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The CueTec Cue Nationals 9 Ball Championships

The Cuetec Cues Nationals 9-ball Championship is not only the last competition on the WPBA's schedule; it is also one of the most prestigious.  It was made even more exciting because of the new round robin format.
 
8 groups made up of 6 players.  All players were seeded and with only 2 players going through to the last 16 - it was cut-throat stuff.  As my attempt to make the finals was a miserable one, I am going to concentrate on the highlights of the event.
  
ROUND ROBIN.
  
The usual suspects made the cut.  Allison, Kelly, Gerda, Ga Young, Xiaoting  (BLAH, BLAH, BLAH)
 
Monica scrapped through by the skin of her teeth thanks to a missed 9 ball by Jeanette. 
 
The upset of the round robin was Miyuki Sakai beating Karen Corr, which put the pressure on Karen because she still had to play Tiffany Nelson and Jasmin Ouschan.  With another defeat at the hands of Jasmin, Karen was not guaranteed to qualify even if she won her remaining matches.  Karen's last match was against Tiffany and although Karen won, the 9-7 score line wasn't enough to put her through.
  
LAST 16.
 
Allison vs. Sarah Rousey
Vivian vs. Hsin Huang
Jeanette vs. Helena
Gerda vs. Liz Ford
Jasmin vs. Julie Kelly
Ga-Young vs. Sarah Ellerby
Xiaoting vs. Monica
Kelly vs. Tiffany 
 
The only match I can really comment on is Jasmin Ouschan vs. Julie Kelly.  With both players wearing their emotions on their sleeves and the contrast in styles, it made for an exciting match.  Young gun Jasmin came out of the gates strong and looked flowing and confident, but Julie, as always, stuck in and eventually took the lead.  It looked like Jasmin lost her rhythm and Julie took the match 9-4.
  
SEMI-FINAL  # 1
 
Jeanette vs. Allison.
 

Kelly vs. Ga-Young  # 2
 
What a match! Two of the most talented players on tour. This was definitely a nail bitter.  Kelly would be the first to say that she took advantages of Ga-Young's mistakes.  It was Ga-Young who, at hill-hill, had the match in her grasp.  With the 6 ball over the pocket and the 7 and 9 ball open, it looked like curtains for Kelly, but Ga-Young got an awkward angle on the 7.  She elected to follow the cue ball 3 rails for position on the 9 ball but missed the 7 and left it hanging for Kelly to dish up.
 
THE FINAL.
 
Allison vs. Kelly
 
I haven't mentioned how well Allison had played through out this event.  Apart from a few moments, she was almost flawless. 
 
Allison had the best record of anybody in the round robin.  She wasn't the only player who won all of her matches, but she lost the least amount of games.  Kelly was second. 
 
The final was all about Allison.  She played almost perfect pool and Kelly said herself that there was nothing she could have done to stop The Duchess.
 
A vintage performance, of which there will be many more to come in the future.

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