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Amsterdam Tournament Postponed Until 2002

NEW YORK (Sept. 14)–The Amsterdam 9-ball Open scheduled for Sept. 19-23 at Amsterdam Billiard Club in New York City has been postponed until sometime next year according to proprietor Greg Hunt.

The charity event benefiting the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 19, will go on as planned at the Eastside location (East 86th Street at 2nd Ave.) from 7 -10 pm. For more information, call 212.570.4545.

Comfortable at the Top

Top-ranked Karen Corr widened her points lead over No. 2 Allison Fisher, winning by the narrowest of margins at Sandia Casino on Sept. 9. Corr’s 7-6 win over Fisher in the final of the Classic Tour’s fourth stop of the season netted Corr $7,500, and doubled her lead over Fisher in the rankings to an 80-point advantage.

The former snooker stars were even at 6-6 heading into the final game, where Corr pulled out the win to give her victories in all four Classic Tour stops this season. Only Jeanette Lee’s victory at the Billiard Congress of America 9-Ball Championships has kept Corr from a perfect 2001 season thus far.

Lee, who recently captured the Gold Medal for the United States in the women’s 9-ball division of the World Games in Akita, Japan, finished in third place. Ewa Laurance took fourth.

Centre of Attention

Francisco Bustamante narrowly edged Earl Strickland in the final of the Ladbrokescasino.com World Pool Masters at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, England, on Sept. 2. The two players were knotted at 6-6 in the race-to-seven final played in the bustling shopping mall, before Bustamante keyed on Strickland’s empty break in the final rack to claim a 7-6 win and his second World Pool Masters crown.

The victory netted Bustamante £10,000 (approx. $14,400), while Strickland settled for the £5,000 runner-up prize.

“He never made anything on the break,” said Bustamante, who was backed by a large Filipino support group that also cheered on third-place finisher Efren Reyes. “The Filipino people in the audience were amazing, there were so many of them it was like playing in Manila. I’m so pleased to win this championship again; I’m playing in the US Open next week so it will be great to arrive there with this title in the bag.”

Going For Gold

American Jeanette Lee and Taipei’s Ching-Shun Yang captured the 9-ball divisions of the 6th World Games in Akita, Japan, Aug. 16-26. Lee took home the Gold Medal after beating Ireland’s Karen Corr, 9-3. Lee’s finish gave the United States a second-best 15 total Gold Medals during the Games, and a combined 31 medals to place third overall behind leader Russia (44) and second-place Germany (35) in the medal count.

Yang knocked off Germany’s Ralf Souquet, 11-8, in the final to claim the Gold Medal. Despite Souquet’s defeat, Germany’s medal count was boosted when Souquet’s countrymate Thomas Engert topped American Jon Kucharo to claim the bronze medal.

Belgium’s Bjoern Haneveer edged Filipino Marlon Manalo, 4-3, to take the snooker Gold Medal, while Spain’s Daniel Sanchez upset Dick Jaspers, 40-30, to earn the Gold in carom.

Mexico’s Ismaez Paez, who suffered a heart attack before one of his matches early in the 9-ball tournament, underwent heart surgery and is currently recovering.

Diliberto Cleared Of All Charges

Pool legend Danny Diliberto was acquitted of all charges after a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y., according to the prosecutor, Asst. U.S. Attorney Tony Bruce.

Diliberto had been indicted in a drug-trafficking case along with 14 others including former 9-ball stand out Dennis Hatch and his father, Gregg Hatch. Diliberto, a Buffalo native and boyhood friend of Gregg Hatch, had insisted on a trial to answer the charges of conspiracy and cocaine possession and sales, while 12 other defendants in the case pled guilty. The elder Hatch was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the younger received house arrest and probation.

2001 Admiral World Pool Championship Live Update

CARDIFF, WALES — In a closely played final match that featured 10 lead changes, Finland’s Mika Immonen captured the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship on Sunday. Immonen, who pockets $65,000 for the victory, won the last five racks in the race-to-17 final to win 17-10 over Germany’s Ralf Souquet.

World Pool Chmpionship Final Set

For the first time since 1996, a European player will take home the top prize in pool. The final of the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship comes down to two Europeans – Finland’s Mika Immonen and Germany’s Ralf Souquet. The winner of today’s final tilt will take home $65,000, while the loser will pocket $30,000.

Souquet, who won the World Pool Championship in 1996, coasted into the final match with wins over Marcus Chamat in the quarterfinals, and later Chia-hsiung Lai in Saturday evening’s semifinal on the main table. During his two matches, Souquet outscored both of his opponents by a total margin of 22-3.

“It’s not easy to be out there in the arena and play your best all the time but I think over the years, I’ve mastered playing on the TV tables,” said Souquet, who beat Lai 11-2.

Immonen, meanwhile, had a more difficult time with his opponents on Saturday. He beat Niels Feijen, 11-7, in the quarterfinal, then rallied from a 5-2 deficit for another 11-7 win over Alain Martel in the semifinal.

“Me and Ralf have got a lot of respect for each other and he is a real gentleman,” said Immonen. “We’ll both be concentrating on our respective games and not worry about each other.”

The final match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EST.

“Kaiser” Rolls On; Jones Finished

Germany’s Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet continued his torrid play at the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales. He controlled every moment of his quarterfinal match against Sweden’s Marcus Chamat, and captured an 11-1 victory.

Lone remaining American Jeremy Jones was also eliminated on Saturday. Jones, who battled a slight cold the night before, dropped his first seven games against Chia-hsiung Lai of Chinese Taipei. Lai never looked back, and held on for an 11-3 win. Jones collected $8,500 for a share of fifth place.

“We exchanged safeties early,” said Jones, “The next time I looked up, it was 7-0. I wish I could have represented the country a little further. I really wanted to win this tournament.”

USA’s Jeremy Jones Advances

At least one American player has reached the final eight, thanks to Texas’ Jeremy Jones. Battling a slight cold and fatigue, Jones held close to Spain’s David Alcaide, and finished him off by nailing a difficult jump shot on the 8 ball in the final rack to win, 11-9.

The only other American player remaining, Florida’s Charlie Williams, plays Leonardo Andam later this evening.

Immonen, Souquet Advance in Friday Morning Session

With only two American players remaining in the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship, several European players are staking their claim at the richest payday in pool. Finland’s Mika Immonen and Germany’s Ralf Souquet were the first on Friday, breezing into the quarterfinals with convincing victories.

After taking a 5-0 lead in the race-to-11 match, Immonen took advantage of Anthony Ginn’s numerous mishaps to finish with an 11-2 win. Soon afterward, Souquet calmly crafted an 11-3 victory to advance into Saturday’s quarterfinal matches.

Niels Feijen and Chia-hsiung Lai also advanced in Friday morning’s matches.