Jeanette Lee Wins Empress Cup
Chun Cheon, Korea- Jeanette Lee went undefeated to become the 2nd Annual Empress Cup Champion. The Empress Cup drew record breaking TV ratings last year in Korea and even pushed #1 rated sport baseball back in its live broadcast. The Dragon Promotions produced event comprised of 6 of some of the world's most talented and beautiful ladies players in a round robin format. This year's players were Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Isabelle Krafczyk of Germany, Ga Young Kim of Korea, Yu Ram Cha of Korea, Miyuki Sakai of Japan, and Jeanette Lee of USA.
The event was sponsored by the city of Chun Cheon in conjunction with their annual sports festival which included competitions in skating, roller blading, bass fishing, and break dancing. The billiards event was the main attraction on center stage and was aired live for 4 hour broadcast on MBC ESPN, Korea's #1 network.
Isabelle Krafczyk won her first international TV debut by defeating Shanelle Loraine in the first match. Next Ga Young Kim looked on her way to dominate Japan's Sakai but missed a very easy routine 9-Ball to win the match 3-0. Instead Sakai mounted a great comeback at the cost of Kim's error and won 3-2. Next Koean Womens Champion Yu Ram Cha shut out Krafczyk 3-0 and then Jeanette Lee defeated Sakai 3-1. Cha clinched her finals berth by crushing Loraine her next match and Kim needed to defeat Lee 3-1 to force a tie breaker but could not overcome the Black Widow and lost 3-1.
The players were placed in two groups and the finals would pit the top finisher in each group against each other. Lee crushed Cha in a whitewash in 2006 Empress Cup. So Cha and Lee would face each other in a re-match of last year's Empress Cup round robin match, except this time this would be for the title. Despite Cha making a superb out in the first game whicj included two difficult bank shots, Lee won the first set 2-1. The second set was won by Cha 2-0 after Lee made a terrific thin cut shot on the 9-ball only to have the cueball go two rails for a scratch. Lee and Cha one set each. This would push the finals to a sudden death 1 game match. Cha won the lag and had an opportunity to run out but stymied herself on the 5 ball and opted for a safety. Lee came to the table hooked but went for a masse instead of a jump shot. She curved the cueball perfectly to pocket the 5-Balll length of the table and then shot a nervy long straight 6-ball and finished off the 7,8,and 9-ball perfectly with a concluding fist pump announcing her victory.
Jeanette Pleased the crowds and herself with the win
"It feels good to win a 9-Ball event here finally. It's a good start to this week's competitions." said Lee.
Lee can now add the Empress Cup 9-Ball title alongside her Queen of Carom and Women's Trickshot Challenge wins. In Korea Lee has now won in 3 disciplines in 3-Cushion, Artistic Pool, and 9-Ball.
The Empress Cup was also supported by billiard industry sponsors Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.
For more information on Korea events goto www.dragonpromotions.co.kr or www.dragonpromotions.com
Kim Defeats Loraine to Win Women's Ultimate Trickshot Challenge
Kwang Ju, Korea- Dragon Promotions once again organized The 2nd Annual Women's Ultimate Trickshot Challenge which hosted 6 top women from around the world. This event was the first ever artistic competition set in Korea and one of the few in Asia. Last year's champion Jeanette Lee came back to defend her title but was facing new challengers this year.
Jeung Heung Gold Resort and Spa hosted the event in its magnificent facilities. The event was broadcasted live on MBC ESPN for 3 hours and sponsored by the resort as well as Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.
In Group A were Isabelle Krafczyk of Germany, Yu Ram Cha of Korea, and defending champion Jeanette Lee of USA. Players performed a trickshot of their choice and then the other players had to duplicate the shot in 2 attempts. The top two players with the best scores in the first round would advance to the semi-finals. Lee succeeded with a shot shooting ball out of the rack with Cha and Krafcazyk failing to duplicate. Cha's shot was a timing shot but she failed to make it although Lee and Krafczk went on to duplicate. Krafczyk made her shot which consisted of a 2 bank combo which all the players made and gave her the second seed spot and Lee the first seed to the semi-finals with a perfect 3-0 score.
Cha and Kim enjoying the fun moments
Group B featured Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Miyuki Sakai of Japan, and Ga Young Kim of Korea. Loraine began the round with a 8-Ball push shot making 2 stripes frozen to the cueball and 8-Ball in the middle and making all the balls except the 8-Ball. She succeeded in making the shot but the other players were stymied and Kim and Sakai both failed. Kim attempted a draw masse shot but failed and none of the other players could make it as well. Sakai made a jump 3rail kick shot and Kim succeeded and Loraine did not. This forced a 3-way tie and sudden death. Loraine made a frozen cueball/8-Ball bank shot that again puzzled Kim and Sakai and became the first to advance to semi-finals. Sakai missed her chance with a cueball off the rail first jump shot that Kim made on her 2nd attempt to advance. Loraine first seed and Kim second seed.
The first semi-finals featured Lee vs Kim. Both players went back and forth but Kim defeated Lee with a great masse shot looping around 6 balls. Lee came close but could not match the shot. Kim to the finals.
Next underdog Loraine matched Krafczyks 5 balls in one draw shot on her second attempt and beat Krafczyk with a double hit follow through combo shot to adance to the finals.
Loraine Surprised Fans and Herself
The finals pitted Kim against surprise finalist Loraine. Kim started with a one handed jump shot which she made on her first attempt. Loraine made a great effort jumping over the ball but missing. Loraine attempted a couple of low percentage tricks while Kim seemed confident in her choices. At the end Kim won the match 3-0 to be crowned this year's Women's Ultimate Trickshot Champion.
Kim Controlled the Finals after a near loss in the round robin
"I really didn't expect to reach the finals, so I didn't have a large selection of shots ready. But next time I will practice alot more shots." said the good natured Loraine.
"Ga Young is just a tremedous player and has a powerful stroke, so it would be hard for any woman's player to match her in any competition. Loraine should also be proud of her performance as she is a rookie to international pro competition. Second place here isn't shabby at all in this field." said event promoter Charlie Williams.
Chun Cheon, Korea- Jeanette Lee went undefeated to become the 2nd Annual Empress Cup Champion. The Empress Cup drew record breaking TV ratings last year in Korea and even pushed #1 rated sport baseball back in its live broadcast. The Dragon Promotions produced event comprised of 6 of some of the world's most talented and beautiful ladies players in a round robin format. This year's players were Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Isabelle Krafczyk of Germany, Ga Young Kim of Korea, Yu Ram Cha of Korea, Miyuki Sakai of Japan, and Jeanette Lee of USA.
The event was sponsored by the city of Chun Cheon in conjunction with their annual sports festival which included competitions in skating, roller blading, bass fishing, and break dancing. The billiards event was the main attraction on center stage and was aired live for 4 hour broadcast on MBC ESPN, Korea's #1 network.
Isabelle Krafczyk won her first international TV debut by defeating Shanelle Loraine in the first match. Next Ga Young Kim looked on her way to dominate Japan's Sakai but missed a very easy routine 9-Ball to win the match 3-0. Instead Sakai mounted a great comeback at the cost of Kim's error and won 3-2. Next Koean Womens Champion Yu Ram Cha shut out Krafczyk 3-0 and then Jeanette Lee defeated Sakai 3-1. Cha clinched her finals berth by crushing Loraine her next match and Kim needed to defeat Lee 3-1 to force a tie breaker but could not overcome the Black Widow and lost 3-1.
The players were placed in two groups and the finals would pit the top finisher in each group against each other. Lee crushed Cha in a whitewash in 2006 Empress Cup. So Cha and Lee would face each other in a re-match of last year's Empress Cup round robin match, except this time this would be for the title. Despite Cha making a superb out in the first game whicj included two difficult bank shots, Lee won the first set 2-1. The second set was won by Cha 2-0 after Lee made a terrific thin cut shot on the 9-ball only to have the cueball go two rails for a scratch. Lee and Cha one set each. This would push the finals to a sudden death 1 game match. Cha won the lag and had an opportunity to run out but stymied herself on the 5 ball and opted for a safety. Lee came to the table hooked but went for a masse instead of a jump shot. She curved the cueball perfectly to pocket the 5-Balll length of the table and then shot a nervy long straight 6-ball and finished off the 7,8,and 9-ball perfectly with a concluding fist pump announcing her victory.
Jeanette Pleased the crowds and herself with the win
"It feels good to win a 9-Ball event here finally. It's a good start to this week's competitions." said Lee.
Lee can now add the Empress Cup 9-Ball title alongside her Queen of Carom and Women's Trickshot Challenge wins. In Korea Lee has now won in 3 disciplines in 3-Cushion, Artistic Pool, and 9-Ball.
The Empress Cup was also supported by billiard industry sponsors Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.
For more information on Korea events goto www.dragonpromotions.co.kr or www.dragonpromotions.com
Kim Defeats Loraine to Win Women's Ultimate Trickshot Challenge
Kwang Ju, Korea- Dragon Promotions once again organized The 2nd Annual Women's Ultimate Trickshot Challenge which hosted 6 top women from around the world. This event was the first ever artistic competition set in Korea and one of the few in Asia. Last year's champion Jeanette Lee came back to defend her title but was facing new challengers this year.
Jeung Heung Gold Resort and Spa hosted the event in its magnificent facilities. The event was broadcasted live on MBC ESPN for 3 hours and sponsored by the resort as well as Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.
In Group A were Isabelle Krafczyk of Germany, Yu Ram Cha of Korea, and defending champion Jeanette Lee of USA. Players performed a trickshot of their choice and then the other players had to duplicate the shot in 2 attempts. The top two players with the best scores in the first round would advance to the semi-finals. Lee succeeded with a shot shooting ball out of the rack with Cha and Krafcazyk failing to duplicate. Cha's shot was a timing shot but she failed to make it although Lee and Krafczk went on to duplicate. Krafczyk made her shot which consisted of a 2 bank combo which all the players made and gave her the second seed spot and Lee the first seed to the semi-finals with a perfect 3-0 score.
Cha and Kim enjoying the fun moments
Group B featured Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Miyuki Sakai of Japan, and Ga Young Kim of Korea. Loraine began the round with a 8-Ball push shot making 2 stripes frozen to the cueball and 8-Ball in the middle and making all the balls except the 8-Ball. She succeeded in making the shot but the other players were stymied and Kim and Sakai both failed. Kim attempted a draw masse shot but failed and none of the other players could make it as well. Sakai made a jump 3rail kick shot and Kim succeeded and Loraine did not. This forced a 3-way tie and sudden death. Loraine made a frozen cueball/8-Ball bank shot that again puzzled Kim and Sakai and became the first to advance to semi-finals. Sakai missed her chance with a cueball off the rail first jump shot that Kim made on her 2nd attempt to advance. Loraine first seed and Kim second seed.
The first semi-finals featured Lee vs Kim. Both players went back and forth but Kim defeated Lee with a great masse shot looping around 6 balls. Lee came close but could not match the shot. Kim to the finals.
Next underdog Loraine matched Krafczyks 5 balls in one draw shot on her second attempt and beat Krafczyk with a double hit follow through combo shot to adance to the finals.
Loraine Surprised Fans and Herself
The finals pitted Kim against surprise finalist Loraine. Kim started with a one handed jump shot which she made on her first attempt. Loraine made a great effort jumping over the ball but missing. Loraine attempted a couple of low percentage tricks while Kim seemed confident in her choices. At the end Kim won the match 3-0 to be crowned this year's Women's Ultimate Trickshot Champion.
Kim Controlled the Finals after a near loss in the round robin
"I really didn't expect to reach the finals, so I didn't have a large selection of shots ready. But next time I will practice alot more shots." said the good natured Loraine.
"Ga Young is just a tremedous player and has a powerful stroke, so it would be hard for any woman's player to match her in any competition. Loraine should also be proud of her performance as she is a rookie to international pro competition. Second place here isn't shabby at all in this field." said event promoter Charlie Williams.
