New York, New York - Reigning World Tournament of 14.1 Champion John "Mr.400" Schmidt and recent Accu-Stats 14.1 Make It Happen Fan Pick Thorsten Hohmann both had surprise losses on Day 1 of the World Tournament of 14.1. House pro Earl Strickland also took two losses. The Olhausen World Tournament of 14.1 kicked off today with all 48 players battling in the round robin stage. Dragon Promotions and Dr. Michael Fedak have brought another globally star studded field at this year's Tournament hosted by Steinway Billiards in New York on August 19th-24th,2013. Live stream broadcast will be on www.insidepool.tv
Earl Strickland had an error filled match which local NYC player Michael Yednak took full advanatge in his 100 to 49 win over the 5x US Open Champion. Yednak has participated each year in the World Tournament but has yet to qualify through the group stages. He has two wins and 1 loss to Corey Deuel so this could be his year to improve. Earl then went onto play Deuel in the TV stream match where Deuel ran a 90 and finished Strickland off 100 to 15. Earl will likely have to win his next 3 matches in a row to have a good chance to qualify for the second stage of the championship.
Throwback pro from the 70's, Earl Herring took time off from his full time career as a church minister to join the World Tournament. He gave Tony Robles a tough match at one time tying at 64 to 64, but succumbed to Robles in the end after a skid. Herring had a brief lunch break, and was re-energized to take down Former World 14.1 Champion Thorsten Hohmann 100 to 58. Thorsten had a stellar show last week in a 14.1 invitational, but the amount of energy exerted could prove damaging this week as he struggled in both his matches on Day 1 of the World Tournament.
"I used to run a hundred balls or more daily as a younger man. But I still can run a hundred every once in awhile", said Herring who just celebrated his 12 year anniversary of his church.
The final upset of the day came at the expense of reigning World Tournament 14.1 champ John Schmidt who had an error filled match with Jonni Fulcher of Scotland. Both players had many opportunities but neither could seem to take advanatge. Schmidt had run 80+ out in his first match of the day, but couldn't put any runs together against Fulcher.
Matches continue today and the round robin completes on Wednesday before the evening 14.1 Hall of Fame Banquet honoring Oliver Ortmann and Gene Nagy.
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Through additional support from such sponsors such as Olhausen Tables, Championship Cloth, Aramith Balls, Amsterdam Billiards, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Master Chalk, and now FURY Cues, the absolute best pool players from around the world will arrive on the birth country of 14.1 once more to attend this prestigious event. All to vie for the coveted title of greatest straight pool player in the world.
