WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championship Final Four!

Jun 9, 2012

WPBA WOMEN'S US OPEN 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL FOUR
Fisher, Webb, Lee and Hofstatter Heading to the Semi-Finals!
TULSA, OK - The WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championships at the River Spirit Event Center in Tulsa featured four quarter final matches today in front of the ESPN Cameras. In the first matchup of the day, Great Britain native and defending champion, #1 ranked Allison Fisher quickly bested Swedish native Helena Thornfeldt 7-1.
In quarter final #2, Atlanta's Monica Webb, the #2 seed in this event, took on junior national champion Brittany Bryant of Canada with a 7-3 victory. Tomorrow's first semi final at 1:00 p.m. EST will feature Fisher vs. Webb to determine who will play for the title.
The third quarterfinal match featured a thrilling hill-hill battle between the "Black Widow" Jeanette Lee and Norway's Line Kjorsvik. A see-saw battle between the two veteran players put the score at 4-4 before Kjorsvik pulled ahead 6-4. But Jeanette won the next rack to pull within a game, then broke and ran the next to tie the match 6-6, and went on to close out the final game for a 7-6 victory!
The last match of the day was between Austrian native (now residing in Charlotte) Gerda Hofstatter, a veteran tour champion, and two-time junior national champion Mary Rakin of California, making her first-ever appearance in a televised match. Rakin drew first blood with a two-game lead but Gerda quickly answered with three of her own and the match was soon tied 5-5. An early miss by Mary put Gerda back in the driver's seat; she ran out to lead 6-5, then won 7-5 with a seven-nine combo.
Gerda plays Jeanette Lee at 3 p.m. Sunday to determine the other finalist.
The quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts, airing Saturday, July 14, (Quarterfinals 12-4pm on ESPN2) and Sunday, July 15, (Semifinals/Final 1-4pm on ESPN2).
Fans and media can keep up with ongoing results at http://www.wpba.com/images/stories/brackets/2012_us_open.pdf Refresh the link for the most up-to-date results -- scoring updates will take place throughout the day's play!
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, June 10 at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm
ESPN Semifinals and Final (Tix are $20 general admission, $25 VIP)
It all takes place at the River Spirit Event Center, adjacent to the River Spirit Casino at 81st and Riverside in Tulsa.
Tickets are just $20 on June 9th and 10th! VIP tickets are available for $25. Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!
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 Diamond Billiards, Iwan Simonis cloth, Delta 13, Pooldawg and Aramith balls.
About River Spirit Casino and Event Center
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, 23 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a steakhouse, a 24-hour café, a lounge and a sports bar. 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. For more information on River Spirit Casino visit www.riverspirittulsa.com.
As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive economic impact for Tulsa and surrounding towns. 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 at www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov.