 8-Ball champion and plays out of a wheelchair. Also, Melissa Little and Mary Rakin are contenders.

The format is a race to 9, double elimination, rack your own. The double-elimination final match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. All matches are being played upon Diamond tables.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Herndon is on the one-loss side of the bracket at the WPBA Pacific Coast Classic.

The second round of the eliminations has wrapped up at the WPBA Pacific Coast Classic, leaving only 16 top ladies remaining. The event is being hosted by the Chinook Winds Casino & Resort in Lincoln City, OR.

Melissa Herndon, delivered to the one-loss side after a second-round loss to Vivian Villareal 9-5, has ousted Julie “Motor Molly” Kelly 9-7, sending her to face Ramona Biddle, who just defeated Michell Monk 9-5. Morgan Steinman, who suffered an early loss to Yu Ram Cha, has rallied and eliminated Stacy Hurst in a double-hill nail-biter.

Canada’s Joanne Ashton suffered an early exit courtesy of Melissa Little hill-hill, while Helena Thornfeldt continues her trek through the one-loss side after winning 9-3 over Maureen Seto. Her next opponent will be Belinda Calhoun, who just defeated Mary Rakin 9-7.

View the WPBA Pacific Coast Classic double elimination tournament brackets.

Kyoko Sone, who was responsible for delivering Karen Corr her first-round defeat, is still fighting on the west side after her 9-7 defeat at the hands of Line Kjorsvik. Her latest opponent was Helene Caukin, whom she defeated 9-2.

Corr seems to be fighting through the left side, with a 9-4 victory over Susan Williams. Her next opponent will be Aileen Dimmick (nee Pippin), who just defeated Gail Grecar 9-3. Kelly Fisher, currently ranked number one on the tour, is also rallying after her earlier loss to Yu Ram Cha, having won a hill-hill match over Tiffany Nelson.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Hurst managed to squeak by Nelson in the first round of the Women's Professional Billiard Association Pacific Coast Classic

The first round at the WPBA’s Pacific Coast Classic, hosted by the Chinook Winds Casino & Resort in Lincoln City, OR, has wound down, with some surprising upsets along the way.

Perhaps the most surprising result of the first-round matches revolved around the match-up between Karen Corr and Kyoko Sone. Corr, currently ranked number two on the women’s tour, was sent to the one-loss side by the Japanese player with a decisive 9-6 score.

Tiffany Nelson also enjoyed a quick trip to the west courtesy of Southern California’s Stacy Hurst, who defeated her in a 9-7 upset. And Yu Ram Cha bested Montana’s Morgan Steinman in a match that didn’t see Steinman lodge a game on the scoreboard.

Otherwise, the top seeds have come through in the first round. Kelly Fisher, the tour’s number-one player, easily handled Irene Henry 9-2, while Allison Fisher bested Maureen Seto 9-1. Ga Young Kim, ranked fourth on the tour, had little trouble sending Supadra Boonpasook left 9-4, and third-ranked Xiaoting Pan won her match against Michelle Rakin 9-5.

View the WPBA Pacific Coast Classic double elimination tournament brackets.

Runner-up at the WPBA’s last event, Iris Ranola of the Philippines shows every indication that she is here to stay, besting Melinda Huang 9-3. Her next opponent will be Michell Monk, who just defeated Megan Minerich in a double-hill nail-biter.

Up-and-coming Anna Kostanian breezed through her first match, dealing a 9-0 loss to Stephanie Mitchell, and will next play Belinda Calhoun, who earlier bested Brittany Bryant 9-3. Jeanette Lee had little trouble with Colorado player Bonnie Plowman, sending her west 9-2, while Ewa Laurance also won her match with a resounding 9-0 score.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

Fisher is prepared to defend her title at the Women's Professional Billiard Association Pacific Coast Classic in Lincoln City, OR

The Women’s Professional Billiard Association’s Pacific Coast Classic begins Thursday, October 2, with a full field of 64. Hosted by the Chinook Winds Casino & Resort in Lincoln City, OR, this event will conclude Sunday, October 5.

Fifth-ranked Allison Fisher is the defending champion at this event, and she will have to fight off a slew of determined competitors. New number-one-ranked WPBA player Kelly Fisher will be looking to add another title to her resume for the year, while number-two-ranked Karen Corr will be trying to move up the ladder again and retake the top spot on tour. And third- and fourth-ranked players Xiaoting Pan and Ga Young Kim, respectively, will be trying as hard as they can to continue their upward movement on the tour.

A. Fisher’s first match will be against Maureen Seto, while K. Fisher will meet Irene Henry in the first round. Other interesting first-round match-ups include Morgan Steinman versus Yu Ram Cha, Julie Kelly versus Val Finnie, Jeanette Lee versus Bonnie Plowman, and Sarah Rousey versus Miyuki Sakai. Also, Mary and Michelle Rakin, both formidable former junior players, are both in attendance and should prove well worth watching.

View the WPBA Pacific Coast Classic double elimination tournament brackets.

The first round begins at 11 a.m. Thursday. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.