WOMEN’S US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Monica Webb Jasmin Ouschan

TULSA, OK – USA’s Monica Webb stayed two games ahead of the #1 ranked player in the world, Jasmin Ouschan,through much of the last ESPN-taped quarter final of the day. Quickly pulling to a 4-2 lead, then again at 5-3, a hungthree ball by Webb put Jasmin back at the table to pull back to 5-4, followed by a break and run to tie the match 5-5.

In the next rack, Jasmin scratched on the four ball, putting Monica back at the table, but missed position with ball in hand gave Jasmin a reprieve and she pulled ahead 6-5 in the race to seven. After a bit of backand forth between the two players in the next game, Monica missed, leaving a Jasmin a clear shot on the three ball. Jasmin ran to the eight ball and to the shock of the crowd, hung it up in the corner.At 6-6, it was Monica’s break. After a brilliant safety on the two ball by Webb, Jasmin missed a difficult kick, givingMonica ball in hand on a 2-9 combination. The 9 bobbled in the pocket but did not fall, leaving Jasmin an easy 2-9 for the match win. Jasmin, visibly disappointed for her opponent’s bad luck, took the shot for the win even as Monicaconceded the match. Jasmin meets defending champion Ga Young Kim in tomorrow’s second semi final at 3 pm tomorrow.Ongoing score updates (refresh for updates) will be available throughout tomorrow’s semi and final matches, scheduled for 1, 3 and 5 pm. Visit wpba.com/2011usopen.p

TULSA, OK – Rivalry at its best in quarterfinal #2 between fellow Great Britain natives Allison Fisher at left, currently ranked #7 and Kelly Fisher at right, ranked #6. Allison pulled ahead 3-1 early in the race to seven, but Kelly answered with four “Kwikfire” games to take the lead 5-3.

In a “back at ya” Allison then answered with three straight games of her own to lead 6-5, then broke and ran the final game to win the match 7-5 and move on to tomorrow’s semi finals against Korea’s Erica Park!

Kelly finishes tied for fifth place with Jeanette Lee. Next up, USA’s Vivian Villarreal vs. our defending champion, Korea’s Ga Young Kim!

Final match results are posted as they occur throughout the day. Ongoing score updates (refresh for updates) can be found at wpba.com/2011usopen

TULSA, OK – In an crowd-pleasing match between famed “Black Widow” Jeanette Lee, and newcomer Erica Park of Korea (the only non-seeded player to crack the top eight in this event) neither player took more than a one game lead throughout the match. At 5-5, Erica pulled ahead first to the hill, but Jeanette Lee fought back to another tie at 6-6 in the race to 7. Jeanette broke but failed to pocket a ball on the break. A safety battle ensued with Lee getting the first shot at the one ball. She pocketed the one and played safe on the two, launching another safety battle. Again, Jeanette made the two, only to miss a make-able three ball. Erica played a perfect remainder of the rack to win 7-6 and earn  her place in tomorrow’s first semi final! Next up, it’s Hall of Famer Allison Fisher vs. #6 ranked Kelly Fisher.

We will post final match results as they occur throughout the day. Ongoing score updates (refresh for updates) can be found at http://www.wpba.com/images/stories/brackets/2011usopen.pdf

Ewa Mataya Laurance Upsets China’s Xiaoting Pan!

8:15 p.m. feature matchups include #1 ranked Jasmin Ouschan vs. the “Black Widow” Jeanette Lee; Hall of Famer Ewa Laurance (after an amazing upset over #3 ranked Xiaoting Pan of China where Ewa came back from a 7-3 deficit to win 9-7); defending champion Ga Young Kim vs. Hall of Famer Allison Fisher; and Georgia’s Monica Webb vs. Ireland’s Karen Corr.

This evening’s late round results will post who survives the elimination rounds to make the final 8 for tomorrow’s ESPN televised matches. Full brackets and ongoing score updates can be found at http://www.wpba.com/images/stories/brackets/2011usopen.pdf

WOMEN’S US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
First Round Results Complete!

TULSA, OK – The Women’s Pro Billiard Tour’s US Open 9-Ball Championships first round of play is complete. Players advancing in the first round are playing this evening in the second round of the winner’s bracket. Full brackets and ongoing score updates can be found at http://www.wpba.com/images/stories/brackets/2011usopen.pdf
WPBA US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND RESULTS

Nicole Keeney d. Susan Lance 9-4
Jasmin Ouschan d. Jennifer Kraber 9-1
Amy Chen d. Sharon O’Hanlon 9-6
Julie Kelly d. Brianna Miller 9-5
Cathy Metzinger d. Melissa Morris 9-6
Jeanette Lee d. Kim Benson 9-3
Morgan Steinman d. Megan Smith 9-6
Vivian Villarreal d. Maureen Seto 9-6
Eleanor Callado d. JoAnne Ashton 9-6
Xiaoting Pan d. Barbara Lee 9-4
Naomi Williams d. Borana Andoni 9-4
Ewa Laurance d. Erica Park 9-7
Mary Rakin d. Emily Duddy 9-4
Kelly Fisher d. Kim Pierce 9-2
Kim White d. Tina Hess 9-0
Line Kjorsvik d. Kim Jones 9-2
Stacie Bourbeau d. Angel Paglia 9-8
Ga Young Kim d. Veronique Menard 9-3
Liz Cole d. Cheryl Pritchard 9-7
Tina Meraglio d. Tamara Rademakers 9-3
Dawn Hopkins d. Susan Mello 9-5
Allison Fisher d. Dana Aft 9-2
Teruko Cucculelli d. Jennifer Chen (F)
Val Finnie d. Melissa Little 9-3
Susan Williams d. Vicki Paski 9-8
Monica Webb d. Lindsay Dorn 9-2
Brittany Bryant d. Theresa Gifford 9-3
Kim Shaw d. Erin McManus 9-5
Jennifer Barretta d. Stacy Novak 9-5
Karen Corr d. Rebecca Warner (F)
Laura Smith d. Rhonda Pierce 9-6
Liz Ford d. Samantha PattoQuarter Final Matchup #2: Fisher Defeats Fisher!n 9-4

Event Kicks Off with Charity Pro-Am Tonight, 7 p.m.
TULSA, OK -The River Spirit Event Center hosts the best female billiard players in the world THIS WEEK June 15-19, 2011 when the Women’s Pro Billiard Tour’s US Open 9-Ball Championships will play from 64 down to a single US Open Champion. Quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts.

The legendary Jeanette Lee, known as “The Black Widow,” is slated to compete, along with Also competing: the 2009 World Games Gold Medalist and reigning U.S. Open 9-Ball defending champion Ga Young Kim; 2010 World 10-Ball and 2011 WPBA Masters Champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria; and 2010 WPBA Tour Champion Xiaoting Pan of China.

The event kicks off January 15th with a Pro-Am Charity Event to benefit  the Susan G Komen Foundation. Anyone can play or watch; and spectators will have the opportunity to challenge their favorite pros!

Tickets are just $10 on June 16th & 17th and $20 on June 18th and 19th!  VIP tickets are available for $25. Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!
WPBA US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Headliners!

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Ga Young Kim (Korea – now residing Taipei, Taiwan)
2010 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 Colorado Classic Champion
Current Rank: #3
Jasmin Ouschan (Austria)
www.jasmin-ouschan.com
2010 Atlanta Classic champion
2010 European Championships 3x Gold Medalist
2009 3x tour champion and Player of the Year
Current Rank: #1
Karen Corr (Ireland – now residing Nashville, TN)
23 WPBA Championship Titles!
3x Tournament of Champions
2x Player of the Year
Current Rank: #2
Xiaoting Pan (Korea)
2010 WPBA Tour Champion
2008 BCA Open 9-Ball Champion
2007 WPA World 9-Ball champion
Current Rank: #4
Gerda Hofstatter (Austria – now residing Charlotte, NC)
www.gerdahofstatter.com
2010 San Diego Classic Champion
2000 BCA Open 9-Ball champion
1995 WPA World 9-Ball Champion
Current Rank: #5
Kelly Fisher (Great Britain – now residing Charlotte, NC)
2009 Champion of Champions
2008 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2008 WPBA Pacific Coast Champion
Current Rank: #6
Allison Fisher (Great Britain – Charlotte, NC)
www.allisonfisher.com
2010 World 9-Ball Champion Runner-Up
2009 BCA Hall of Fame Inductee
2009 World Games Gold Medalist
4x World Champion and WPBA Title Record Holder: 75 titles since 1995!
Current Rank: #7
Jeanette Lee (Indianapolis, IN)
www.jeanettelee.com
2007 World Team Cup and Empress Cup Champion
2005 China Invitational Champion
Current Rank: #8

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, Cuetec Cues, Delta 13, Pooldawg, Mueller Recreational Products and Aramith.

About River Spirit Casino
River Spirit Casino, Tulsa’s $195 million casino project at 81st & Riverside, showcases 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma. With over 2,600 high-tech electronic machines, 24 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four world-class dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a fine dining establishment, a 24-hour café, lounge and sports bar.  For more information on River Spirit Casino please visit the website. www.riverspirittulsa.com
As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive economic impact for Tulsa and surrounding towns, adding 450 new jobs to the city. Proceeds from gaming operations help to fund a variety of Muscogee (Creek) Nation service programs such as housing, education, elderly assistance and healthcare. For more information on the tribe’s history and government, please visit the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Web site. www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov

About River Spirit Event Center
The newly renovated River Spirit Event Center is located at the site of the former Creek Nation Casino – Tulsa at 81st and Riverside Drive. The venue has nearly 20,000 sq. ft of useable space for sporting events, entertainment, conventions and meetings and all amenities.