Mika Immonen's current hot streak continued when he won the International Challenge of Champions at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut on October 27th.
Immonen was joined in this invitational only event by Niels Feijen, Darren Appleton and Jian-Bo Fu from China.
Immonen made quick work of Fu with 5-1 and 5-2 wins. Meanwhile, reigning World 10-Ball Champion Darren Appleton's match against Feijen was closer but Appleton pulled out the 5-4 and 5-3 wins to set up his meeting with Immonen in the finals.
Appleton came out strong and took a quick 2-0 lead in the first set against Immonen, was lost the next five racks to lose that set 5-2.
The second set would be the complete opposite of the first as it was Immonen who had an early 2-0 lead and Appleton who came back for a 5-3 win to force one game for the $25,000 prize.
Nerves appeared to take control of both players in the final game as they both struggled to put away the rack. Immonen's dry break was followed by a miss on the two-ball by Appleton. Immonen returned to the table and promptly missed a three-ball giving the table back to Appleton. Appleton made it to the 6-ball before bad shape caused a miss. Immonen then missed a tough 6-ball, but was rewarded when Appleton also missed the ball. With the last four balls laying near pockets, Immonen was able to clean up the table and add another trophy to his already bursting trophy case.
