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Bryant comes from the loss side to defend WPBA Blue Emu title at Borderline Billiards in TN

Crowning achievements for (l to r) Kyoko Sone & Brittany Bryant with Janet Atwell

It began on Thursday, May 30 with a preliminary tournament made up of 30 lower-ranked players from the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) and ended on Sunday night, June 2 with the crowning of defending champion Brittany Bryant, who had to come from the loss side (five matches) to meet Kyoko Sone in the finals of the WPBA’s Signature Tour Stop, the Blue-Emu Southern Open. The $10,000-added event drew a total of 62 entrants, including Janet Atwell to her venue, Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN.

The event was not exactly a proverbial ‘walk in the park’ for the WPBA’s #4-ranked player. Bryant won the event, having won less than 60% of the games she played in it (70-49; 58.8%). The seven opponents she faced in races-to-8 chalked up an average of five racks against her. She got by Kelly Cavanaugh, Jessica Barnes and Mary Rakin by an aggregate score of 24-7, but against her other four race-to-8 opponents (LoreeJon Hasson, Allison Fisher, Melissa Little & Jennifer Baretta) she chalked up an aggregate of 32-26, or 55%. Not surprising necessarily, given the upgrade in the competition over those four matches. And then, of course, there was the third-round, 4-8 loss to Gail Eaton, which really did a job on the ‘numbers.’ Without that loss, Bryant would have finished with an overall game-winning average of just over 60% (62.8), rather than less.

“I go to every event to win it,” said Bryant, “but I didn’t go with any expectations this year. “There were actually a few more players who were higher up (in rankings) than there were last year when I won it.”

The ‘First Stage’ double elimination bracket yielded 16 players who advanced to the Final Stage; eight from the winners’ side and eight from the loss side of that bracket. Among those who emerged from that bracket was runner-up Kyoko Sone, who lost her opening round match, double hill to Mary Rakin. Rakin advanced to defeat Kelly Isaac 7-5 and become one of the eight winners’ side competitors to advance to the Final Stage. Sone moved to the loss side, where she defeated Toni Esteves and Janet Ritcey, both 7-2, to become one of the eight loss-side competitors to advance to the final stage.

The other winners’ side competitors to advance to the Final Stage were Jennifer Berzinski, Jessica Human, Hiroko Makiyama, Ashley Burrows, Stephanie Mitchell, Kia Sidbury and Billie Billings. The other loss-side competitors to advance were Autumn Duncan, Kelly Isaac, Susan Wilbur, Julie Cooper, Angela Janic, Stephanie Goens, and Catherine Tschumper.

Moving into the Final Stage, beginning on Friday, May 31, the 16 arrivals from the preliminary bracket faced 16 players more or less in the middle of the WPBA rankings (approximately #17-#32). The winners in this opening round of Final Stage play advanced to meet the WPBA’s top 16 players, who had been awarded opening round byes.

Of the WPBA’s top 16 players who waited until Friday evening to begin competing, only three failed to advance on the winners’ side past their opening match; Jessica Barnes (WPBA-ranked #16) was defeated 8-2 by Kyoko Sone, Gerda Gregerson (#8) lost to Mary Rakin 8-6 and Emily Duddy (#10) joined them on the loss side following an 8-3 defeat at the hands of Naomi Williams. Among the more notable matches in this round of play, and the only one to go double hill was the battle between Allison Fisher and Russian teenager Kristina Tkach, who, a week earlier, had been the only female to compete in the Open/Pro event of the 9th Annual George “Ginky” Sansouci Memorial in New York City (she finished in the tie for 5th place). She was defeated by Fisher here and went on to win two loss-side matches before being eliminated by Line Kjorsvik.

A final round on Friday night brought the field down to the winners’ side quarterfinals. Kyoko Sone had sent Line Kjorsvik to the loss side and on Saturday night, faced Mary Rakin, who, after her victory over Gregerson, had sent hostess and WPBA-ranked #9 Janet Atwell over. Brittany Bryant, who’d defeated Loree Jon Hasson was to meet up with Gail Eaton, who’d gotten by Melissa Little. Fisher followed up her win over Tkach with a victory over Jia Li and on Saturday night, faced Naomi Williams, who had just survived a double hill battle against Helena Thornfeldt.  The last of the winners’ side quarterfinals pitted Jennifer Baretta against Monica Webb.

These matches elicited the winners’ side semifinals, which began immediately afterwards. Sone, who’d downed Rakin 8-5 met Eaton, who’d sent Bryant to the loss side 8-4, as Fisher, who’d defeated Williams 8-3 met Baretta, who’d gotten by Webb 8-5.

“I have to give Gail so much credit,” said Bryant of her only loss in the tournament. “I have never seen her play that well. I was down 7-1, took a break, composed myself and got it to 7-4.”

“I wasn’t disappointed,” she added. “I didn’t play poorly and Gail took control when she needed to.”

Sone advanced to the hot seat match 8-3 over Eaton. Fisher and Baretta, almost predictably, fought to double hill before Baretta prevailed to join Sone in the hot seat match. Sone downed Baretta 8-4 to claim the hot seat and waited on what turned out to be Bryant’s fateful return.

Meanwhile, back at the loss-side ranch, Bryant and Melissa Little were laying in wait for Fisher and Eaton, respectively. Bryant had defeated Jessica Barnes 8-2 and Mary Rakin 8-3 to draw Fisher. Little had won four loss-side matches, including a double hill win over Naomi Williams and an 8-4 victory over Kjorsvik to draw Eaton. Little made it five in a row with an 8-5 win over Eaton and advanced to the quarterfinals. Bryant joined her after surviving a double hill fight against Fisher.

“I expected to go back and forth with Allison,” she said. “It was actually the first time I had ever beaten her. I ended up breaking and running at double hill to win it.”

Bryant followed her double hill win over Fisher with a double hill win over Little in the quarterfinals and for the second time, she finished with a break and run. In the semifinals, Jennifer Baretta came within a game of giving Bryant a third straight, double hill challenge, but Bryant edged out in front at the end to win it 8-6.

“I was up 6-2 in that match and she came back (to almost tie it),” Bryant said. “And then, there was a big game swinger, when she could have tied it at 6-6, but I won to go up 7-5. She won a game and I won the next game to win the match.”

The finals between defending champion Bryant and Sone came within a game of going double hill, as well, but for the second time in a row, Bryant edged out in front at the end to win it 10-8 and claim the 2019 Blu-Emu Southern Open.

“We didn’t make a lot of mistakes,” said Bryant of the final match. “She broke and ran the opening game and we had a few safety battles. I was up 6-2 and she started to make a comeback.”

As with the semifinal match against Baretta, Sone had the opportunity to tie things up at 6-6.

“She missed a key 8-ball to tie it up (at 6-6),” she said, “so it was 7-5 and I won the next three.”

WPBA representatives thanked Janet Atwell and her Borderline Billiards staff for hosting the event, as well as sponsors Simonis Cloth, Aramith, Diamond Billiard Products and Outsville.com. The next WPBA event, scheduled for August 8-11, will be a $10,000-added Signature Event, to be held in Fairfield, IL. Further details will be available soon. Bryant said that she plans to be in attendance.

American Guaranteed in International Pool Championship Final

Vivian Villarreal – Photo courtesy of Joe Gonzalez

New York City-  An American woman will be in the finals. After their quarter-finals wins, NYC's Jennifer Barretta and Texan Vivian Villarreal have ensured one USA player in the finals as they will face each other for the right to represent America in tomorrow's finale of the Andy Cloth Women's International Pool Championship.  For Barretta, a win here would mark her first official pro career major win. For Villarreal, it would be her 20th international title of her career and first major win in over a decade. The pro tournament is the longest women's billiard event of any kind with 6 days of heavy pool action with a round robin event that evolves into a final single elimination chart where players will start out races to 10 in 10-Ball and eventually rise to races to 11,13, and 17 in the finals.  All activities are taking place at Steinway Billiards Cafe and sponsored by Andy Cloth,  J.Pechauer Cues , Viking Cues,  Steinway Billiards.  , Olhausen Balls, Pool & Billiard Magazine , the NAPL & Focused Apparel . Patron sponsors include Dr. Greg Diehl, Tom Gleich, and Dr. Michael Frank.  Media partners include PKE Partners, IB Sports, NYC Grind, Gotham City Technologies, Nona Photography, and Charles Eames Photography.  7 days of live pool will be filmed and streamed by Inside Pool TV.   Pay per view on www.Dragonpromotions.com  for the live marquee matches Andy Cloth Women's International Pool Championship  taking place December 16th-21st at the same venue. The Championship is sanctioned by the WPBA Women's Pocket Billiards Association. 
 
Barretta would face Canadian #1 and former World Junior Champion Brittany Bryant in the quarters. Barretta kept the control in the match and eventually shut the Canadian down 11-7. 
"I love this format. Playing the round robin felt like a month of practice was done in 3 days. And the long races now are huge and play to my strengths", said Barretta.
 
Villarreal had her hands full to the brim when upstart newbie Hiroko Makiyama of Japan managed to keep pace with the fast tootin Texan Tornado until the match reached 6-6. Makiyama, who won a qualifier to get into the event, missed a 10-Ball that would have given her the lead. Instead, the flood gates were opened and Villarreal quickly took over the match from there and won 11-6. "At 6-6 I missed an easy 10 ball and lost 11-6 lol!!! Still loved every minute of it. Thank you everyone!!", said an elated Makiyama who made her free qualifier entry stretch for miles.
Meanwhile on Villarreal's Facebook page, she has been counting down with updates stating "And then there was 8…" , "And then there was 4…" and we are sure her plan is to get to "and then there was 2 and one" . But she will have to face a confident Barretta next.
 
Either way America will win, and it is building up to be a great battle!
 
See all the brackets can be found and full schedule of play times at www.dragonpromotions.com
 
Action continues on Day 5 Single Elimination with this TV lineup that can be ordered on www.dragonpromotions.com  
The Finals is scheduled for Sunday December 21 at 1:00pm.  See right side buttons.
 
Day 5 TV Schedule Race to 11 Quarter Finals . Watch on www.dragonpromotions.com click 12/20 $15 for entire day 
 
11:00am Vivian Villarreal USA vs Hiroko Makiyama JAPAN
1:15pm Ga Young Kim KOREA vs Helena Thornfeldt SWEDEN 
3:30pm Naomi Williams CANADA vs Denise Wilkinson NEW ZEALAND
 
Semi-Finals Race to 13
6:00pm Villarreal/Makiyama vs Williams/Wilkinson
8:00pm Barretta USA/Bryant CAN vs Ga Young Kim/ Helena Thornfeldt 
 
Follow the latest news and frequent updates on www.facebook.com/womensinternationalpool 

 

The Elite 8 at Andy Cloth Women’s International Pool Championship

Jennifer Barretta – Photo courtesy of Eli Ceballos CryFoto.com

New York City-  Eight players have survived the first day of single knockout. Six countries are left which are Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, USA, and Canada.  The pro tournament is the longest women's billiard event of any kind with 6 days of heavy pool action with a round robin event that evolves into a final single elimination chart where players will start out races to 10 in 10-Ball and eventually rise to races to 11,13, and 17 in the finals.  All activities are taking place at Steinway Billiards Cafe and sponsored by Andy Cloth,  J.Pechauer Cues , Viking Cues,  Steinway Billiards.  , Olhausen Balls, Pool & Billiard Magazine , the NAPL & Focused Apparel . Patron sponsors include Dr. Greg Diehl, Tom Gleich, and Dr. Michael Frank.  Media partners include PKE Partners, IB Sports, NYC Grind, Gotham City Technologies, Nona Photography, and Charles Eames Photography.  7 days of live pool will be filmed and streamed by Inside Pool TV.   Pay per view on www.Dragonpromotions.com  for the live marquee matches Andy Cloth Women's International Pool Championship  taking place December 16th-21st at the same venue.

 

The day was full of upsets with alot of damage coming from the qualifier winners. Arizona's Bernie Store had played in 2 qualifiers in California and Washington, losing in both. She received a wild card and has made good use of it with easily qualifying in her group with a huge win over top 3 American pro Jennifer Barretta of NY. "She played amazing against me. She made every tough shot", said Barretta. Bernie then moved on and knocked out Canadian top pro Veronique Menard 10-5 and then faced Hiroko Makiyama of Japan. Ironically, Makiyama defeated Bernie in the Los Angeles qualifier and though Store held an early 4-2 lead in the sweet sixteen, she succumbed to Makiyama 10-6. Still, a very well deserved 9th place at her first major pro event and getting some good cash as well!

 
On that note, Makiyama also was utilizing her free entry from her qualifier win and knocked out #6 seed Li Jia from China 10-7. She faces #1 seed Vivian Villarreal of TX, USA in today's quarter-finals. By far it's the biggest accomplishment of her career so far. 
 
Another qualifier winner Naomi Williams of Canada continued her outstanding play with a hard fought 10-8 win over Tara Williams of Texas. Williams finishes 9th in the money which included her 10-4 dominant win over local pro Erin McManus of NY.
 

In the biggest marquee match of the day, Jennifer Barretta played her best match of the event so far with a huge win over fellow top ranking American Jeanete Lee. Barretta came out with a 2-0 lead, and though Lee tied it at 2-2, Barretta took over from there and ended with a 10-6 victory to move into the elite 8. " I couldn't find my break and kept scratching. You can't do that against Jen. She played good behind my errors and deserves it", said the Black Widow who ends the event at 9th place.

 

Ga Young Kim of Korea barely broke a sweat with 10-1 and 10-3 wins over USA's Samantha Barrett and Japan's Akiko Kitayama. Her roomie Vivian Villareal of Texas dismantled Jeannie Seaver of Florida 10-3 to move to the quarters as well.
 
The most thrilling match of the day came from two players who came the furthest away. New Zealand's Denise Wilkinson trailed Taiwan's Jennifer Chen the entire match and at one point was down 3-8. Chen took a bathroom break, and the young Denise sheepishly smiled and admitted good naturedly to some fans she wasn't playing so well. She got a bit of encouragement back, and before you know it Denise stormed back with 5 straight games to tie the match at 8-8! Chen was visibly rattled and could not take advantage of the open table and hooked herself on the 7-ball. She made a great 2 rail kick but Denise made a nerve racking length of the table 7-ball and ran out to take the 9-8 lead. Chen came back and held steady on a 10-ball combo to tie 9-9. In the final rack both players showed nerves especially when Chen missed a ball in hand! Safety play engaged with Chen the more experience player winning the exchange but missed a very makeable 4-Ball. A ray of hope for Chen when Denise snookered herself on the 5-Ball , but she made a terrific rail first to make it and completed a difficult and pressure pounding runout to the delight of her aunt and uncle who accompanied her on this long trip! Wilkinson plays in the final quarter finals today against Canadian champ Naomi Williams. 
 
See all the brackets can be found and full schedule of play times at www.dragonpromotions.com
 
Action continues on Day 5 Single Elimination with this TV lineup that can be ordered on www.dragonpromotions.com  
The Finals is scheduled for Sunday December 21 at 1:00pm.  See right side buttons.
 
Day 5 TV Schedule Race to 11 Quarter Finals . Watch on www.dragonpromotions.com click 12/20 $15 for entire day 
 
11:00am Vivian Villarreal USA vs Hiroko Makiyama JAPAN
1:15pm Ga Young Kim KOREA vs Helena Thornfeldt SWEDEN 
3:30pm Naomi Williams CANADA vs Denise Wilkinson NEW ZEALAND
 
Semi-Finals Race to 13
6:00pm Villarreal/Makiyama vs Williams/Wilkinson
8:00pm Barretta USA/Bryant CAN vs Ga Young Kim/ Helena Thornfeldt 
 
Follow the latest news and frequent updates on www.facebook.com/womensinternationalpool 

 

Do or Die Day 3 at Women’s International Pool Championship

Nathalie Seichter – Photo courtesy of Joe Gonzalez Photography

New York City-  DDD-Day! Today is Do-or Die- Day as half the field will be cut as 32 women face elimination from the  Andy Cloth Women's International Pool Championship . China, Russia, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Sweden and USA look strong to take top seedings into the final rounds of the event. The pro tournament is the longest women's billiard event of any kind with 6 days of heavy pool action with a round robin event that evolves into a final single elimination chart where players will start out races to 10 in 10-Ball and eventually rise to races to 11,13, and 17 in the finals.  All activities are taking place at Steinway Billiards Cafe and sponsored by Andy Cloth,  J.Pechauer Cues , Viking Cues,  Steinway Billiards.  , Olhausen Balls, Pool & Billiard Magazine , the NAPL & Focused Apparel . Patron sponsors include Dr. Greg Diehl, Tom Gleich, and Dr. Michael Frank.  Media partners include PKE Partners, IB Sports, NYC Grind, Gotham City Technologies, Nona Photography, and Charles Eames Photography.  7 days of live pool will be filmed and streamed by Inside Pool TV.   Pay per view on www.Dragonpromotions.com for $10 daily or $50 for the entire week for the upcoming  Andy Cloth Women's International Pool Championship  taking place December 16th-21st at the same venue.
 
Who's looking good:
 
Players looking to take the top seeds in their groups include Ga Young Kim (KOREA) the event's original #1 seed, she has been storming through her opponents in record time with the exception of local NY pro Erin McManus who gave the 3 times World Champion a tough match who only lost 4-6. McManus looks prime to take one of the top 4 spots in the group, and Florida's Jessica Barnes could take the 2nd spot. In other groups, Taiwan's Jennifer Chen, Russia's Anna Mazhirina, and USA's Vivian Villarreal remain undefeated. Florida's top player Jeannie Seaver, a qualifier winner, could steal her Group 5 as she also remains undefeated!
 
Maureen Seto could steal away the top spot in Group 2 from #2 event seed Jeanette Lee today. Seto controls her own destiny after she came from behind to defeat the Black Widow and has remained undefeated. Lee still looks safe to get through.
 
In danger:
 
Some notable players that are in do or die situations today that likely must win all their matches include:
WPBA pro Emily Duddy (NY) , WPBA legend Belinda Calhoun (Beardon), Hiroko Makiyama (JAPAN), Suzanne Smith (WA), Jing Liu (CHINA) , Caroline Pao (NY), and Netherland's top pro Nathalie Seichter.
 
See all the brackets can be found at www.nycgrind.com or click here and full schedule of play times at www.dragonpromotions.com
 
Action continues on Day 3 Round Robin Finale with this TV lineup that can be ordered on www.dragonpromotions.com  :
 
Only $10 all day or $50 All Event . See right side buttons.
 
Day 3 Dec 18, 2014 TV Schedule
 
10:30am Vivian Villarreal (TX, USA) #10 seed vs Tara Williams (TX, USA)
11:50am Nathalie Seichter (NETHERLANDS) #7 seed vs Trinh Lu (CA, USA) 
1:10pm Emily Duddy (NY,USA) vs Connie O'Heron (WI, USA) 
2:30pm Jeanette Lee (NY,USA) #2 Seed vs Suzanne Smith (WA, USA)
4:30pm Denise Wilkinson NEW ZEALAND vs Rebecca Wagner (NV, USA) 
5:50 pm Ga Young Kim (KOREA) #1 seed vs Jessica Barnes (FL,USA)
7:10pm Li Jia CHINA #6 seed vs Kelly Isaac (OH,USA)
8:00pm Jennifer Barretta (NY,USA) #8 seed vs Akiko Kitayama (JAPAN) #9 seed 
 
Follow the latest news and frequent updates on www.facebook.com/womensinternationalpool 

 

Jenny Lee Wins at On Cue

Jenny Lee

Jenny “The Asian Assassin” Lee marks her first major win this year by defeating Stacy Novack in the finals of the ‘Tiger So Cal Ladies Tour’. After two days of grueling play by some of California’s most talented female pool players, it was these two veterans to the Tiger SCLT who remained to battle it out in the race-to-9 final match.   

Due to WPBA player (and Tournament Director) Melissa Herndon‘s early promotional efforts plus several mini-qualifiers run by Raquel McCluskey prior to the event; and despite a rather stormy weekend looming in the skies of Southern California, On Cue Billiards in La Mesa remained in the crosshairs of 29 female gunslingers and a host of railbirds for this double elimination, race-to-7 event.   

Many expected to see more from some of our usual suspects, but the early upsets in this year’s first Tiger stop included Vicki Wade, Melinda Huang, Hiroko Makiyama, Brook Thomason, Shauna Madrigal, Barbara Lee, Shar Vanderstyne, Nellie Del Rosario and Fran Smith.   

Probably the longest journey made to play the event was that of Emilyn Callado‘s, hailing from San Francisco. Emilyn remained in the top 8 finishers, even after losing early to Stacy Novack.  She powered through three more matches against Shannon Powell, Brandy Pamintuan and Nellie Del Rosario on Saturday before falling to Melissa Morris in her one and only match on Day 2 of the event.  Emilyn’s close 7-5 loss against Melissa landed her tied for 7th/8th in the tournament.   

Despite the handful of talented veterans competing, two tough greenhorns, Dara Nakagawa and Lila Woodland found themselves in the top eight players on Day 2.  

Lila, from San Diego, defeated Dara in her first match, and then sent former WPBA player Melissa Morris to the loser’s side…showing her determination to do well in the event.  But she hit a wall with her first loss against Trinh Lu from Rosemead, CA.  

On Sunday, Lila finally met her fate, finishing in 5th place after a rematch against Melissa, where she just couldn’t gain the momentum she had against the “Cue-Maker’s Daughter” in their previous match on Day 1. Meanwhile, Fountain Valley’s Dara Nakagawa fought an uphill battle after losing her first match to Lila, trudging her way to 8th place by defeating Raquel McCluskey, Hiroko Makiyama and Wendy Chou.  Dara’s run to the finish was cut short by the very talented Tina Pawloski, who’s fast-paced play and pool knowledge was on display throughout their match.   

The reigning 2011 State Champion and eventual 2nd place finisher of this event, Stacy Novack earned her spot in the hot seat by defeating Verni Flauta, Emilyn Callado, Tina Pawloski, Jenny Lee and Trinh Lu. Jenny Lee won her first three matches of Day 1, beating Melinda Huang, Brook Thomason, Wendy Chou before suffering her first loss to Stacy. Jenny then came back on Day 2 to defeat Tina Pawloski, Melissa Morris and Trinh Lu, which earned her a rematch with Stacy and guaranteeing her a 2nd place award for this event.   But Jenny Lee had other plans… 

The final match between Jenny and Stacy was quite a contrast of styles. Jenny Lee had already played several matches on Sunday and was well  in-stroke for the final match.  She seemed to be playing faster and more aggressively than normal. Jenny has been known to play at a slower pace in the past, but today it seemed like she was moving in ‘fast forward’, giving few chances to Stacy and leaving her tough on most safeties; even playing some very good kick-shots and getting good rolls. 

Stacy’s demeanor remained consistent as she took her time to execute, but she seemed to play a bit tighter than normal and sometimes even a little hesitant. Capitalizing on this, Jenny jumped ahead early in the first half of the match to an impressive 6-1 game lead. A couple of sloppy breaks by Jenny, who sent the cue-ball flying off the table, could have been a good turning point for Stacy.  She had ball in hand and wide open racks, but unfortunately she failed to close them out. Those two missed chances, coupled with the already distant lead, proved to be an impossible climb back for Stacy, and the match finally ended in a 9-2 defeat by Jenny Lee.   

In a conversation with the 20-year pool veteran after the event, Stacy stated, “I haven’t sought out extra help or knowledge with my game for quite sometime, but now feel that I am in a place that is receptive to elevating my game to the next level.”   By day’s end, Jenny Lee was visibly exhausted and even stated at a break between games that she was enduring some physical pain and discomfort brought on by leg cramps, which started just before the match. Nonetheless she kept her mind on the game and showed no signs of weakness. Jenny’s laser-like focus cut through her opponents in her typical ‘Assassin’ style.   

Yet again, Melissa Herndon is to be congratulated for another seamless Tiger SCLT event, sponsored by Tiger Billiard Products, PoolDawg and Delta-13 and streamed live from On Cue Billiards in La Mesa, CA by Daniel Busch of POV Pool who stepped in for veteran streamer, Andy Chen. Congratulations also go Nellie Del Rosario, who won the second chance event undefeated in a field of 14 players…and to Shar Vanderstyne, the winner of the Tiger Classic Series, TC-1 Cue raffle. 

This marks the first Tiger SCLT event of the year, which served as an excellent warm-up for the following Tiger sponsored tour stops, also to be streamed live:   

April 14th & 15th  $1,000 Added ($1,500 added with 32 players) – Tiger So Cal Ladies Tour event at Hard Times Billiards, Bellflower CA   
April 21st & 22nd  Tiger West Coast Women’s Tour $1,000 Added / The 2012 Women’s 9-Ball California State Championship at California Billiard Club, Mountain View, CA

WPBA Tour Championship Round One Results


Defending Champion Xiaoting Pan Upset by Texas’ Kim White    
 
LINCOLN CITY, OR – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour kicked off its culminating season Tour Championship at the Chinook Winds Event Center with 48 of the best women pool players in the world competing throughout Thursday.
 
32 competitors completed first round matches in the day session; the 16 winners of those matches then had to face the top 16 seeded players in the event. The big upset of this round was Texas player and Lone Star regional tour promoter Kim White’s victory over defending champion Xiaoting Pan of China in a 9-8 thriller for USA fans!
 
All first round losers moved to the one loss side of the double elimination chart — if they are defeated again, they are eliminated from the tournament. Elimination results will post later today. Beginning Saturday morning, quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts. Here are the Round One Results:
 
Round One Results (Unseeded Players)

Emily Duddy d. Sharon O’Hanlon 9-4   
Laura Smith d. Teresa Gifford 9-1  
Helena Thornfeldt d. Kim Pierce 9-3   
Teruko Cucculelli d. Morgan Steinman 9-5
Kim White d. Stacy Novak 9-5
Erica Park d. Tim Toops 9-3  
Tina Hess d. Maureen Seto 9-8  
Eleanor Callado d. Hiroko Makiyama 9-3  
Vicki Paski d. Angel Paglia (Forfeit)  
Mary Hopkin d. Erin McManus 9-2  
Dawn Hopkins d. Susan Mello 9-6
Liz Cole d. Kathy Stanley 9-0
Jennifer Chen d. Barbara Lee 9-0  
Melissa Little d. Shari Ross 9-7
Val Finnie d. Mikki Small 9-3  
Shelby Locati d. Susan Williams 9-5
 
Round One Seeded Player Results
 
Ga Young Kim d. Emily Duddy 9-4  
Jennifer Barretta d. Laura Smith 9-5
Line Kjorsvik d. Helena Thornfeldt 9-4  
Cathy Metzinger d. Teruko Cucculelli 9-6
Kim White d. Xiaoting Pan 9-8
Kim Shaw d. Erica Park 9-4
Kelly Fisher d. Tina Hess 9-4
Eleanor Callado d. Brittany Bryant 9-4     
Monica Webb d. Vicki Paski 9-0  
Ewa Laurance d. Mary Hopkin 9-1   
Jeanette Lee d. Dawn Hopkins 9-8
Tamara Rademakers d. Liz Cole 9-4
Allison Fisher d. Jennifer Chen 9-4   
Nicole Keeney d. Melissa Little 9-6  
Val Finnie d. Vivian Villarreal 9-5   
Liz Ford d. Shelby Locati 9-2  
 
Fans can keep up with match results at www.wpba.com via the Tour Championship Tournament Board.  
 
For more information, or to obtain tickets (day passes are just $20), call 1-888-MAIN-ACT (624-6228) or 541-996-5775. Chinook Winds Casino Resort, located on the beach in Lincoln City, is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
 
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, Delta 13, Pooldawg and Aramith.
 

WPBA Tour Championship Field Narrows

LINCOLN CITY, OR – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour kicked off its culminating season Tour Championship at the Chinook Winds Event Center with 48 of the best women pool players in the world competing throughout Thursday.
 
In a double elimination format, players with one loss move to the one loss side; a loss from this side of the bracket means elimination. 
The losing players in the results below have finished 33-48:
  
One Loss Side Results 
Shelby Locati d. Sharon O’Hanlson 9-8    
Vivian Villarreal d. Teresa Gifford 9-0   
Melissa Little d. Kim Pierce 9-0   
Jennifer Chen d. Morgan Steinman 9-5
Liz Cole d. Stacy Novak 9-8 
Dawn Hopkins d. Kim Toons 9-0  
Maureen Seto d. Mary Hopkin 9-7  
Hiroko Makivama d. Vicki Paski 9-7 
Brittany Bryant d. Angel Paglia
Tina Hess d. Erin McManus 9-3  
Erica Park d. Susan Mello 9-0 
Xiaoting Pan d. Kathy Stanley 9-1 
Teruko Cucculelli d. Barbara Lee 9-3 
Helena Thornfeldt d. Shari Ross 9-1 
Laura Smith d. Mikki Small 9-6 
Emily Duddy d. Susan Williams 9-5
 
Fans can keep up with match results at www.wpba.com via the Tour Championship Tournament Board. 
Emily Duddy d. Sharon O’Hanlon 9-4   
Laura Smith d. Teresa Gifford 9-1  
Helena Thornfeldt d. Kim Pierce 9-3   
Teruko Cucculelli d. Morgan Steinman 9-5
Kim White d. Stacy Novak 9-5 
Erica Park d. Tim Toops 9-3  
Tina Hess d. Maureen Seto 9-8  
Eleanor Callado d. Hiroko Makiyama 9-3  
Vicki Paski d. Angel Paglia (Forfeit)  
Mary Hopkin d. Erin McManus 9-2  
Dawn Hopkins d. Susan Mello 9-6 
Liz Cole d. Kathy Stanley 9-0 
Jennifer Chen d. Barbara Lee 9-0  
Melissa Little d. Shari Ross 9-7 
Val Finnie d. Mikki Small 9-3  
Shelby Locati d. Susan Williams 9-5
 
 For more information, or to obtain tickets (day passes are just $20), call 1-888-MAIN-ACT (624-6228) or 541-996-5775. Chinook Winds Casino Resort, located on the beach in Lincoln City, is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

WPBA Tour Championship 1st Round Matches Set

World’s Top Women Pool Players Begin Play at 10 a.m. PST   
 
LINCOLN CITY, OR – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour competes in Lincoln City, Oregon this week, November 9-13, 2011 for the WPBA’s culminating season Tour Championship! 48 of the best women pool players in the world are at Chinook Winds Casino to vie for the tour’s most prestigious title.
 
32 competitors will complete first round matches in the day session; the 16 winners will compete against the top 16 seeds; the losers will move to the one loss side. Beginning Saturday morning, quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts. Here are the Round One Matchups:
 
10:00 a.m.
Emily Duddy v. Sharon O’Hanlon (winner plays #1 seed Ga Young Kim at 1:30 pm)  
Laura Smith v. Teresa Gifford (winner plays Jennifer Barretta 3:15 pm)  
Helena Thornfeldt v. Kim Pierce (winner plays #8 seed Line Kjorskvik 1:30 pm)  
Morgan Steinman v. Teruko Cucculelli (winner plays Cathy Metzinger 3:15 pm)
Kim White v. Stacy Novak (winner plays #4 seed, defending champ Xiaoting Pan  3:15 pm)
Erica Park v. Tim Toops (winner plays Kim Shaw 3:15 pm)
 
11:45 a.m.
Maureen Seto v. Tina Hess (winner plays #5 seed Kelly Fisher 3:15 pm)
Emily Callado v. Hiroko Makiyama (winer plays Brittany Bryant 3:15 pm)
Angel Paglia v. Vicki Paski (winner plays #3 seed Monica Webb 6:30 pm)
Erin McManus v. Mary Hopkin (winner plays Ewa Laurance 6:30 pm)
Dawn Hopkins v. Susan Mello (winner plays #6 seed Jeanette Lee 8:15 pm)
Liz Cole v. Kathy Stanley (winner plays Tamara Rademakers 8:15 pm)
 
1:30 pm
Jennifer Chen v. Barbara Lee (winner plays #2 seed Allison Fisher 8:15 pm)
Melissa Little v. Shari Ross (winner plays Nicole Keeney 8:15 pm)
Val Finnie v. Mikki Small (winner plays #7 seed Vivian Villarreal 8:15 pm)
Susan Williams v. Shelby Locati (winner plays Liz Ford 8:15 pm)
 
Fans can keep up with match results at www.wpba.com via the Tour Championship Tournament Board.  
 
 For more information, or to obtain tickets (day passes are just $20), call 1-888-MAIN-ACT (624-6228) or 541-996-5775. Chinook Winds Casino Resort, located on the beach in Lincoln City, is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
 
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, Delta 13, Pooldawg and Aramith.