01.12.04 - UPA Pro Tour Championships – The Iceman beats the Korean Dragon

At the 2^nd edition of the UPA Pro Tour Championships in the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, CA, promoter Dragon Promotions could welcome more than 62 participants. Only because pf short-term cancellations of two players (amongst whom Bustamante), the final tournament of the season 2003 wasn’t complete. We played 9-Ball in double KO brackets in races to 11. Main sponsor Brunswick Billiards had installed 4 Goldcrown tables with Simonis cloth and after an opening banquet with trick-shot performances and a huge buffet, the tournament could start.
After initial problems and trailing 2-4 against N. Fujiwara (USA), I found my composure and could land the first win (11-5). The next match against S. Frost (USA) was pretty similar and so was the result 11-6. In round 3, I had to play C. Williams (USA). The founder of Dragon Promotions and President of the US players association UPA had had a good year 2003 with two titles. Until half-time, the match went back and forth, but then I could take the lead and defend it until the end (11-7).

In round four against E. Dominguez from Mexico, I played my best match of the tournament. Until a score of 7-0, my opponent only came twice to the table and this in a safety position. Then I missed an easy 7 ball and Dominguez came back to 3-7. But a bad break brought me back to the winning lane and I won the match 11-3. In the round of the last 4 winners, I had to face my Mosconi team mate M. Chamat (SWE). The match was very balanced until a score of 7-5 and I was always leading by one or two racks. Then I missed an opportunity and Napoleon could equal the score for the first time at 7-7. From now on, he dominated the match and I had to watch him take a 8-10 lead. But then he could not benefit from his next two opportunities and with a bit of luck (11-10), I entered the winners final against M. Immonen (FIN). In the first rack, the cue ball was potted on the break. And at once, the Iceman was leading 4-0. During the set, I fought myself back into the match and benefit from a few mistakes made by the Finn. At the end, I had my chance to enter the final. At 10-9, I potted a ball on my own break, but could only make the 1 ball via a bank shot. If I managed to make the ball, I did not have a position on the 3 ball. I played a weak safety shot and left Mika with an open table. He equalled at 10-10 and in the decisive rack, he played a good safety on the 2 ball. I answered with a perfect rail shot via two rails and left a safety to the Finn. He managed to contact the 2 ball, but left a good position for me. Unfortunately, I missed the 2 ball, but I was lucky, because my opponent had to play a rail shot. He contacted the ball successfully, and again, I had the opportunity to play a safety shot. Somehow I dropped the cue ball when attempting to play this safety and now, I was under maximum pressure. Mika played two killer safety shots and I could do nothing but react. At my second try, I contacted the ball, but left a far too easy position. With this 10-11 defeat, I had to wait for my second chance to enter the final.

In the directly following match against C. Williams, who had fought his way through the losers bracket with 7 wins, eliminating amongst others E. Reyes (PHI) 11-4, I made too many mistakes from the beginning. I still had my mind in the match against Immonen, but on the other hand, there was no explanation for this many mistakes. I fully deserved to lose 6-11 and had to satisfy myself with a third place at the first tournament appearance in 2004. In the final, the Korean Dragon missed the chance to take a 1-0 lead and this is how his defeat started. Immonen showed why he is currently the World no. 1 in the rankings. He did not leave the slightest chance to the US player, smashed him 13-2 and so deserved the prize money of $10.000.

1.      Mika Immonen (FIN)
2.      Charlie Williams (USA)
3.      Ralf Souquet (GER)
4.      Efren Reyes (PHI)
5.      Marcus Chamat (SWE)
      A. Pagulayan (CAN)