Women's 14.1 High Run Competition for Cancer Awareness

... Jasmin won a bronze medal in a Men's sanctioned WPA World Straight Pool Championship (?2008?) and, similarly, beat a who's who of straight pool talent along the way. ...
Here's what I have gleaned from news stories about Jasmin's matches in that 2008 World event, when she was just 22 years old. It started with 64 players in 8 groups of 8 playing round robin matches. The top 4 from each group made it to a double-elimination stage of 32 players to reduce it to 16 for single-elimination to the end.

The other players in Jasmin's group were J. Archer, R. Babica, T. Rodriguez, C. Coker, M. Hakim, S. Lipsky, and S. Lillis. Her record in the group stage was 3-4, the worst of the 32 players making it to the next round. Then she lost her first match in the double-elimination stage to Immonen 56-150. So she had played 8 matches and lost 5 of them. But she then won 2 matches on the "left" side to get to the final 16, beating Bob Maidhof 150-47 and Radoslaw Babica 150-47. Her match in the Last 16 round was against the guy who apparently had been playing best all week, Mika Immonen. But she won 200-174, then also beat Oliver Ortmann 200-133. So those 4 wins in a row put her into a semifinal match against Bustamante, where she lost 148-200 to finish in 3rd/4th place. Along the way she had runs of 90, 84, and 72.
 
I saw Jean playing straight pool in her prime up close on many occasions from 1976-88. Jean retired about 35 years ago. Kevin Trudeau's IPT offered her a guaranteed $30,000 to come out of retirement in 2006 for one event, and it wasn't enough. As many know, Jean hasn't even been around pool for years, as her family's room, Hall of Fame Billiards in Brooklyn, New York closed years ago. Why would she consider a return now?

By the way, anyone who thinks Jean played head and shoulders above Jeanette Lee and Jasmin Ouschan in their respective primes in straight pool is mistaken. In 1999, Jeanette played in a straight pool event and beat each of Johnny Ervolino and Dallas West, making a big run in each game. Jasmin won a bronze medal in a Men's sanctioned WPA World Straight Pool Championship (?2008?) and, similarly, beat a who's who of straight pool talent along the way. Jean's speed in straight pool was similar to that of Jeanette and Jasmin. Jean played better 9ball than both, however. There's simply no denying that Jean, a world class athlete, had the stroke of a man.

Because: she's Jean Balukus; she's a legend in the sport; it's a just cause; and it would be a good thing to do.

Lou Figueroa
wouldn't be
about the dough
 
Here's what I have gleaned from news stories about Jasmin's matches in that 2008 World event, when she was just 22 years old. It started with 64 players in 8 groups of 8 playing round robin matches. The top 4 from each group made it to a double-elimination stage of 32 players to reduce it to 16 for single-elimination to the end.

The other players in Jasmin's group were J. Archer, R. Babica, T. Rodriguez, C. Coker, M. Hakim, S. Lipsky, and S. Lillis. Her record in the group stage was 3-4, the worst of the 32 players making it to the next round. Then she lost her first match in the double-elimination stage to Immonen 56-150. So she had played 8 matches and lost 5 of them. But she then won 2 matches on the "left" side to get to the final 16, beating Bob Maidhof 150-47 and Radoslaw Babica 150-47. Her match in the Last 16 round was against the guy who apparently had been playing best all week, Mika Immonen. But she won 200-174, then also beat Oliver Ortmann 200-133. So those 4 wins in a row put her into a semifinal match against Bustamante, where she lost 148-200 to finish in 3rd/4th place. Along the way she had runs of 90, 84, and 72.
Great recap. Thanks. I'll admit I didn't remember many of the details, even having attended every day.

Yes, Jasmin entered single elimination with a poor seed, and that's why she had to face champion after champion. She beat 300- ball runner Bob Maidhof. She then beat two future BCA Hallof Famers and two of the best straight poolers of our times in Immonen and Ortmann, even more impressively in races to 200.

It was a memorable event and it was back when the World Straight Pool Championships was still WPA sanctioned, explaining why the field was so loaded.

PS I was among many who thought Mika was on his way to the title, but Jasmin beat him when he was in his very top form.
 
I’d like to recommend reaching out to some of the Taiwanese ladies who regularly make it over Stateside: Chieh Yu Chou and Tzu Chien Wei. Both are more than familiar with 14.1, having watched them play in the multi-disciplined Taiwan Pool Championships roughly 8-9 years ago when they were still on YouTube.

This is a great idea, and for a great cause
 

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Next up will be WPBA pro Kia Burwell aka "Prime Time."

Kia will be making her attempts July 22-23rd and August 4-5th.

Please consider sponsoring Kia at $1 per ball for her highest run, or make a donation in memory of someone you know and/or may have lost to cancer:

https://vfoundation.donordrive.com/...norDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=12866

Lou Figueroa
She is a good friend of mine so absolutely count me in for sponsoring $1 per ball for her highest run. I know she practices straight pool a lot so this might cost me. lol Which wouldn't be a bad thing. Just lost a friend to cancer so I will probably make a donation in his memory as well.
 
She is a good friend of mine so absolutely count me in for sponsoring $1 per ball for her highest run. I know she practices straight pool a lot so this might cost me. lol Which wouldn't be a bad thing. Just lost a friend to cancer so I will probably make a donation in his memory as well.
That's very kind of you. Thanks for your support.
 
The Black Widow 14.1 High Run Invitational starts next Wednesday, July 5th, at Street Lights Billiard Academy: https://vfoundation.donordrive.com/...norDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=12866

Over the course of the next year, 20-25 Women from around the world will be shooting for a 14.1 high run to help raise cancer awareness and potentially beat Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee's world record 14.1 high run of 152. In addition, there is a prize fund as an added incentive for participating players.

Our first player — shooting July 5th and 6th — will be WPBA touring pro, Emily Duddy, aka, "The Billiard Bombshell”. A free live stream will be available at The Legends of Pocket Billiards

If you would like to show your support you can make a donation or “sponsor” Emily, with a $1 a ball donation for her highest run. All donors and sponsors will be acknowledged during the live stream. You may also buy a raffle ticket at The Legends of Pocket Billiards for a beautiful Volturi case designed to commemorate this historic event. We started with 40 tickets at $50 per and at this time 22 raffle tickets remain available. The drawing will be live-streamed when all tickets have been sold and the case will be immediately shipped to the winner (USA only). All proceeds of the raffle will go to the prize fund.

We expect this event to continue for one year, with players shooting on our live stream for two to five days of high run attempts and already have numerous top and up and coming women players lined up to participate.

Lou Figueroa
Curious as to the equipment specs - specifically the size of the pockets?
 
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