The final day of the Brunswick KPT CHampionship started with the Women's Semi Finals with 17 year old Yuram Cha taking on Korea's #1 Sung Hyun Jung and on the MBC ESPN TV match USA's Tina Meraglio took on Korea's #2 player Bora Jung. Yuram Cha seemed to be holding her own against the veteran Jung, but let the lead slip as Sung Hyun moved to a 7-5 decision. Meraglio couldn't get anything going while Bora played her consistent game (trained by Korea's legendary Shin Young Park) to win 5-1 on the TV match.
Next the Men's Semi Finals started with Korea's last hopeful Young Hwa Jeong taking on Ronnie "Volcano" Alcano. Alcano took the lead 2-0, but then Jeong answered with 4 in a row. But the tide turned again and Alcano came back with 5 straight to win the match 7-4. The next TV match had Thorsten Hohmann taking on the red hot Hiroshi Takenaka. Hohmann couldnt get any shots off the 10-ball breaks, while Takenaka seemed to be rolling and he held Hohmann down 7-2 to advance to his 2nd finals in 2 weeks.
The women's finals was another all Korean shoot out showing once more the tremendous talent of women coming out of South Korea. Young 21 year old Bora Jung defeated the #1 Sung Hyun Jeong the last national KPT event finals, but could she stop her again? The match went 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, before Jeong pulled away when Jung scrathed off the 8 ball giving Jeong the match and also #1 status for the rankings for 2005.
The mens's finals went a little closer in the alternate break 10-Ball format. Alcano coasted to a quick 4-1 lead before Takenaka took advantage. Then at 4-2, Takenaka snapped the 10 on the break. Then Alcano made a break and run. Score 5-3. Takenaka again 10 on the break. Score 5-4. Alcano takes advantage of a Takenaka mistake to go on the hill 6-4. Takenaka makes the 10 ball again! 3 in a row, incredible! Alcano tried to shake off the amazement but loses his cue ball to let Takenaka tie the match 6-6 . THe last rack Alcano is visibly nervous at seeing Takenaka break again, but this time the 10-Ball doesnt move but Takenaka has an open table. But he goes for a flyer position shot and hooks himself on the 4 ball, kicks, but leaves Alcano an out and Alcano misses position on the 6 ball only to have it unexpectedly line up dead straight for a 10 ball combo. He lines up, takes a swing, and makes the 10 ball! Alcano then jostles and wiggles his shoulders and body in a funny nervous dance to show his happiness and jitterness to become the 1st ever Korea Pro Tour Championship winner and take home the $10,000 1st place prize.
At the KPT Year End AWards Banquet, players, fans, city officials, and industry members enjoyed a great feast and was treated to a special TV highlights of the past years matches put together by MBC ESPN. THen everyone was treated to a musical slide show of the entire year which was followed up by the presentation of the bonus money for rankings to the top 8 men and top 4 women on tour. The KPT Awards winners were:
KPT Person of the Year: Cindy Lee
PLayer of the Year: Young Hwa Jeong (men) Sung Hyun Jung(women)
Sportsman of the Year: Shin YOung Park(men) Bora Jung(women)
Rookie of the Year: Moon Ji Hyun (women) Kyung Sik (men)
Fan Favorite & Most Exciting Player: Rodney Morris
Best Dressed: Yun Mi Lim
File photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics by Hoppe
