Pool Cue News and Review

Well, there’s a new sheriff in town.  Kelly Fisher just finished taking down Iris Ranola in a 7-1 beatdown to take the US Open title and the #1 ranking.  After her 2 and out performance, Allison will drop all the way down to #6.  Karen Corr, Ga Young Kim, Xiao Ting Pan and Sarah Ellerby round out the Top 5.

Here’s the way it went down, courtesy of the WPBA:

August 3, 2008: Riverwind Casino, Norman Oklahoma

The new #1 ranked WPBA player, Kelly Fisher, faces off with newcomer Iris Ranola in the finals of the 2008 WPBA US Open 9 Ball Championships. Iris is no stranger to championships, having won the Philippine’s Women 9 Ball Championships.

Kelly won the lag and broke, making 2 balls and having an open shot on the 2 in the opening game. She confidently strode around the table, sinking each ball until the 6, where she left herself awkwardly and attempted a safety that failed miserably leaving Iris an open shot, although not an easy one. Iris made the ball and had a tough long cut on the 7 to come around for the 9, which to her dismay rattled in the pocket. Kelly quickly made her way to the table and finished off the 7/9 to take game 1.

Iris broke but didn’t make a ball, and a safety battle began on both the 1 and the 2 ball. Kelly finally had an open shot but it was a long straight in ball that she missed, leaving Iris a side pocket cut that went in. Iris then sank a 3/8 combination but didn’t get rewarded for a good shot and the 3 rolled up behind the 9. Iris took her extension for the game and tried to thin cut the 3 into the side (she could see just a small bit of it) but just barely missed, leaving Kelly another open shot to begin running out. Kelly made a great stroke shot to get from the 5 to the 7 and finished off the 9 to take game 2.

The break alternated back to Kelly and she made a ball with the 1 wide open to start game 3. The 5/7 was tied up as Kelly looked to break them up off the 4, and showing that she’s in her zone, executed the shot perfectly with position on the 5. As Iris calmly looked on, Kelly continued her run out, and just like that the score was 3-0.

Iris broke solidly, making the 3 ball. The tricky shot was from the 1 to the 2, as the 2 was sitting below the 6/8/9. She nicked the 8 ball in the way of the 2, leaving a combination shot that she successfully pocketed. Staying calm, she made a beautifully delicate cut shot on the 4 to get back in line for the 5 ball. Her nerves may have gotten the better of her though as she missed the 5, overcutting it and sending it down table.

Kelly uncharacteristically also missed, but left the 5 sitting in front of the 7, blocking the way to the corner pocket. Iris had already used her extension in this game and was forced to hurry up and shoot a haphazard combination, missing it and leaving the 5 wide open. Kelly would not miss twice in the same rack and ran out to take a 4-0 lead.

Iris showed no emotion as she watched Kelly break and make the 7 ball. The key shots would be the 1 to the 2 to the 3. She chose to leave herself longer shots instead of forcing the position play, carefully pocketing each ball but slowly bringing her cue back in line. The toughest shot would prove to be the 5 to the 6 as she ended up perfectly straight on the 5. Without batting an eyelash she drew the cue ball back for the 6 in the side, then the 8 & 9 to go up 5-0.

With the break and desperately wanting to get on the board, Iris stepped up and made the 7 ball and steadfastly began running her rack. This would be a test of her inner strength as anyone who has been down 5 games to none can attest, it’s not easy to keep one’s focus without getting down on oneself. But calm she remained and answered Kelly’s break and run with one of her own to finally get on the board 1-5.

Kelly, needing only 2 games for the Championships, made the 3 ball on her break but needed to play a safety on the 1. Sidling the cue ball up onto the 2, Kelly sat down and watched as Iris did hit the ball, leaving no shot for Kelly and we were into another safety battle. After Iris flinched first, Kelly got ball in hand to start navigating position for each ball and with an eye towards the final prize, reached the hill 6-1. The crowd could sense the inevitability of the outcome, although one can never count out a tough competitor such as Iris.

Iris broke, made nothing, and Kelly ended up scratching on the 2 ball, giving Iris ball in hand. After making the 2 ball, Iris missed the 3, and Kelly stepped up looking to make 4 balls for the championships. She confidently made them and took the Title and the #1 spot.

Congratulations to Iris Ranola for a fantastic runner-up finish, and to Kelly Fisher for taking the 2008 WPBA US Open 9 Ball Championships.

(Play by play credited to the WPBA)

The semifinals are set and they don’t include Karen Corr.  Here’s how the quarterfinal matches went down according to the WPBA.

Quarterfinal’s #1

Sarah Ellerby: 2 -  Iris Ranola: 7
Both players break and run their first games
Iris snaps in the 9 ball game 3
Sarah missed the 5 ball Iris runs out
Safety battle in game 5 but Sarah scratches on the 3 ball - Iris runs out
Another safety battle on the 4 ball in game 6, Sarah’s advantage and runs out to get within 2 games.
Iris breaks and runs game 7.
Sarah misses the 3 ball and Iris makes a tough run out to reach the hill!
Sarah Ellerby pops the cue ball off the table shooting the 7, giving Iris ball in hand.  Iris wins the match

Quarterfinals #2

Karen Corr: 5  -  Yu Ram Cha: 7
Yu Ram wins game 1 after Karen misses long bank on the 8
Yu Ram runs rack off of Karen’s break
Karen misses the 9 after getting out of line
Yu Ram misses the 5, Karen runs out
Karen wins another game
Monster safety battle Yu Ram comes out ahead
Karen fails on her safety attempt Yu Ram runs out
Yu Ram’s cue ball flys off table off break, Karen runs out
Safety battle with Yu Ram getting the advantage goes to hill
Chess game & battle of wills in game 11 Yu Ram blinks first, Karen runs out
Karen pushes out after break, Yu Ram gives back option, Karen plays poor safe, Yu Ram cuts 1 ball in side pocket and plays shape for 2/9 combination.  Makes it and wins to move on into the Semi’s #2!

Quarterfinals #3

Jeanette Lee: 7  -   Pam Cimarelli: 4
Jeanette broke, ran and missed the 8
Safety by Jeanette gave her the advantage & the run out
Safeties galore! Jeanette missed 6 ball and Pam ran out
Pam makes 5/9 combo to win game 4
Jeanette & Pam both miss the 9 but Pam finally sinks it
Pam misses the 5 ball Jeanette runs out
Jeanette makes a tough run out to pull w/in one
Jeanette makes the 9 off the 5 accidentally & ties the match
Pam takes a flyer at a 4 cross bank but leaves Jeanette with a 4/9 combo
Pam & Jeanette wrangle with the 2 ball but Jeanette reaches the hill
Safety battle on the 2 in the next game, Pam makes an amazing 2 rail kick, pockets ball but scratches giving Jeanette ball in hand and and the winning game of the match.

Quarterfinal’s #4

Vivian Villarreal: 6  -   Kelly Fisher:7
After a jump shot by Vivian, Kelly ran out
Vivian got out of line on the 5, missed the ball Kelly ran out
Kelly missed 8 ball cut, Vivian gets one game back
Kelly makes a 3/9 combo
Kelly missed the 2 ball & Vivian runs out
Vivian hooks herself, leaves a duck and Kelly runs out
Kelly fails to break the 5 ball out and leaves Vivian a runout
Vivian scratches after a short rail bank attempt on the 8, Kelly makes the 8/9.
Vivian ties the match 5 all after gaining ball in hand
Kelly misses the 9 ball, Vivian reaches hill first.
Vivian misses the 4 ball, Kelly runs out
After a monster safety battle, Vivian misses a straight in 8 ball and Kelly Fisher advances into the Semifinals

So, that gives us semifinal matchups o:

Iris Ranola vs. Yu Ram Cha

and

Jeanette Lee vs. Kelly Fisher

Check back this evening for highlights and results.