Archive Page

Suzanne Smith Goes Undefeated in Final NWPA Stop



Kathie MacDonald, Suzanne Smith and Frances Tso

Northwest Women’s Pool Association final tour stop & 2022 awards banquet was held at Ox Billiards in Seattle, WA. Thank you to Ox for adding $1500 to this stop.

36 players came out to play on the beautiful 9ft Rassons. (Ox also features snooker and Chinese 8ball tables). 

2022 season player awards went to:

Player of the Year: Molina Ortíz
Rookie of the Year: Sue Frisbie
Most Improved: Robin Adams
Presidents Award: Anna Russo

Three-time tour stop winner Molina Ortíz of Portland, OR was knocked to the B-side in a strategically played game by Suzanne Smith of Edgewood, WA.

She was eventually knocked out by Ox regular Frances Tso with a tragic hill-hill 9ball scratch and finished 4th.

Frances Tso of Kirkland, WA had a great first NWPA tournament, finishing in 3rd place. Losing early to Suzanne 6-4, she ground out wins on the B-side, defeating Cindy Sliva, Robin Adams, Liz Cole, Katherine Robertson & Molina Ortíz before falling to Kathie MacDonald 6-3.

Kathie Macdonald of Abbotsford, BC played strong through the A-side but was defeated 6-4 by Suzanne Smith late in the bracket. After downing Frances Tso 6-3, she was back to face Suzanne in the finals, in a straight race to 9. The two battled back and forth keeping the race even until Suzanne pulled away two games in the 9th rack. A gutsy out by Kathie kept her afloat, but Suzanne fired in a 3-9 combo to reach the hill first. Kathie returned the favor with a 4-9 making it 6-8. However, Suzanne bore down and finished out the match 9-7.

Liz Cole (Portland, OR) & Cindy Sliva (Tacoma, WA) finished 5/6th. Katherine Robertson( Abbotsford, BC) /Jing Liu (Lynnwood, WA) finished 7/8th.

NWPA Tour will return next year, follow us on Facebook or visit playnwpa.com and 2023 stops.

Added money sponsors:

Savage Billiard Apparel
All American Fire Protection
Century21 North Homes Realty
Plates Law Group
Ox Billiards
Ford Ford III
E&E Sports
Golden Fleece
Maxi’s Restaurant
Players Sports Bar Everett

Go to discussion...

Liu goes undefeated on 20th Anniversary celebration and season finale of NWPA Tour

Kim Jones, Jing Liu, Melissa Rushton and TD Chris Rogers

It was kind of a “hello/goodbye” situation.

On the weekend of Dec. 11-12, the North American Women’s Pool Association (NWPA) returned to the tables after a year-plus hiatus, courtesy of the pandemic. It returned with a new President – Stephanie Drakulic (née Hefner) – who, immediately upon recognizing that 2021 was actually the tour’s 20th anniversary (Sept., 2001), decided that the tour would celebrate that anniversary in style.

“I knew I wanted a kick-ass banquet with delicious food,” she wrote in a Facebook post of her thoughts when she ascended to the presidency of the tour in early 2020. “I wanted a big turnout. A HUGE celebration!”

“And then,” she added, “COVID hit and laughed at me for making plans.”

In June of this year, she detected a “shift,” as mask mandates were reduced and vaccination availability was widespread. Her desire for a 20th anniversary celebration had survived and she started making plans, which culminated in the Dec. 11-12, $550-added event that was, in effect, the only event of the year and thus, the season opener and finale, simultaneously. The event drew 33 entrants to Golden Fleece Billiards in Everett, WA. 

For the winner, it was kind of a “hello”/“I’m back” situation. Jing Liu went undefeated through the field, chalking up her first (recorded) win anywhere since she’d won the NWPA’s 5th Annual Martha Hartsell Memorial, back in April, 2015, downing Liz Cole in the finals. Half of Liu’s six opponents in the most recent event forced a single, deciding match against her, including the last one, when she and Melissa Rushton battled for the title.

Liu and Rushton advanced through the field to arrive at their winners’ side semifinal matches. Rushton, who’d just sent the aforementioned Liz Cole to the loss side, faced Nicole Donisi, while Liu squared off against the aforementioned new President of the NWPA, Stephanie Drakulic. 

Both matches for advancement to the hot seat match went double hill. Rushton played her first of two double hill matches in the event, sending Donisi to the loss side, while Liu played her second double hill match and sent Drakulic west. In their first of two, Liu claimed the hot seat 7-4 over Rushton and waited on her return.

On the loss side, Donisi picked up Suzanne Smith, who’d lost a winners’ side quarterfinal to Drakulic and then downed Tamre Rogers 6-2 and Andy Camping 6-3. Drakulic drew Cassie Francois, who’d lost her opening match to Rushton and was working on a six-match, loss-side winning streak that had recently eliminated Jo Woodward 6-4 and Kim Jones 6-3.

The potential Smith/Drakulic rematch did not happen. Smith got by Donisi 6-3, but Francois advanced one more step, downing Drakulic 6-4. Smith put an end to Francois’ loss-side trip 6-4 in the quarterfinals, only to have her own loss-side journey halted by Rushton 6-3 in the semifinals. Befitting the occasion, the “hello/goodbye” season opener and finale, along with the 20th anniversary of the tour ended with a double hill match, won by Liu to claim the title.

Drakulic and tour director Chris Rogers thanked the ownership and staff at Golden Fleece Billiards for their hospitality, as well as sponsors BCA Pool League’s Players Club Limited, Coava Coffee, OX Billiards, Robin Dreyer Billiards Instruction, Jam Up Apparel and Nicole Donisi Designs for her graphic arts work associated with an overhaul of NWPA designs for the tour’s flyers.

“Getting to compete alongside and with so many fantastic players is an honor and a privilege,” wrote President Drakulic on her Facebook page after the event. “Getting to be a part of this tour and help guide it and push it forward, is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

“I love the NWPA,” she added, “and I love being a part of an organization with so much history and dedication to growing women’s pool.”

According to Drakulic, the full schedule of NWPA events for 2022 is still a work in progress. Check back with the AZBilliards calendar where that schedule will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Questions may be directed to NWPA’s e-mail account at playnwpa@gmail.com.

Smith goes undefeated to take NWPA stop #4 in Tacoma, WA

Clark Smith (owner of Malarkey’s), Kim Jones, Suzanne Smith and Ford

Suzanne Smith went undefeated to win the fourth stop on the Northwest Women's Pool Association Tour on the weekend of June 24-25. She had to get by Kim Jones twice to win it; once in a winners' side semifinal and again, in the finals. The $500-added, 10-Ball event drew 17 entrants to Malarkey's Pool & Brew in Tacoma, WA.
 
After an opening round bye, Smith downed Alicia Kvaanika 7-1 and Stephanie Hefner, double hill, to draw Jones in the winners' side semifinal. Cassie Francois, in the meantime, having defeated Clara Silvas and Andy Ruth, both 7-4, drew Teri Klyzek in the other winners' side semifinal. Smith sent Jones to the loss side 7-5, and in the hot seat match, faced Francois, who'd sent Klyzek to the loss side 7-2. Smith gave up only a single rack to claim the hot seat over Francois, and waited on the return of Jones.
 
On the loss side, Jones began her trek back to the finals against Ruth, who'd defeated Elaine Eberly 6-2 and Jing Liu 6-1 to reach her. Klyzek picked up Sarah Myer-Mitchell, who'd eliminated Hefner and Silvas, both 6-2, to reach her.
 
Jones and Myer-Mitchell advanced to the quarterfinals; Jones 7-2 over Ruth and Myer-Mitchell 7-3 over Klyzek. Jones won the quarterfinal match 7-3 over Myer-Mitchell and shut out Francois in the semifinals for a second shot against Smith.
 
In their second match, a race to 9 in the finals, Smith and Jones battled back and forth to a 6-6 tie before Smith jumped ahead by two to reach the hill first. Jones chalked up a seventh rack, but Smith closed it out at 9-7 to claim the title, and earn the North American Pool Tour qualification that came with the top prize money.

Amateur champions emerge from BCAPL 9-Ball singles divisions

Woodward and Smith

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (July 22, 2016)

The first champions of the 40th BCAPL National Championships were crowedThursday as the 9-ball singles divisions at “The Greatest Pool Tournament in the World” came to a close.

Jacque Smith of Amarillo, Texas, was the champion of the Women’s 9-Ball Singles Gold Division. Smith, who has been playing pool for 13 years, posted wins over Jan Burton, Bev Inman and Janna Nelson, before losing to Julie Cooper, who went on to captured the division’s hot seat. Smith double-dipped Cooper, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the finals to capture the title. Cooper got second place in the event and Robin Verner, of Henderson, Nev., placed third in the event, which had 58 players.

In the Women’s 9-Ball Singles Platinum Division, seasoned women’s professional Vivian Villarreal, of San Antonio, Tex., went undefeated through a small but talented field of 26 players. Villarreal beat Jing Liu, Jessica Frideres, Taylor Hansen, and Ricki Casper, before send Tina Larsen to the B-side of the bracket in the hot seat match in a hill-hill match. Larsen, of Valparaiso, Ind., was determined to have another chance to play Villarreal, and beat Ricki Casper, of Houston, Tex., who took third in the event, in another exciting hill-hill match. The finals saw another hill-hill finish, with Villarreal sneaking past Larsen again.

Tenadore “Ten” Lee, of Glendale, Ariz., had a much longer route in a 226-man field to win the Mixed 9-Ball Singles Gold Division. Lee fought through the crowd, beating Paul Mekeel, Brian Wallace, Andy Benefiel, Floyd Smith, before being sent to the loser’s side of the bracket by Tommy Campbell. Then Lee beat Sang Oh, John Fazakas, and found revenge against Campbell, leaving Campbell to take third place, while Lee moved on to the finals against Hermie Dy of Toronto, Ont. Lee double-dipped Dy with scores of 5-2 and 5-2 to win the division and earn the title.

In the Mixed 9-Ball Singles Platinum Division, Carlos Barbosa, of Edmonton, Alberta, Can. faced a field of 89 players. Barbosa beat Gary Andrews Jr., Eric Vargas, Tracy Sanders, Chris Stanfield, Russ Cearley and Justin Martin, of Nakina, N.C. to earn the hot seat position. Martin, who is just 17 years old, beat Cearley, of Springfield, Ore., to earn a rematch in the finals against Barbosa. But again, Barbosa beat the talented teen in a score of 6-4 in the finals to win the division. Cearley placed third.

Professional players Rodney Morris and Sky Woodward presented the BCAPL player champions with their trophies.

The 40th BCAPL National Championships started July 20 at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and resume through July 30. The event features more than 5,000 amateur players representing 47 states, nine Canadian provinces and 11 countries, competing in approximately 40 divisions, on 300 Diamond pool tables. The annual tournament also includes about 50 exhibitors.

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is the official host venue. Other sponsors include Viking, Kamui, Omega Billiards, Cyclop, Diamond, Simonis, and Predator.

In the photo you see where Sky Woodward presented Jacque Smith, of Amarillo, Tex. with her trophy after Smith won the Women’s 9-Ball Singles Gold Division at the 40thBCAPL National Championships. Other winners in the 9-Ball singles divisions included Vivian Villarreal, Tenadore Lee and Carlos Barbosa.

For more information, photos, or to set up interviews, contact Mary Coffman, CSI Marketing Manager at 509-308-9814 (cell); or by email atmaryc@playcsipool.com.

CSI is the parent company of the BCA Pool League and the USA Pool League. CSI also produces independent events like the US Bar Table Championships, US Open 10-Ball Championship, US Open 8-Ball Championship, and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call CSI at p702-719-POOL.

 

Biggs goes undefeated to create three-way tie for top spot in NWPA Tour rankings

In the end, it came down to dogged determination, rather than any dazzling display of superior skills. After a three-hour-plus final match, at the third stop on the Northwest Women's Pool Association Tour, on the weekend of May 16-17, Carissa Biggs, acting on an unforced error by her opponent, Natalie Seal, dropped the final 9-ball to chalk up an undefeated run that created a three-way tie for first place in the tour's rankings. The $500-added event, live-streamed throughout the weekend by Rail2Rail Productions, drew 26 entrants to Ballad Town Billiards in Salem, OR.
 
When the tournament began, Suzanne Smith sat atop the tour rankings, with Liz Cole and Jing Liu behind her, separated by a total of 80 points (Liu was the top-ranked player in 2014, with Cole second). Biggs and Seal, who would become the event's finalists, were in fifth and 14th place, respectively. Smith and Liu finished in the tie for fifth, adding 80 points to their ranking totals, while Cole finished fourth, adding 100 points to hers. Biggs' victory added 200 points to her total, while Seal added 160 as the runner-up. This created a three-way tie among Smith, Biggs and Cole, with Smith retaining the official top spot by virtue of a larger cash total in winnings. 
 
Biggs and Seal would meet twice; once in the hot seat and again, in the finals. Biggs advanced through Denice White, Adrianne Beach (who would be in the live stream broadcast booth at the end), and Tricia Heintz to meet Julie Valdez in one of the winners' side semifinals. Seal, winner over Juliana Goodman and Kim Toops (who'd just sent Liz Cole to the loss side), faced Jing Liu in the other. Seal survived a double hill battle over Liu, as Biggs defeated Valdez 6-4. Biggs claimed the hot seat 6-4.
 
On the loss side, Smith and Cole were working their way back for an eventual meeting against Valdez and Liu, both winning four to reach them. In the last two of those four, Smith had defeated Natasha Hook 6-4 and survived a double hill battle against Kim Toops to draw Valdez. Cole had gotten by Heintz and Melyssa Chasteen, both 6-1, to draw Liu. Smith's loss-side run came to an end at the hands of Valdez, double hill. Cole advanced 6-1 over Liu.
 
Valdez finished Cole's five-match, loss-side run with a 6-3 win in the quarterfinals. By the same score, her own three-match run on the loss side was stopped by Seal in the semifinals.
 
Displaying obvious signs of fatigue at this point, Biggs and Seal opened the final race-to-9 with a series of four games that made it clear it was going to be a long road to the winners' circle and left them tied at two games apiece. Seal was the first to break the back and forth pattern of the opening games, and won two in a row. Biggs, in a display of the aforementioned 'dogged determination,' then won four straight, which included the both of them attempting a 2-9 combination that eventually gave Briggs the game and tied the match at 4-4. 
Biggs took her first lead in the match at 5-4 and got her own two-game lead at 6-4. Seal closed the gap by a single game that saw them both make multiple attempts at the 9-ball, shooting long.  Seal was shooting at the 9-ball in the game that would have tied things up again, but found herself out of position. She missed her shot, and Biggs was up by two again.
 
Seal came back to close the gap yet again, but in game #14 at 7-6, Seal committed an unforced error, missing a straight-in shot at the 9-ball, and Biggs was on the hill. Seal came back to close the gap to within one again at 8-7. Biggs attempted a long jump shot in game #16 and gave Seal ball in hand, only to have it returned to her, when Seal scratched. Seal got another chance, but for the second game in a row, she missed her shot at the 9-ball, and Biggs closed it out at 9-7.

Jing Liu wins 5th Annual Martha Hartsell Memorial

Ford, Jing Liu, Liz Cole and Jim Lebold – Owner The Cue Ball

On April 25-26, 2015, the NWPA’s second tour stop of 2015 was hosted by The Cue Ball in Salem, OR.  The Cue Ball has supported our tour from the very beginning and we would like to thank Jim Lebold for all that he does for women’s pool. Martha Hartsell was a fierce competitor whose life was cut short by cancer in 2010. Many of the women on tour were good friends with Martha and in her honor, continue to play the game that she loved, making lifelong friends and rivals along the way.  
 
The NWPA would like to thank our sponsor Ozone Billiards and Volturi Custom Cases for their support of the 2015 season. Please check out their websites and show them your appreciation at www.ozonebilliards.com/www.volturicuecases.com. The NWPA tour standings and 2015 schedule are available at www.nwpatour.wordpress.com. The NWPA is sanctioned by the WPBA. All skill levels are welcome to play and players can accrue points towards their semiprofessional status while gaining experience playing some of the top women players in the northwest.
 
Twenty-eight ladies came out to compete Saturday morning. The tournament was run on 22 9-foot Brunswick Anniversary tables with Rail2Rail Productions providing a free live stream all weekend. The format was a race to 7, alternating break, 9 ball, with a race to 6 on the B side. There were several first round byes, but play sped right along. Tour players spent the remainder of their Saturday at Jake’s Bar, just down the road for ribeyes and  bartable action, an annual tradition for this event.
 
Sunday morning, only eight players remained. A side match ups included Jing Liu vs. Carissa Biggs and Liz Cole vs. Suwanna Matarazzo. Jing and Suwanna both advanced through their morning matches,  and then squared off for the hot seat.  2014 Tour Champion, Jing, defeated Suwanna 7-2 to earn her spot in the final while the other players duked it out to see who would join her. B side match ups included Rebecca Slyter vs. Melyssa Chasteen and Dara Koch vs. Suzanne Smith. Melyssa and Suzanne both advanced through their morning matches by the score of 6-3 and 6-2.  Fresh off her first loss, Liz rallied back to dominate 6-0, while Melyssa narrowly advanced over Carissa 6-5. Liz then squared off against Melyssa (her first loss had also been to Liz). Liz maintained a lead throughout the match and advanced by the score 6-4. Liz then played Suwanna again. After allowing her first match up slip away after being up 6-2, Liz was not to be denied. She defeated Suwanna 6-4 to earn a spot in the final. 2014 #1 and #2 showed would square off in their first finals of the 2015 season.
 
Jing Liu path to the final: Adrianne B (6), Tamre R (4), Kim T (2), Carissa B (5), Suwanna (2)
 
Liz Cole path to the final: Julianna G (3), Suzanne S (6), Melyssa C (6), loss to Suwanna (6), Suzanne (0), Melyssa (4), Suwanna (4)
 
The final was one race to 9, alternating break. Throughout the entire final, both players shot with confidence and made minimal errors. Exchanging racks, until 7-7, it seemed like there were all the makings of a hill-hill final. However, Jing had other plans. She closed out the final two racks to defeat Liz 9-7, winning her first event of the season.
 
With Jing’s win, she moved up to third in overall standings (she missed the first stop), while Liz moved up to 2nd, and Suzanne maintained her position at top of the standings. Great tournament ladies!  The NWPA’s next event is at Ballad Town Billiards in Forest Grove, OR on May 16-17.  
 

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 

 

Sheila Clark wins on the NWPA

Steve Legault-owner of Black Diamond, Sheila Clark, Mary Coffman and Ford-Tournament Director

On September 13-14, 2014, the NWPA’s sixth tour stop of 2014 was hosted by The Black Diamond in Spokane, Washington. Not only did the Black Diamond add $500 to the tournament, but staff provided excellent service to all players and spectators for the entire weekend. The Black Diamond is the premier location for great pool, food, and entertainment in the Spokane area. They host many Open tournaments throughout the year and the NWPA would like to thank them for their continued support. In addition, The NWPA would like to thank our sponsors Ozone Billiards and Volturi for their support for the 2014 season. Please check out their websites and show them your appreciation at www.ozonebilliards.com and www.volturicases.com. Two drawings were completed at this stop, Cassie Bryant was drawn for the Ozone case donation, while Shari Ross was drawn for the $500 voucher for a Volturi custom case. Congratulations ladies! If you are interested in getting in on the final raffle drawings for the year, please contact your favorite ladies of the NWPA for tickets. Ozone raffle tickets are 2 for $5, 5 for $10 while the final Volturi voucher tickets are $10 each.
 
The NWPA is sanctioned by the WPBA. Tour standings and 2014 schedule are available at www.nwpatour.wordpress.com.  All skill levels are welcome to play and players can accrue points towards their semiprofessional status while gaining experience playing some of the top women players in the northwest.
 
Twenty-one ladies came out to compete Saturday morning. The tournament was run on 8 9-foot Brunswick Gold Crowns with Rail2Rail Productions providing a free live stream all weekend. In addition to the live stream, this event was the first, of hopefully many to come, where live scoring of all matches was available via Score Saloon, www.scoresaloon.com. The format was a race to 7, alternating break, 9 ball, with a race to 6 on the B side. There were several first round byes, but play sped right along. 
 
Sunday morning, only eight players remained. A side match ups included Suzanne Smith vs. Sheila Clark and Mary Coffman vs. Kimberly Kirk. Sheila and Mary both advanced through their morning matches, by the scores of 7-6 and 7-4, advancing them to the hot seat match. Table speed got the best of Sheila during this match and Mary capitalized on mistakes to advance to the finals by the score of 7-1. B side match ups included Amber Foster vs. Alicia Kvasnicka and Rebecca Slyter vs. Jing Liu. Alicia and Jing both advanced through their morning matches by the scores of 6-5 and 6-3, respectively.  Fired up from their morning losses Suzanne and Kimberly rallied back through their next round, defeating Jing and Alicia by the score of 6-3 and 6-0. Suzanne then squared off against Kimberly in a hill-hill match up, that had Kimberly make a clutch out to advance 6-5. Kimberly then played Sheila to see who would play Mary in the finals. Sheila took down that match by the score of 6-4, earning herself a rematch.
 
Mary Coffman path to the final: Fran J (2), Jenny L (), Kim T (4), Kimberly K (4), Sheila C (1)
 
Sheila Clark path to the final: Bye, Jing L (5), Alicia K (6), Suzanne S (6), loss to Mary C (1), Kimberly K (4)
 
The final was one race to 9, alternating break. During the first eight racks, both players struggled with the table speed, creating more difficult patterns to work through. Tied at 4-4, Sheila settled in and found her groove, while Mary struggled to find the confidence she had during the hot seat match. In rack 9, a miss on the 4 ball, by Mary, led to a strong run out by Sheila to take her first lead of the match. Sheila proceeded to shoot with minimal errors, closing out each of the remaining racks to win the set 9-4 This was Sheila’s first tour stop win on the NWPA. Congratulations to both ladies for an excellent tournament.
 
With Jing’s finish, she maintained her position on top in overall standings, guaranteeing her first WPBA Regional Tour Championship appearance. Suzanne also stayed at 3rd, while Sheila jumped up to 4th place in overall standings. Going into the final tournament of the season, the tour champion and guaranteed spots at the WPBA Regional Tour Championships will still be up for grabs.  The NWPA’s year-end event is at The Parlor in Bellevue, WA on November 1-2. 

Kim Benson wins back-to-back NWPA events

On August 9-10, 2014, the NWPA’s fifth tour stop of 2014 was hosted by The Parlor in Bellevue, Washington.  The Parlor added $500 to the event and a Volturi custom case voucher raffle added another $350 to the prize fund ($250 to the main event and $100 to the Second Chance.) Some tickets remain on the raffle, so if you are interested please contact Suzanne Smith (suzos78@gmail.com).
 
The NWPA would like to thank our sponsor Ozone Billiards and Volturi for their support for the 2014 season. Please check out their websites and show them your appreciation at www.ozonebilliards.com and www.volturicases.com. The NWPA tour standings and 2014 schedule are available at www.nwpatour.wordpress.com and is sanctioned by the WPBA. All skill levels are welcome to play and players can accrue points towards their semiprofessional status while gaining experience playing some of the top women players in the northwest.
 
Thirty ladies came out to compete Saturday morning. Only one new player joined in for the fun, Kirsten Fery out of Portland, OR. The tournament was run on 11 9-foot Brunswick Gold Crowns with Rail2Rail Productions providing a free live stream all weekend. The format was a race to 7, alternating break, 9 ball, with a race to 6 on the B side. There were only two first round byes, but play moved along. As usual play finished early Saturday evening, many of the ladies were given complimentary comedy club tickets to The Parlor Live. Thanks to Parlor GM, Dave Lauer, for taking care of us! 
 
Sunday morning, eleven players remained. A side match ups included Jing Liu vs. Liz Cole (NWPA #1 and #2) and Shari Ross vs. Kim Benson. Liz and Kim both advanced through their morning matches, by the scores of 7-3 and 7-1, advancing them to the hot seat match. Liz and Kim battled it out for the hot seat, with Kim edging out Liz by the score of 7-4. On the B side, due to the early finish on Saturday, there were 3 matchups that needed to play before the money rounds. These matches include Rebecca Slyter vs. Sheila Clark, Stacy Eilts vs. Elizabeth Jensen, and Natalie Seal vs. Kim Toops. Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Natalie advanced into the money matches with the scores 6-4, 6-3, and 6-5 respectively. Following that round, the 7/8 matches were played, with Rebecca playing Suzanne Smith and Natalie playing Elizabeth. Suzanne and Elizabeth advanced by the scores of 6-1 and 6-3.  Fired up from their morning losses Shari and Jing matched up next against Elizabeth and Suzanne. While Shari advanced by the score of 6-3, Jing went hill-hill against Suzanne. In the final game, Suzanne broke dry and Jing attempted to play a safety on the 1. Suzanne proceeded to run out the rack to advance by the slimmest of margins, 6-5. Shari then squared off against Suzanne. Suzanne picked up some steam and won that match 6-2. Suzanne then played Liz (fresh off the hot seat loss), and Suzanne continued with her strong shooting and defeated Liz 6-1 to earn her first final appearance of the 2014 season. 
 
Kim Benson path to the final: Teri K (2), Patricia T (2), Suzanne S (2), Shari R (3), Liz C (4)
 
Suzanne Smith path to the final: Cassandra B (6), Melissa D (4), loss to Kim B (2), Jenny L (0), Rebecca S (1), Jing L (5), Shari R (2), Liz C (1)
 
The final was one race to 9, alternating break. Throughout the entire final, Kim’s stellar shot making and Suzanne’s missed safety opportunities would be the theme. Suzanne ended up down 5-2 before she would take her break. Kim expanded her lead steadily throughout the match, making fewer mistakes and maintaining her confidence throughout the set. Kim defeated Suzanne 9-4 to claim her second tour stop win on the NWPA, skyrocketing her to 3rd place in overall standings. Jing and Liz maintained their #1 and #2 spots, while Suzanne moved up to 4th with her finish. Should make for an exciting last two stops. Congratulations all the ladies for an excellent tournament.
 
The NWPA’s next event is back in Spokane WA at The Black Diamond on September 13-14, 2014. 

Kim Benson dominates in her first appearance on NWPA

Jing Liu, Ford and Kim Benson

On June 21-22, 2014, the NWPA’s fourth tour stop of 2014 was hosted by The Black Diamond in Spokane, Washington.  The Black Diamond added $500 to the event and a Kwikfire Cue Raffle (donated by Suzanne Smith) added another $350 to the prize fund ($250 to the main event and $100 to the Second Chance.)
 
The NWPA would like to thank our sponsor Ozone Billiards and Volturi for their support for the 2014 season. Please check out their websites and show them your appreciation at www.ozonebilliards.com and www.volturicases.com. The NWPA tour standings and 2014 schedule are available at www.nwpatour.wordpress.com and is sanctioned by the WPBA. All skill levels are welcome to play and players can accrue points towards their semiprofessional status while gaining experience playing some of the top women players in the northwest.
 
Twenty-seven ladies came out to compete Saturday morning. New players to the tour included Kim Benson (HI), Christy Morgan (ID), and Cheryl Rosean (MT) . The tournament was run on 8 9-foot Brunswick Gold Crowns with Rail2Rail Productions providing a free live stream all weekend. The format was a race to 7, alternating break, 9 ball, with a race to 6 on the B side. There were several first round byes, but play sped right along. 
 
Sunday morning, only eight players remained. A side match ups included Suzanne Smith vs. Liz Cole and Jing Liu vs. Kim Benson. Suzanne and Jing both advanced through their morning matches, by the scores of 7-5 and 7-3, advancing them to the hot seat match. Jing and Suzanne battled it out in a hill-hill match up where a failed safe by Jing looked to be all the opportunity Suzanne would need to advance to her first final of the 2014 season. Suzanne missed an open shot on the 7 ball to leave Jing tough. Jing proceeded to pocket each of the last balls, culminating with an amazing 9 ball shot to advance to the finals and solidify her position on top of the tour’s overall standings. B side match ups included Amber Foster vs. Patricia Tipton and Carissa Biggs vs. Mary Olson. Amber and Mary both advanced through their morning matches by the same score of 6-5.  Fired up from their morning losses Liz and Kim rallied back through their next round, by the score of 6-4 and 6-2. Liz then squared off against Kim. Kim maintained a lead throughout the match and advanced by the score 6-4. Kim then played Suzanne, and Kim looked to be well on her way when a stumble on her final 8 ball allowed Suzanne back to the table with a fairly easy 2 ball out. Suzanne pocketed the 8 ball and scratched, giving Kim ball in hand to win the set 6-4.
 
Jing Liu path to the final: Rebecca S (6), Kim T (1), Patricia T (4), Kim B (3), Suzanne S (6)
Kim Benson path to the final: Dyamelle C (3), Natalie S (6), Elizabeth J (3), loss to Jing L (3), Mary O (2), Liz C (4), Suzanne S (4)
 
The final was one race to 9, alternating break. Throughout the entire final, Kim shot with such amazing confidence and precision, ultimately only missing four balls throughout the set, capitalizing on Jing’s mistakes as the match proceeded. Kim expanded her lead steadily throughout the match, allowing her opponent very few opportunities to find a rhythm. Kim defeated Jing 9-0 in just over an hour match to claim her first tour stop win on the NWPA. Congratulations to both ladies for an excellent tournament.
 
With Jing’s finish, she maintained her position on top in overall standings. Suzanne jumped up 7 spots with her 3rd place finish, and Liz maintained 2nd place in overall standings coming in 4th place. Great tournament ladies!  The NWPA’s next event is at The Parlor in Bellevue, WA on August 9-10.  
 
Eleven ladies returned on Sunday for the $200 added Second Chance tournament. There was no entry fee with the extra money and the true double elimination tournament was a race to 3 on the A side and race to 2 on the B side.  Rebecca Slyter ended up winning top prize, defeating Mary Coffman two sets in the final. Good work ladies, nice shooting.