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Kim Breezes Through Enerva Asian 9-Ball Championship

Reigning back-to-back world champion Ga Young Kim of South Korea has another title to add to her growing resumé, with a win at the Enerva Asian 9-Ball Tour Championship, held April 26-28 at Robinson’s Gallera in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Kim defeated Shu-Pin Kao of Chinese-Taipei, 11-4, in the finals to clinch the the top purse of $10,000. Kao received the runner-up prize of $5,000. Losing semifinalists Yuan Chun Lin and Jui-Fang Fan of Chinese-Taipei got $2,500 each.

Suffering at the hands of the undefeated Kim in the winners’ bracket were Chieh-Yu Chou of Chinese, Taipei, 9-7, Sakiko Namiki of Japan, 9-5, Jennifer Chen of Chinese-Taipei, 9-3, and Kao, 9-5, respectively.

Kao was able to get back in contention after topping the losers’ bracket with Fan. Kao beat lone Filipina quarter finalist survivor Irish Ranola, 9-6, while Fan inched out Chen, 9-7.

In the single-elimination matches between the top four players, Kao yanked the carpet out from under tied-for-top finisher Lin, 9-8, while Kim battered Fan, 9-5.

In the final, Kim posted three consecutive racks to take a 3-0 lead in the opener. Kao was never able to overcome Kim’s lead, despite some momentum gained after connecting a difficult 2-9 combo for a 4-9 count. Kim regained control, taking the last two racks for a final score of 11-4.

Fisher Takes Fifth Amway Title

Fisher grabbed Amway title number five.

Fisher grabbed Amway title number five.

Allison Fisher has taken her fifth Amway Cup title. The Amway Cup World Women Billiards Invitational was held May 6-9 in downtown Taipei, Taiwan.

In the final, televised live on Taiwanese television station Videoland, Fisher bested Korea’s Ga Young Kim, 11-6. Fisher collected $24,000 for her win. Kim took home $12,000 for second place.

The rest of the field finished as follows: 3. Karen Corr; 4. Shin-Mei Liu; 5. (tie) Yuan-Chun Lin, Wendy Jans; 7. (tie) Jasmin Ouschan, Jennifer Chen; 9. (tie) Shu-Han Chang, Jeanette Lee; 11. (tie) Jennifer Barretta, Kajitani Akimi.

Finals Set for Amway Cup

The quarter- and semifinal rounds are complete at the Amway Cup World Women Billiards Invitational, being held May 6-9 in Taipei, Taiwan. Korea’s Ga Young Kim is slated to face British “Duchess of Doom” Allison Fisher in the final tonight.

In one quarterfinal round, Karen Corr bested Yuan-Chun Lin, advancing to a semifinal against Fisher, where Corr was eliminated, 7-3. In the other quarterfinal, Shin-Mei Liu beat young Belgian Wendy Jans, 7-5. Liu then took a 7-2 beating from good friend Kim.

The playoff for third place between Corr and Liu takes place this evening before the final. All matches are being shown live on Taiwanese television.

Amway Cup Kicks Off

The first day’s matches are complete at the 2005 Amway Cup World Women’s Billiards Invitational, being held May 6-9 in Taipei, Taiwan. The 12-woman field consists of Allison Fisher, Karen Corr, Jasmin Ouschan, Wendy Jans, Jeanette Lee, Jennifer Barretta, Jennifer Chen, Shin-Mei Liu, Akimi Kajitani, Yuan-Chun Lin, Shu-Han Chang, and Ga-Young Kim.

The schedule was shortened on the first day, due to Taiwanese holidays celebrated this week. This meant that 10 matches have been completed in the round-robin format, and some competitors have not yet played two matches. Of those who have completed two matches, there are some clear leaders and trailers. Hometown heroes Chen and Liu are the sole competitors with two wins on their scorecards so far. American player Barretta, Austrian Ouschan, and Japan’s Kajitani trail the field with two losses each. Women’s Professional Billiards Association first- and second-ranked players Fisher and Corr have one win apiece, and will play their second matches tomorrow morning.