Liz Cole went undefeated to win the third stop on the Northwest Women's Pool Association Tour, held on the weekend of May 18-19. The victory also qualified the winner for the Ultimate 10-Ball Championships in Tunica, MS next month, but because Cole was already qualified, that slot went to Shelby Locati, who'd won three on the loss side to meet her in the finals. The $1,000-added event drew 23 entrants to Ballad Town Billiards in Forest Grove, OR, with selected matches streamed live by Rail2Rail Productions via Ustream.
Cole opened her five-match winning campaign by giving up only two racks in her first two matches; one each to Stacy Eilts and Mary Hopkin. Then, among the winners' side final four, she met up with Tamre Rogers, who battled her to double hill, before giving way. Joining Cole in the hot seat match was Suzanne Smith, who'd gotten by Rebecca Slyter, Robin Adams, and Sharon Bledsoe, before meeting and defeating Locati in the other winners' side semifinal 6-3. Cole moved into the hot seat with a 6-2 win over Smith and waited for what turned out to be the return of Locati.
Locati moved west and picked up Hopkin, who'd defeated Alisha Rogers and Cristy Barsky, both 6-4. Rogers drew Andrena Brown, who'd defeated Tammy Holcomb 6-2 and shut out Elaine Eberly. Rogers eliminated Brown 6-4 and in the quarterfinals, faced Locati, who just did survive a double hill match against Hopkin. Locati picked up her second straight, double hill win, ending Rogers' bid in the quarterfinals, and then shut out Smith in the semifinals.
In the single race-to-9 finals that followed, Cole and Locati traded racks back and forth, right from the start. They did so right through to double hill. Knotted at seven games apiece, Cole missed an easy shot on the 9-ball, and Locati reached the hill first. Cole missed an easy shot on the 4-ball in the next rack, but Locati couldn't take advantage. Cole finished to knot things at double hill and then won the final game to claim the event title.
Jana Montour and Kim Jones have been trading alternate victories on the Northwest Women’s Pool Association Tour since March. On the tour’s fifth stop, on the weekend of August 11-12, with their victories even at two apiece, it was Montour’s turn to win it, and she did, defeating Kimberly Kirk twice – once in the hot seat match and again in the finals – to complete an undefeated weekend. The $750-added event drew 31 entrants to Parlor Billiards in Bellevue, WA.
Montour started strong, giving up only two racks in her first three matches; none versus Fran Johnson and one each versus Jenny Lucas and Alicia Kvasnicka. This set her up among the winners’ side final four, facing Liz Cole (going into the event, ranked at # 3 on the tour, directly behind Montour and Jones). Suzanne Smith (# 6), in the meantime, who’d defeated Elaine Eberly 7-3, Tamre Rogers 7-4 and sent Kim Jones west 7-5, squared off against Kirk.
Montour advanced to the winners’ side finals with a 7-4 victory over Cole, as Kirk sent Smith packing 7-5. Montour then downed Kirk 7-4, and sat in the hot seat, awaiting her return.
Kim Jones, at work on the loss side, was looking to come back for a third finals battle against Montour in the current season. She began that journey with a 6-2 victory over Denice White, and followed it with a 6-3 victory over Val Franiel. This set Jones up to face Cole. Smith drew Shelby Locati (# 7 in tour rankings), who’d gotten by Mary Hopkin 6-2 and Tamre Rogers 6-3.
Jones and Cole battled to double hill before Jones prevailed to advance to the quarterfinals. She was joined by Locati, who’d ended Rogers’ day 6-3. Locati ended Jones’ bid to meet Montour again in the finals by the same 6-3 score. It was a day for 6-3 scores, as Kirk downed Locati by that same score in the semifinals.
A win for Kirk would have elevated her from 17th place in the tour rankings into a tie for fifth place with Suzanne Smith. It was not to be. Montour chalked up the event title with a 9-6 victory, solidifying her top spot in the rankings. Kirk moved among the top ten, settling in at # 7.
Kim Jones and Jana Montour have been trading victories on the Northwest Women’s Pool Association Tour since March. Montour opened the season with a win in March. Jones chalked one up in April, and then went on to win the Regional Tour Championships in May. Montour won the tour’s third stop in June. On the weekend of July 14-15, Jones won five on the loss side, including a victory over Montour in the semifinals, before defeating local favorite, Phyllis Fernandez in the finals. The $500-added event drew 27 entrants to Black Diamond Billiards in Spokane, WA.
Jones won her first two matches, against Alisha Rogers and Tayla Makus, before running into Mary Hopkin. They battled to double hill before Hopkin prevailed, moving among the winners’ side final four to face Montour. Fernandez, in the meantime, had opened her bid by surviving a double hill match against Adrianne Beach (double hill). She then defeated Alicia Kvasnicka and Joyce Robinson to move among the winners’ side final four and a match versus Shelby Locati.
Montour sent Hopkin west double hill, as Fernandez was busy sending Locati over 7-2. The battle for the hot seat went double hill, with Fernandez coming out on top of Montour, and waiting in the hot seat for the return of Jones. Montour’s appearance in the hot seat match allowed her to maintain her top spot in the NWPA tour rankings (just ahead of Jones) no matter what the outcome from that point on.
On the loss side, Jones defeated Fran Johnson 6-1 and Sandra Badger 6-3 to pick up Locati. Hopkin drew Kimberly Kirk, who’d gotten by Trinh Lu in a double hill match and Julie Valdez 6-4. Kirk prevented a Jones/Hopkin re-match with a 6-2 win over Hopkin, as Jones downed Badger 6-3.
Jones survived a double hill battle against Kirk in the quarterfinals, and turned to face Montour. A win for Montour would have guaranteed an extension of the point lead for her in tour standings, but Jones won it 6-3 for a chance to meet Fernandez and narrow that tour-leading gap to 45 points.
In the single race-to-9 finals that followed, Jones reached the hill, three games ahead, which is when it got interesting. Fernandez won the 14th and 15th rack to pull within one. In the 16th rack, Fernandez rattled the 8-ball in a corner pocket, leaving it right there for Jones. Jones, from up-table, put it in, but came back straight, up and down-table square on the 9-ball. She tried to poke it into the corner pocket, but not only did it rattle in that pocket, the cue ball came around the table and dropped into a hole.
“I tried to put bottom on it to avoid the scratch,” said Jones, “but when the 9-ball rattled in the pocket, the cue ball came around and headed to that other pocket.”
With ball in hand, Fernandez sunk the 9-ball to knot things at double hill.
Fernandez scratched on her subsequent break. Jones stepped to the table and forced a first foul on Fernandez. When Jones got the ball back, she did it a second time. With ball in hand for the third time, she forced Fernandez to kick long at the 1-ball. Fernandez shot at the short rail, and not only safely touched the 1-ball, but put it in. Jones would regain control of the table, and stepped up later, shooting at the 9-ball. It dropped readily, but the entire room went silent, as the travelling cue ball worked its way down (very slowly) toward a diagonal corner. It just did touch the long rail and bounce away safely, securing the event victory for Jones.
“I’d played it so it wouldn’t scratch,” she said of that final shot, “but in that moment (as the cue ball drifted toward the corner), I couldn’t celebrate the win until I was sure.”
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff of Black Diamond Billiards, as well as sponsors Billiards 911, Cue Tracker, and Horizon Rentals. They also thanked Rail2Rail Productions for their live stream of the event. Next stop on the NWPA Tour is scheduled for August 11-12 at The Parlor in Bellevue, WA.
T.D. Ford, Jana Montour, Kim Jones and Jim Lebold owner of The Cue Ball
On April 28-29, 2012, The Cue Ball in Salem, OR hosted the 2nd Annual Martha Hartsell Memorial for the NWPA’s second tour stop of the season. The tournament was held on twenty-two 9 foot Brunswick Centennial and Anniversary tables. Rail2Rail Productions hosted a free live stream all weekend. We would love to thank our title sponsor Mueller for continuing their support of the NWPA. Please check out their website at www.mueller.com. Billiards 911 sponsored the Trivia Challenge on the live stream, donating a prize package of a cue maintenance bundle including Undo the Blue, shaft smoother and burnisher, Prickster Tip Tool, Shaft Magic with Cue Cloth, and a talcum powder pouch. Congratulations to the winner, James Doyle of Roswell, GA.
The event drew 33 players, most of them tour regulars. However, several new and returning players entered including Julie Stallings (Junction City, OR), Angela Higgins (Portland, OR), Jennifer Windell (Oregon City, OR), Andrena Browne (Springfield, OR), Laura Hardie (Portland, OR), Tina Tillett (Coos Bay, OR), and Kim Allen (Oregon City, OR.) Remaining funds from the Johnny Archer/Nick Varner raffle in early April resulted in an additional $250 added to the main event payout, to bring the total to $1000 added. Player rewards included autographed photos of Johnny/Nick, coffee from local Portland company Coava Coffee Roasters (www.coavacoffee.com), QClip donation , and instructional video Point The Way by well-known road player/guru Timothy Miller (The Monk). We would love to thank all parties that made donations to the NWPA. In addition to the player raffle, scratch tickets were awarded for 9 ball breaks and break & runs.
With 33 players, the tournament format was a race to 7 on the A side and a race to 6 on the B side. Saturday was action packed and only eight players returned on Sunday in the main event. On the A side, it was Jana Montour vs. Kris Robbins and Liz Cole vs. Shelby Locati and on the B side it was Eve Stockstill vs. Sheila Clark and Kim Jones vs. Suzanne Smith. Jana and Liz both advanced through their morning matches, 7-6 and 7-3, to force a repeat of our first stop’s hotseat (and final) match which had a similar result, Jana advancing by a score of 7-5. On the B side, Eve and Kim both defeated their opponents by similar score of 6-4. During Sunday’s second round, Kris and Kim defeated Eve and Shelby by identical 6-2 scores. Kim just seemed to pick up speed from there, going on to defeat Kris (6-0). Kim then defeated Liz, in a hill-hill nail biter where a scratch on the break by Liz, resulted in Kim taking a 1-9 combo for the win.
THE FINAL- Jana Montour vs. Kim Jones was one race to 9, alternating break.
Path to the final- Jana M: Elaine E (0), Talya M (4), Kim J (3), Kris R (6), Liz C (5)
Path to the final- Kim J: Julie S (6), Angela H (3), loss to Jana (3), Tamre R (2), Suzanne S (4), Shelby L (2), Kris R (0), Liz C (5)
Jana won the lag, but right from the beginning did not appear comfortable at the table. She was somewhat inconsistent with her position play and shot making, which appeared to associated with indecision in her pattern play. Kim took advantage of every opportunity with superb run out patterns and safeties, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before an accidental hook left Kim attempting a jump over the 8 ball resulting in a bad hit. Jana ran the 7, 8, 9 to win her first rack. Kim bounced right back with the next rack to reach the hill first. With her back against the wall, Jana fought through the next two racks to make the score 8-3 before a safety on the 2 ball resulted in an opportunity for Kim to pocket an off angle 2-9 carom to win her first event of 2012.
Congratulations ladies! Our next event will be June 16-17 at Malarkey’s Pool & Brew in Tacoma, WA.
Main Event Payouts
1st600Kim Jones
2nd400Jana Montour
3rd275Liz Cole
4th200Kris Robbins
5/6th125Eve Stockstill/Shelby Locati
7/8th95Sheila Clark/Suzanne Smith
Seven players returned for the $175 added Second Chance Event. The tournament ended up being a Race to three on both sides, the final being one race to four. Sandy Badger defeated Debbie Cicchiti in the final
On April 29, Kim Jones won the second stop on the Northwest Women’s Poolplayers Association Tour. A week later, on May 6, she joined 28 regional players in Bellevue, WA for the WPBA West Coast Regional Tour Championship, and in the finals, battled to a double hill victory over Liz Cole. The victory earned her the right to face the WPBA’s East Coast champion, Megan Smith, in a one-on-one battle to crown an overall regional tour champion at the WPBA US Open next month in Oklahoma. The $2,000-added RTC, hosted by Parlor Billiards and Spirits in Bellevue, featured a series of round-robin matches that sent eight, top-scoring women to a single elimination round of three matches which eventually crowned the West Coast champion.
The 28 entrants were broken up into four groups of seven, which played a series of six, round robin matches, tallying points (games won) along the way. The top eight scores (two from each group) at the end of the series, advanced to a three-match series of single elimination rounds. Liz Cole went undefeated (30 points) in her group, defeating eventual, final-eight competitor (Shelby Locati) in the process. Jones, who won five of her six matches to finish with 27 points, was in a group with the current, top-ranked player on the NWPA tour, Jana Montour; Jones is second on that tour, and Cole is third. Montour finished the round robin matches, a point ahead of Jones. Jones had won their head-to-head battle, but had scored only two points in a second round match against Trinh Lu.
Mary Hopkin and Linda Carter (the only competitor among the final eight not ranked on the NWPA Tour) advanced from their group with 25 points each, edging out Talya Makus (ties broken by head-to-head records in the round robin series). Suzanne Smith (28 points) and Deby Welfringer (26 points) completed the group of eight finalists. Jones faced Welfringer, Cole drew Hopkin, Montour took on Smith, and Locati squared off against Carter.
Jones advanced to the semifinals with a 9-4 victory over Welfringer and faced Locati, who’d downed Carter 9-3. Cole took her place among the final four with a 9-5 win over Hopkin, and was joined by Montour, who’d defeated Smith 9-4.
In a reversal of the April 29 hot seat match on the NWPA Tour, which Montour won 7-5, it was Cole advancing to the finals with a 9-4 victory. Jones advanced with a 9-6 win over Locati.
Cole took an early 3-0 lead in the race-to-9 finals, and maintained that lead, through to 6-3. By the 12th rack, the lead was down to two at 7-5. Jones promptly chalked up three in a row to reach the hill, and Cole came back to tie it – double hill. A shot at the 7-ball in the final rack was missed by Cole, and Jones took advantage to capture the WPBA West Coast RTC championship.
“Liz was the toughest challenge,” said Jones, a day later.
“I felt like I was struggling in that last match,” she added. “I felt I was shooting well, but I made a few errors in the last three games.”
It’s on now to Oklahoma for the (free entry for Jones) WPBA US Open, scheduled for June 6-10 at the River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa, OK, for a match versus the East Coast champion, Megan Smith. Smith earned the East Coast title, when the winner of that event, My Hanh Lac, determined that she could not attend the Open.
“I’ve played her quite a few times,” said Jones, who began her competitive career on the East Coast, “but I think I’ve only beaten her once.”
“When I played her,” she added, “she was dominating that (JPNEWT) Tour.”
NWPA and WPBA President Tamre Rogers extended thanks to Steve Olson (owner) and Dave Lauer (manager) of Parlor Billiards and Spirits in Bellevue, Rail2Rail Productions, which provided live streaming at the event, and Billiards 911 for the event’s raffle cues. Rogers also thanked the WPBA for their contribution of a free entry to the US Open for the winner.
They met first in the winners’ side quarterfinals, when Jana Montour sent Kim Jones west. Montour moved on to occupy the hot seat, but Jones returned from the loss side, after winning five straight to defeat Montour in the finals of the Martha Hartsell Memorial Tournament, the second stop on the 2012 Northwest Women’s Pool Association tour. The $1,000-added event drew 33 entrants to The Cue Ball in Salem, OR.
They had each won two, when they met among the winners’ side final eight; Montour, having defeated Elaine Eberly and Tayla Makus, as Jones got by Angela Higgins and Mary Hopkin. Montour took the first of their two 7-3, and moved into the winners’ side semifinals against Kris Robbins. Liz Cole, in the meantime, squared off against Shelby Locati. Montour survived a double hill battle against Robbins, while downed Locati 7-3. Montour got into the hot seat with a 7-5 victory over Cole, and waited for what turned out to be the return of Jones.
Jones moved over and chalked up wins against Tamre Rogers 6-2 and Suzanne Smith 6-4, to draw Locati. Robbins drew Eve Stockstill, who’d defeated Sandy Badger double hill and Sheila Clark 6-4. Jones downed Locati 6-2, and was joined in the quarterfinals by Robbins, who’d ended Stockstill’s day 6-2. Jones shut Robbins out, and turned to face Cole. A 7-5 victory in the semifinals gave Jones the second chance against Montour that she’d been battling for.
She took full advantage. She allowed Montour only three racks in those finals and took home the top prize.
According to NWPA and WPBA President Tamre Rogers, next weekend’s WPBA West Coast Regional Tour Championships, scheduled for May 5-6 at Parlor Billiards and Spirits, in Bellevue, WA, will feature 13 members of the NWPA, including Jones and Montour.
Jana Montour (Photo courtesy of Don Akerlow – On The Break News)
In a repeat of the Northwest Women’s Pool Association (NWPA) season finale last November, Jana Montour and Liz Cole locked up in a finals battle in the opening event of the 2012 season on the weekend of March 3-4. Same opponents, different result. This time, Montour took a more direct route to the finals than the one she’d taken last November, when she had to win eight on the loss side to meet Cole, and this time, she defeated Cole twice to win it. The $1,000-added event drew 34 entrants to The Golden Fleece, in Kenmore, WA.
It was a four-match trip to the winners’ side final four for Montour and a three-match journey for Cole, who drew a bye in the opening round. Montour got by Stephanie Goens, Shelby Locati, Eve Stockstill, and Kim Jones to meet up with Shari Ross. Cole defeated Suwanna Kroll, Talya Makus, and Mary Hopkin to meet up with Cindy Sliva. Montour sent Ross west 7-1and turned to the hot seat battle against Cole, who’d sent Sliva over 7-3. Montour took their first of two 7-3, and waited in the hot seat for Cole to come back.
Meanwhile, on the loss-side, Ross met up with Mary Hopkin, who’d been sent west by Cole and defeated Kris Robbins 6-4 and Suzanne Smith 6-3. Sliva drew Kim Jones, who’d been sent west by Montour and defeated Mona Stickley, double hill, and Deby Welfringer 6-2. Sliva and Jones fought to double hill before Sliva prevailed, advancing to the quarterfinals versus Ross, who’d defeated Hopkin, also double hill. Ross chalked up a second straight double hill win in the quarterfinal battle against Sliva and advanced to meet Cole in the semifinals. Cole got her second crack at Montour with a 6-3 victory over Ross.
November’s season finale, though won by Cole, left Montour at the top of the 2011 tour rankings; each had won three stops. The single, race-to-9 finals went double hill before Montour prevailed to open the NWPA season the way she’d finished the previous year; at the top of the tour rankings.
On November 19-20th The Parlor in Bellevue, WA hosted the NWPA’s 7th and final tour stop of the 2011 Season. The tournament was ran on 10 9 foot Brunswicks and Rail2Rail Productions provided live streaming throughout the event. As always, The Parlor was a gracious host and even provided comedy club tickets to several of the entrants after the NWPA banquet hosted as a buffet style dinner at The Ultra Lounge. Some of the The Parlor’s upcoming events include The Vixen Gauntlet and Country Line Dancing on Wednesdays, Thursday/Saturday football specials with 16 HD TVs and all kinds of door prizes and giveaways, DL Hughley on December 8-10, and Comic Search open auditions on December 15-17.
We would like to give special thanks to our title sponsor MUELLER for their continued support of the NWPA, please show your support to the NWPA by supporting Mueller (www.mueller.com). We would also like to extend a warm welcome to two new players: Clodagh Lancaster from Redmond, WA and Sara Mullenniex from Bellingham, WA.
2011 NWPA Awards were given at the banquet Saturday night and included:
Also at the banquet, conclusion of our annual raffle took place. Ed & Shelby Locati, Phyllis Fernandez, and Liz Cole all won cues and cases donated by Mueller, Brian Johnson and Alisha Rogers both won NWPA merchandise, and Shawn Graves won the coveted Passion Party basket, donated by Liz Cole’s sister.
Fresh off her first top 16 performance at the WPBA’s Tour Championship event Liz Cole was the favorite to win. With that performance, Liz earned her 2012 exemption on the WPBA, so whoever earned second in the NWPA’s overall standings would prove to be the NWPA representative, along with Liz, on the WPBA for 2012. In contention were Kimberly Kirk and Deby Welfringer, both players would have to have their best tournament of the year to have an opportunity. Kimberly would need to win the event, while Deby would need to finish 3rd.
Twenty ladies came to play on Saturday morning, and unfortunately due to snow, a few of the tours’ top players were not in attendance. Matches started at 10 am, and the field was whittled down to 8 players who returned on Sunday. On the A side, Liz Cole squared off against Michelle Hughes (her first Sunday appearance), while Shelby Locati battled against recently crowned 2011 US Amateur Champion, Suzanne Smith. Liz and Suzanne both won their matches 7-4 and 7-2. Liz then defeated Suzanne 7-4 to secure her 6th final appearance of the season. On the B side, Kimberly Kirk played Jessica Orth and Deby Welfringer played Clodagh Lancaster. Both Kimberly and Deby defeated their opponents 7-5, and momentum from their morning wins propelled them through their second rounds where Kimberly defeated Shelby 7-6 and Deby defeated Michelle 7-3.
The next match would prove to be a true test, for if Deby were to advance she would be guaranteed a 3rd place finish and take over 2nd place in the standings. Kimberly had different plans, as she was also in contention for that 2nd place spot, and ended up defeating Deby 7-2. Kimberly continued her superb play and defeated Suzanne 7-4 to secure her spot in the final against Liz.
Path to the Final
Liz Cole: Andy R (6), Shari R (5), Kathy S (2), Michelle H (5), Suzanne S (4)
Kimberly Kirk: Bye, Sara M (0), loss to Michelle H (5), Andy R (3), Jessica O (5), Shelby L (6), Suzanne S (4)
Kimberly won the lag. Straight out of the gate, Kimberly continued stroking the ball well to take a 3-0 lead, forcing Liz to take her break early to regain her composure. After Liz’s break, a couple untimely errors by Kimberly allowed Liz to tie up the match at 3 games each. Both ladies were shooting great and the match was alos tied at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, however in game 14, with an opportunity to tie the match again at 7, a hung 8 ball by Kimberly allowed Liz to take a two game lead 8-6. Kimberly then scratched on the break for the first time of the set in the next rack and Liz methodically ran out the rack to end Kimberly’s hopes of securing 2nd place in the standings. Congratulations Ladies, Great Tournament for you both. Congratulations to Jana Montour as well, who with her 2nd place position in the NWPA’s overall standings has earned her tour card. Thanks to all who came out to support the NWPA. It was a great season and we will see everyone (and hopefully more of us) in 2012.
Five ladies returned on Sunday for a $100 Added Second Chance Tournament. A round robin format was used, so each lady played the others five games. Alisha Rogers won the most games to claim top prize, while only 1 game separated 2nd and 3rd places. Sara and Talya ended up tied for fourth position, but since Sara had defeated Talya in their match, Sara received 4th place prize.
Final 16 Players Compete in Single Elimination Stage for the Title
LINCOLN CITY, OR – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour’s WPBA Tour Championships is down to the final 16 players who will compete in the single elimination stage to determine the eventual champion on Sunday.
On the winner’s side, eight players emerged victorious after the second seeded round of play:
The eight winners were then drawn into the eight emerging from the one loss side, including Vivian Villarreal, with wins over Shelby Locati 9-1 and Eleanor Callado 9-7; Melissa Little, with wins over Jennifer Chen 9-4 and Kim White 9-7; Liz Cole, with wins over Dawn Hopkins 9-3 and Cathy Metzinger 9-6; Jennifer Barretta, with a win over Maureen Seto 9-4; Brittany Bryant, with wins over Tina Hess 9-1 and Val Finnie 9-6; Erica Park, with wins over defending champion Xiaoting Pan 9-6 and Nicole Keeney 9-3; Helena Thornfeldt, with wins over Teruko Cucculelli 9-4 and Tamara Rademakers 9-7; and Ewa Laurance, with a win over Emily Duddy 9-4.
Fans can keep up with match results at www.wpba.com via the Tour Championship Tournament Board. The final sixteen will narrow to eight players late this evening. Those eight be featured in the ESPN televised quarter finals on Saturday!
For more information, or to obtain tickets 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.
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:
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.
