by InsidePOOL Staff

The 2010 WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championships saw Xiaofang Fu of China crowned the new victor after she bested Allison Fisher in the finals. This grueling, week-long event was held in Shenyang, China, and saw a total of 128 of the world’s best female 9-ball players compete for the prestigious title.

The 2010 WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championships saw Xiaofang Fu of China crowned the new victor after she bested Fisher in the finals.

Her opponent was the defending champion, fellow countrywoman 17-year-old Shasha Liu. Earlier in the event Liu had eliminated Miso Lin of Taipei, Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, and Siming Chen of China. Liu was unable to hold on to her title, though, and had to content herself with a third-place finish as Fu advanced to the final.

Allison Fisher, a four-time winner of this coveted crown, was waiting for her. Fisher had faced down Xioachun Zheng of China, Angelina Paglia of the U.S., and the WPBA’s number-one-ranked player, Ga Young Kim, to make it to the semifinals. There she had to go up against Shu-Man Chang, who had eliminated Yun Mi Lim of Korea, Monica Webb of the U.S., and Yuan Chun Lin of Taipei. Hoping to take a fifth title, Fisher pressed on to victory and defeated Chang as well.

But another victory was not in the cards for Fisher this time. The extended race to 9 was a hotly contested battle, but in the end it was Xiaofang Fu who took top honors with a 9-7 final score.

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

by InsidePOOL Staff

The World Women’s 9-Ball Championship has revealed the final 4 players of the original 128 talented ladies vying in Shenyang, China, for the title. Great Britain’s Allison Fisher is one of the four, while the other three players hail from Asia.

Fisher is one of the four, while the other three players hail from Asia.

Fisher’s semifinal opponent will be Shu-Man Chang of Taipei. After besting Yun Mi Lim of Korea 9-1 in the first round of the final 32, Chang also eliminated Monica Webb of the U.S. 9-7. Her closest match came from fellow countrywoman Yuan Chun Lin, which went double-hill before Chang moved on to the semifinals.

China’s Xiaofang Fu fought off three Taipei players en route to the semifinals. She bested Hui Shan Lai 9-3 in the first round and then advanced to meet Ho Yun Tan. Another quick victory for Fu went 9-2 and then she met Chieh Yu Chu. This match was much closer, but still Fu was able to move forward with a 9-7 victory.

View the Women’s World 9-Ball Preliminary Rounds tournament brackets

View the Women’s World 9-Ball tournament brackets

Meeting Fu in the semifinals will be Shasha Liu, also from China. In Liu’s first match she ousted Miso Lin of Taipei 9-5. Her second match, though, did not go so easily. Her opponent was Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, and Fisher took Liu to the hill but did not advance. Liu bested her 9-8 and then went on to meet China’s Siming Chen, whom she defeated 9-5.

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

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.

by Jerry Forsyth, WPA Press Officer

The qualifying rounds are over and the main event has begun at the sports complex of the Shenyang Jianzhu University in Shenyang. The day was highlighted by the grand opening ceremony where local government and sports officials welcomed the players and fans to the event.

The venue at the university is well suited for the competition. The tables are all located well beneath the main seating area so that the fans have a great view of several tables at once. There is also a separate television arena and the event is being broadcast live throughout China.

It is, of course, still very early in the event but there have been some surprising exits made already. Among notables who have been knocked out of the tournament are Julie Kelly of the USA, Yukiko Oui of Japan, Pang Xueling of China, and Angel Paglia of the USA.

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

The qualifying rounds are over and the main event has begun at the sports complex of the Shenyang Jianzhu University in Shenyang.

The knockouts will come in earnest tomorrow as more of the one-loss rounds progress. This stage of the tournament is a double-elimination group stage with eight players in each group. Of those eight only four of each group will survive to make it into the final stage, which will be a single-elimination format of thirty-two players. Eight players have already made it through to the single-elimination stage: Karen Corr, Pan Xiaoting, Chen Xue, Liu Shasha, Chou Chieh-Yu, Sarah Rousey, Gao Shu-Pin, and Jasmin Ouschan have completed their initial task.

Live Internet streaming of the event is found at my147.com and the brackets may be found at wpa-pool.com. They are updated after each round, so it is easy to follow the progress of your favorite players.

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