Now that Jasmin Ouschan's memorable victory at the BCA "Enjoypool.com" Open is in the books, it is time to consider it in the historical perspective of women's pro pool.
First, I'll share a couple of thoughts about the final, which I watched sitting next to AZHOUSEPRO.
The match, played at a high level, really had two decisive moments, each favoring one of the finalists. The first came with Fisher leading 1 - 0. Ouschan played well to beat Allison Fisher to the shot on the one but failed to get out. and it was difficult not to consider the possibility that Jasmin had come out of the gate a little nervous. The result was an early lead for Fisher. Ouschan caught a stroke in mid-match, tying it at 4-4. Fisher owned the double hill break if it came to that, so Ouschan would need a rack off of a Fisher break to win the match. At 4-4, what I believe to have been the defining moment of the final was when Allison broke and had to play safe on the one ball. She had a "stop shot safety" and accidentally drew the cue ball to miss the hook, playing Jasmin back into the rack, and it ultimately cost, with Ouschan getting the "service break" she'd need to win the match. From there, Ouschan never gave Allison an inch.
Getting back to the matter of where this match sits in the annals of women's pro pool, let's start with the first obvious question that needs to be considered:
The two most memorable wins by a very young player in recent times are Ga Young Kim (22 years old) at the 2004 US Open and Jasmin Ouschan (20 years old) at the 2006 BCA Open. Which rates the more impressive?
Actually, this is no contest. In winning the 2004 US Open, the victim's list of Ga Young Kim was Hurst, Crimi, Lee, Little, Herndon and Corr. But the victims list for Ouschan at the 2006 BCA Open included these players:
Ga Young Kim - 2 time world champion, US Open champion, #4 ranked
Karen Corr - #2 ranked player, 3 time BCA Open champion
Kelly Fisher - winner of previous WPBA event, ranked #3
Gerda Hofstatter - 1995 world champion, former #2 ranked player
Shin Mei Liu - Multiple winner of both World Chammpionship and Amway Cup
Helena Thornfeldt - Former US Open champion and former #3 ranked player
Allison Fisher - #1 in the world
This accomplishment is without equal in the thirty one years that I have followed women's pro pool. The last time a young player pulled off something like this, in my opinion, was when Jean Balukas beat then-dominant Dorothy Wise in the final of the (1972?) US Open Straight Pool Championship.
Jasmin won in her third ever WPBA event. Allison Fisher, of course, won in her second ever WPBA event. It will be exciting to watch the continued emergence of Ouschan.
First, I'll share a couple of thoughts about the final, which I watched sitting next to AZHOUSEPRO.
The match, played at a high level, really had two decisive moments, each favoring one of the finalists. The first came with Fisher leading 1 - 0. Ouschan played well to beat Allison Fisher to the shot on the one but failed to get out. and it was difficult not to consider the possibility that Jasmin had come out of the gate a little nervous. The result was an early lead for Fisher. Ouschan caught a stroke in mid-match, tying it at 4-4. Fisher owned the double hill break if it came to that, so Ouschan would need a rack off of a Fisher break to win the match. At 4-4, what I believe to have been the defining moment of the final was when Allison broke and had to play safe on the one ball. She had a "stop shot safety" and accidentally drew the cue ball to miss the hook, playing Jasmin back into the rack, and it ultimately cost, with Ouschan getting the "service break" she'd need to win the match. From there, Ouschan never gave Allison an inch.
Getting back to the matter of where this match sits in the annals of women's pro pool, let's start with the first obvious question that needs to be considered:
The two most memorable wins by a very young player in recent times are Ga Young Kim (22 years old) at the 2004 US Open and Jasmin Ouschan (20 years old) at the 2006 BCA Open. Which rates the more impressive?
Actually, this is no contest. In winning the 2004 US Open, the victim's list of Ga Young Kim was Hurst, Crimi, Lee, Little, Herndon and Corr. But the victims list for Ouschan at the 2006 BCA Open included these players:
Ga Young Kim - 2 time world champion, US Open champion, #4 ranked
Karen Corr - #2 ranked player, 3 time BCA Open champion
Kelly Fisher - winner of previous WPBA event, ranked #3
Gerda Hofstatter - 1995 world champion, former #2 ranked player
Shin Mei Liu - Multiple winner of both World Chammpionship and Amway Cup
Helena Thornfeldt - Former US Open champion and former #3 ranked player
Allison Fisher - #1 in the world
This accomplishment is without equal in the thirty one years that I have followed women's pro pool. The last time a young player pulled off something like this, in my opinion, was when Jean Balukas beat then-dominant Dorothy Wise in the final of the (1972?) US Open Straight Pool Championship.
Jasmin won in her third ever WPBA event. Allison Fisher, of course, won in her second ever WPBA event. It will be exciting to watch the continued emergence of Ouschan.
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