9-Ball Billiards

Kiamco and Breedlove Newest on the IPTVisit the IPT Qualifier D Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.com/gallery.php?category=IPT+D+Qualifier)

Final Eight Returning Sunday at IPT Qualifier DVisit the IPT Qualifier D Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.com/gallery.php?category=IPT+D+Qualifier)

First Winners’-Bracket Matches Wrapped Up at IPT Qualifier DVisit the IPT Qualifier D Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.com/gallery.php?category=IPT+D+Qualifier)

Final 16 Set in IPT Winners’ BracketVisit the IPT Qualifier D Image Gallery (http://insidepoolmag.com/gallery.php?category=IPT+D+Qualifier)

Fourth IPT Qualification Event BeginsA grand total of 76 players came out to Country Club USA in Chelmsford, MA, for the fourth International Pool Tour qualification event. Unbelievably, this field seems even tougher than the three previous ones.IPT member Tony Robles and his son Jonathan are here watching some matches. “Me personally, I think that the field in all of the qualifiers thus far is actually a lot harder than a lot of the pro tournaments we have here in the United States,” he said softly. How does Tony think he would like trying to qualify at this event? “Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about it!” he laughs. “But if I had to do it, I would be more than willing to do it, because this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and this is an opportunity that can actually change the life of every player that’s participating in the IPT.”

Upsets Define the First Round at the WPBA Carolina ClassicExcitement filled the air at the Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, NC as all 64 players took the floor in first round matches. As usual, the first round was not without upsets, once again reinforcing the laws of probability while chipping away at the egos of certain unwilling players. Notable upsets included Wisconsin’s Jeri Engh defeating Florida’s Tracie Hines. This was huge because Jeri had been without a match win in 50 matches and finally ended her dry spell with this victory against 2005’s Rookie of the Year. Susan Mello handed reigning world and national champion Ga Young Kim of Korea her first loss, 9-6. Junior champion Anna Kostanian of Albuquerque, NM outlasted Texan Kim White in a 9-8 nail-biter while California’s Darlene Stinson posted one in the “W” column by defeating Florida’s Sarah Ellerby.

Play Kicks Off at WPBA Carolina Billiards ClassicThe 64 greatest female billiard players in the world converged in Rocky Mount, North Carolina for the WPBA Carolina Billiards Classic. As usual the pre-tournament favorite is defending champion and #1 ranked Allison Fisher. Other pre-event favorites include #2 ranked Karen Corr, 2005 World and National champion Ga Young Kim (Korea), and newcomer Pan Xiaoting. Xiaoting arrived in the U.S. from mainland China in January and has won three consecutive qualifiers to earn spots in the first three pro events of the season! With the amount of talent present, this event promises to be nothing short of spetacular. Play begins Thursday at 11 am EST.

Orcollo and Ortmann Make it into the IPTView the IPT Qualifier C image gallery. (http://insidepoolmag.bizatomic.net/gallery.php?category=IPT+Qualifier+C)Heading to the one-loss finals, Hjorliefson came back from a 4-1 deficit against the German and then tied it at 5 apiece. They split the next two racks, but then Ortmann cautiously pulled ahead to reach the hill 9-6. Ortmann missed his first shot in the last rack, but Hjorliefson missed an early solid by at least a diamond, and Ortmann was able to clear the table for his 10-6 win.

Four Players Remain in IPT QualifierThe first round of the winners’-bracket matches Sunday morning were uneven at best. Oliver “The Machine” Ortmann completely dominated his match against Scott Frost. Though Frost had a small early lead, Ortmann managed to take advantage of his opponent’s errors and won the match 10-4.Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines went up against Goh Takami in the second winners’-side match, in which Orcollo cleared the first rack and ran the next four for a 5-0 lead. There weren’t too many opportunities for Takami, and Orcollo swept the match 10-3.Hiroshi Takenaka ran the first four racks in his left-side match against Karl Boyes of the UK. The crestfallen Boyes took two games, but Takenaka took three, bringing the score to 7-2. Takenaka only allowed his opponent one more game before winning 10-3.

Eight Players Will Return for the IPT Qualifier C EventHard Times Billiards in Bellflower, CA, was packed to the gills on Saturday evening with players and fans, each hoping to see the next big pool star win his spot on the IPT for the 2006 season. One onlooker commented that when legendary money man Jack Cooney played for an exceptionally large amount, it was almost this crowded, but not quite.Action man Scott “The Freezer” Frost was the first to finish his winners’-side match, besting California’s Arturo Rivera by a stunning 10-1 score.“This is probably the last chance I’m gonna get,” an excited Frost said after his match, “because these tournaments are getting tougher and tougher, and every final six or ten of these qualifiers, they’re letting those players get free entry fees, so that means even more top players are gonna be there, because they’re guaranteed. I want to get there now, and I’m not playing around. I think I’ve got a good chance. I played flawless, and with my one-pocket game and the tight pockets on these tables, I think it comes up quite a bit; therefore, I think I’m a huge favorite, to be honest.”