Womens US Open 9-Ball Championships

Charity Pro-Am Begins at 7 PM Tonight!

TULSA, OK -The River Spirit Event Center hosts the best female billiard players in the world THIS WEEK June 15-19, 2011 when the Women's Pro Billiard Tour's US Open 9-Ball Championships will play from 64 down to a single US Open Champion. Quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts.
 
The legendary Jeanette Lee, known as "The Black Widow," is slated to compete, along with: the 2009 World Games Gold Medalist and reigning U.S. Open 9-Ball defending champion Ga Young Kim; 2010 World 10-Ball and 2011 WPBA Masters Champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria; and 2010 WPBA Tour Champion Xiaoting Pan of China.
 
The event kicks off January 15th with a Pro-Am Charity Event to benefit  the Susan G Komen Foundation. Anyone can play or watch; and spectators will have the opportunity to challenge their favorite pros!

Tickets are just $10 on June 16th & 17th and $20 on June 18th and 19th!  VIP tickets are available for $25. Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!

WPBA US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Headliners!
 
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Ga Young Kim (Korea - now residing Taipei, Taiwan)
2010 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 Colorado Classic Champion
Current Rank: #3
Jasmin Ouschan (Austria)
www.jasmin-ouschan.com
2010 Atlanta Classic champion
2010 European Championships 3x Gold Medalist
2009 3x tour champion and Player of the Year
Current Rank: #1
Karen Corr (Ireland - now residing Nashville, TN)
23 WPBA Championship Titles!
3x Tournament of Champions
2x Player of the Year
Current Rank: #2
Xiaoting Pan (Korea)
2010 WPBA Tour Champion
2008 BCA Open 9-Ball Champion
2007 WPA World 9-Ball champion
Current Rank: #4
Gerda Hofstatter (Austria - now residing Charlotte, NC)
www.gerdahofstatter.com
2010 San Diego Classic Champion
2000 BCA Open 9-Ball champion
1995 WPA World 9-Ball Champion
Current Rank: #5
Kelly Fisher (Great Britain - now residing Charlotte, NC)
2009 Champion of Champions
2008 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2008 WPBA Pacific Coast Champion
Current Rank: #6
Allison Fisher (Great Britain - Charlotte, NC)
www.allisonfisher.com
2010 World 9-Ball Champion Runner-Up
2009 BCA Hall of Fame Inductee
2009 World Games Gold Medalist
4x World Champion and WPBA Title Record Holder: 75 titles since 1995!
Current Rank: #7
Jeanette Lee (Indianapolis, IN)
www.jeanettelee.com
2007 World Team Cup and Empress Cup Champion
2005 China Invitational Champion
Current Rank: #8
 
About the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 as the Women's Professional Billiard Alliance, and celebrates 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 Tour is sponsored by the American Poolplayers Association, Diamond Billiards, Iwan Simonis, Cuetec Cues, Delta 13, Pooldawg, Mueller Recreational Products and Aramith.  
 
About River Spirit Casino
River Spirit Casino, Tulsa's $195 million casino project at 81st & Riverside, showcases 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma. With over 2,600 high-tech electronic machines, 24 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four world-class dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a fine dining establishment, a 24-hour café, lounge and sports bar.  For more information on River Spirit Casino please visit the website. www.riverspirittulsa.com
As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive economic impact for Tulsa and surrounding towns, adding 450 new jobs to the city. Proceeds from gaming operations help to fund a variety of Muscogee (Creek) Nation service programs such as housing, education, elderly assistance and healthcare. For more information on the tribe's history and government, please visit the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's Web site. www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov
 
About River Spirit Event Center
The newly renovated River Spirit Event Center is located at the site of the former Creek Nation Casino - Tulsa at 81st and Riverside Drive. The venue has nearly 20,000 sq. ft of useable space for sporting events, entertainment, conventions and meetings and all amenities.  =