Jasmin Ouschan Dominates in an Undefeated Win at the WPBA Tour Championships

On Sunday, November 15, Jeanette Lee, Kelly Fisher, Jasmin Ouschan, and Xiaoting Pan each entered the ESPN arena at in the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida with one goal in mind: to become the 2009 WPBA National Tour Champion.  These four fierce competitors faced off in the single-elimination semifinals, which began at 1:00pm that afternoon.

However, young Austrian champion Jasmin Ouschan would once again show her dominance on the ladies tour, as she capped off the 2009 WPBA season with an undefeated win at the tour championships, making this her third win in 2009, after having won only one WPBA event previously.  This achievement secured her as the #2-ranked player of the season, behind Korea’s Ga-Young Kim, who had an unforeseen early exit from this event.

Read on for all the details of the final day’s action at the WPBA National Tour Championship from Anne Craig of the WPBA.  (All photos also courtesy of Anne Craig.)

Semifinal #1

Jasmin Ouschan came into this semifinal as the hottest player on the tour having won two events this season and looking for her first Major WPBA Title. Meanwhile, Jeanette Lee has put herself in contention several times in the past couple of years, in search of her first title since 2001. An interesting side note: all four 5th place tie finishers had gone undefeated in the event until the Quarterfinals on Saturday night. Jeanette Lee is the only player who had come from the one loss side to reach the Semi Finals.

After the players were announced by Tournament Director Steve Tipton, Jasmin won the lag.  She ran to the 8 ball and was left with a spot shot for the 1 in the corner. Instead, she chose to play a safe, although Jeanette could see the object ball. She made an awesome long rail bank shot with perfect position on the 2. Taking a deep breath she continued with the 3 ball all the way to the 9, taking game one. Jeanette broke in game two and made a ball, but was forced to push out leaving Jasmin short rail to short rail for a potential bank in the side. Instead, Jasmin forced a short safety on the pesky 1 ball, but blinked first allowing Jeanette an open shot and an open table.

Her position play from the 5 to the 6 came up a bit short and she overcut the thin cut. Lady Luck was on her side and Jasmin could not see the full ball but her safety attempt was poor and Jeanette had another open shot on the table. She let out a loud sigh of relief since the cue ball was all of 3” from the 6 with an awkward cut long to the corner pocket and it sank dead center. She once again left herself short on the 9 ball but she cut it in successfully and she let out a “Yes!” to take a 2-0 lead.

Jasmin broke in game 3, but had to play safe. After Jeanette’s return safety Jasmin kicked the 2 ball in but missed the 5. Jeanette tried a corner pocket side rail bank shot and missed, giving Jasmin a shot back at the table and she ran out to post her first game of the match, down 1-2. Jeanette broke, pocketed a ball and ran the rack to regain a 2 game lead up 3-1.

Jasmin made two balls off of her break, the 3 & 5 balls, with great position on the one to answer Jeanette’s volley with one of her own. She had no problems and the score was now 3-2 Jeanette. It was Jeanette’s break – she pocketed a ball, but scratched on the 1 after she had to play a slight masse shot on it. The mistake cost her dearly as Jasmin ran out to tie up the match 3 all. Jasmin broke and made a ball with a tough layout that she had to pick her way through. She did so successfully and took her first lead of the match, up 4-3. Jeanette broke in game 8 but scratched in the side pocket and Jasmin once again had ball in hand to try and run out for a two game lead.  Her shape from the four to the 5 came up short and she tried to play a safe but that didn’t work either and Jeanette had an open shot to the side, albeit not an easy one. She made the 5 perfectly, then the tough 6 and on to the 9 to tie the match again at 4 all.

Jasmin put together a tough break and run rack to retake the lead up 5-4 and had ball in hand in game 10 after Jeanette scratched again off of her break. She ran out and reached the hill first 6-4 as the crowd applauded. Jasmin was forced to push out after pocketing 2 balls on the break but couldn’t see the 2 and left the cue ball dead on the rail with the 2 up-table for a tough cut. Jeanette played pocket speed and although she missed, left nothing for Jasmin who began a safety battle. They went back and forth on both the 2 ball and the 4 ball for several rounds until Jeanette kicked at the 4 one short rail, sending it up table and back down for a kick cross-rail bank shot that had the crowd cheering. She even left herself perfect on the 5 ball! She ran out and was back to within one game down 5-6 with the break in game 12.

Jeanette broke and made a ball, with an open table knowing she had what it takes to tie the match up and come back to win. She pocketed each ball methodically and we were now tied at hill-hill! Jasmin had the break in the final game, and pocketed a ball but was left with a safety which she executed very well. Jeanette was forced to kick one long rail and missed it entirely; giving Jasmin ball in hand and the opportunity to take this match and move into her 3rd Finals of 2009.

With a fist pump and a shout, she made the 9 and Jeanette finished tied for 3rd for the second year in a row at this event.

Semifinal #2

Kelly Fisher, the 2008 Player of the Year, and Xiaoting Pan, the #2 ranked player on tour for 2009, were both looking for their first win of this season. What better place than the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for the 2009 WPBA Tour Championships?

With the camera’s rolling and the crowd rooting on their favorite player, Semi Final #2 began with the lag for the break. Kelly Fisher won the lag and pocketed a ball to get things rolling. She missed the 2 ball though but left a tough cut for Xiaoting, who chose to play a safety. Kelly’s poor return safety resulted in a potential 2/9 combination although it wasn’t an easy one for Xiaoting who lined up the shot carefully. Without batting an eye, she made it dead center and took the first game of the match. Xiaoting broke in game two but was forced to push out leaving Kelly a long cut on the 1. She made it perfectly but the shape she was forced to take on the 2 was less than ideal so she played a safe, starting a safety battle between the two competitors. Kelly found herself with a tough long shot but snookered herself on the 3 ball and missed the one rail kick shot giving Xiaoting ball in hand. Xiaoting ran out to take the 2-0 lead.

Kelly broke in game 3 but was forced to play a safe. Xiaoting kicked the 1 ball in, banked the 2 ball and ran out to the 7 ball but rattled the ball, allowing Kelly to finish the rack and the score was now 1-2 with Xiaoting breaking. The 95lb competitor “stuck the landing” on the cue ball and made 2 balls on the break. She pocketed the 1 but missed the 2 ball, but left Kelly snookered behind the 4. Kelly was forced to kick at the 2 two rails; hitting the bottom rail then the side rail just above the side pocket, the cue ball struck the 2 just right and went into the corner pocket as the crowd cheered but those cheers turned to groans as the cue ball headed right for the other corner pocket and scratched. Kelly just shook her head as she sat down and Xiaoting took ball in hand to run out and retake the 2 game lead up 3-1. Kelly went into game 5 with the break and looking to the pool gods to cut her some slack. She pocketed a ball, and the only real trouble on the table was shape from the 1 to the 2 ball. The 6 ball had rolled up ahead of the 2 and blocked open shape to the corner pocket. She had no problem navigating the issue and ran out to get back within one game, down 2-3.

Xiaoting had the break in game 6 and after pocketing a ball ran out for a 2/9 combination to take a 2 game lead, up 4-2. Kelly failed to pocket a ball on her break in game 7, but Xiaoting was forced to start a safety exchange on the 2 ball. After Kelly was forced to jump, she left Xiaoting a long straight in shot which she made and continued through the rack. With her characteristic no-nonsense style, Xiaoting ran out and took a 3 game lead, up 5-2. Xiaoting also had the break advantage, but failed to make anything and the crowd clapped, encouraging Kelly to stay in this match and run out. Kelly actually slowed down her game play, playing to the 6/9 combination which she pocketed to add another game to the score, but still down 3-5. She did have the break in game 9 and made the 7 into the side pocket. She had no shape for an open shot on the 1 and played safe but she left the barest of windows for Xiaoting to not only see the one, but to make it. She had had to use her extension so when Steve called out “10” (seconds) on the shot she had for the 3 ball, she rushed to pocket the ball in time and did so, continuing through the layout and ran out to reach the hill up 6-3.

Xiaoting broke in game 10 but failed to make a ball and again the crowd called out “Come on, Kelly!”; no one wanted to see the match end just yet. Kelly ran out to the 3, made the ball but missed shape badly on the 4 and missed the 2 rail kick giving Xiaoting ball in hand to reach her first finals of the 2009 season. Xiaoting ran out and wins 7-3. Kelly finishes tied for 3rd with Jeanette Lee.

The Final Match: Xiaoting Pan vs Jasmin Ouschan

The Finals were set as two fierce competitors entered the arena, ready to do battle for the title of the 2009 WPBA Tour Champion. Jasmin Ouschan is coming into this final poised to win her third WPBA title of the season, and Xiaoting was looking for her first win since the 2008 BCA Generationpool.com event.

The crowd was amped up and ready for a great match as the competitors stepped into the arena for the lag which Jasmin won. She broke and pocketed two balls; the table layout was wide open with one exception, the 2 ball which was tied up with an unmake-able combo so Jasmin elected to play safe. Xiaoting kicked at the 2 ball, hitting it but leaving Jasmin an open shot for the side pocket. Jasmin ran out to take the first game of the match. Xiaoting broke and was forced to play a safety, and after a short exchange, Jasmin gained the advantage by making a tough cut on the 1 ball. She earned decent position on the 2 but missed it, perhaps thinking too much about getting to the 3 ball. Xiaoting took advantage of the error, running out to the 7 but she snookered herself behind the 9. She jumped and made the 7 in the side but the cue ball came right back around behind the 9 again! She chose to kick at it 2 rails and missed the ball entirely giving Jasmin ball in hand for the easy 1-2 punch to go up 2 games to nothing.

Jasmin broke in game 3, pocketing two balls with a touchy little cut on the 1 ball to start the rack. Nailing the shot beautifully, she sent the cue ball back and forth 3 times between the two side rails with position for the 2 ball up-table. From there it was just a matter of intense focus as Jasmin ran out to take a 3 game lead, 3-0.    Xiaoting made the 1 ball on her break and after a tricky little cut on the 2 ball, continued on with the 3. She had left herself a long cut shot into the opposite corner pocket with only 4” separating the 3 and the cue ball and she undercut it slightly. She got another opportunity though when Jasmin missed the ball. Xiaoting made the 3 with great position on the 5 ball and ran out to take her first game of the match, down 1-3. Jasmin had the break advantage in game 5, making the 1 and 3 balls with position for the 2 and put together her 3rd break and run of the match to go up 4-1.

Xiaoting broke in game 6, pocketed a ball with position for the 2 and showed her stuff as she ran out and the score was now 4-2. That’s 4 breaks and runs in 6 games! Jasmin broke and although she made a ball, was forced to play safe. Xiaoting’s return safe came up dry as she left Jasmin a long shot on the 2. Pocketing the ball, Jasmin continued on and ran out the rest of the rack to go up 5-2 on Xiaoting. This was proving to be a fast match!

Xiaoting’s break came up dry and the two became embroiled in a safety battle on the 3 ball. Xiaoting blinked first, allowing Jasmin yet another run out opportunity which she took full advantage of, and was on the hill, up 6-2.
Jasmin broke and she pocketed a ball but missed the 1 ball which set off a safety battle between them. Xiaoting ended up leaving Jasmin snookered behind the 7 and partially the 6 ball for the 2, all lined up across the short side of the table. The crowd cheered as Jasmin jumped the 7 ball, missing the 6 and hitting the 2 dead center of the side pocket for position on the next ball and she ran out for a final score of 7-2 and winning the title of the 2009 WPBA Tour Champion and her 3rd title of the season. Could the 2009 Player of the Year award be far behind? We’ll have to wait and see! That’s a wrap for the 2009 WPBA Season!

As always, the WPBA would like to give many thanks to our hosts, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and staff, especially Tribal Chairman Mr. David Cypress, and all the folks at Seminole Media Productions; Elrod Bowers, Dennis Pellarin, Bobby Frank, Erica, and Lakisha.

Special thanks to all our shot clock volunteers, especially Janis Holliman who earns the diehard fan of the tournament award. Thanks to Gene Weaver, APA League Operator here in the Ft. Lauderdale area. To the fans, you rocked the Hard Rock! And of course, to our sponsors: The American Pooplayers Association, Aramith, Brunswick Billiards, Cuetec Cues, Mueller Recreational Products, Pooldawg.com and Simonis, Inc. for another great season and their support of the Women’s Professional Billiard Association.