Straight Pool Men Worldchampionships 2007 in New Jersey

After last years remake of the Straight Pool Men Worldchampionships, the event took place in New Jersey again, just a short drive away from the “Big Apple”. Because of Jasmin Ouschans 5^th place the year before, she got automatically invited for this event. The players’ field, which was already very strong in 2006, got even stronger by new European Top players. The tournament started in 8 groups with 8 players and a round robin system. The opponents in Jasmin Ouschans group were as follows: Allen Hopkins (USA), Konstantin Stepanov (RUS), Yu-Ram Cha (KOR), Jonathan Smith (USA), Randy Goldwater (USA), Jesse Rice (USA) und Mark Snodgrass (USA)

The start of the tournament was a bit difficult for Ouschan. In the first match against Jonathan Smith from the USA, Ouschan couldn't find her rhythm throughout the entire match and lost with 55:100. In the second match of the day Ouschan rolled over Mark Snodgrass with a clear 100:23, and with a run of 74 balls she was among the highest runs of the day. In the night session match against Jesse Rice from the USA, Ouschan dominated the table any time and took a rapid lead. She could expand her lead till she finished the match with a 100:57 score.

„After the difficult start, where I had a lot of problems with the conditions, I am glad that I found my rhythm. For the next days I have to try to go a little bit more relaxed into the matches and to cut out the rest around it”, Ouschan said after the match.

In the first match of the second day, Ouschan won against Randy Goldwater clearly with 100:45. In the evening session Jasmin Ouschan faced the American billiard icon and former straight pool World Champion Allen Hopkins. Both players started the match very offensive but nobody could take the lead. At the score of 46:59 for Hopkins, Ouschan led him on the table but only for a little safety battle. After a few safety shots, Ouschan took the chance and finished the match with a run of 54 balls.

The third day looked more like a rollercoaster drive. In the first match against the current Nr.1 of the European ranking Konstantin Stepanov (RUS), Jasmin Ouschan had to accept a defeat in only 5 innings and a 100:19 score. A little bit disappointed about this bad performance, she bundled all her energy and won against the Korean Yu Ram Cha.

„The match against Hopkins felt really good, especially since I couldn't take the chances the year before. I am not really satisfied with the last day though. My straight pool was too complicated which led to a lot of unnecessary mistakes. Anyway I am really happy that I made it to the final round”, commented Ouschan after the round robin system.

In the final round the draw made Ouschan play Nick Van den Berg from the Netherlands.

Till the middle of the match the game was pretty balanced. When Van den Berg finally found his stroke, it seemed nothing can stop him. And so it was. He made a run of 60 balls and finished it with a 150:78. In the losers round Ouschan crushed Miko Balasz with 150:28 before she played the experienced US player Bobby Hunter. Hunter, 1991 Straight Pool World Champion, operated very careful, which looked like a lot of respect he had towards her, but his performance suffered a little bit from it. Ouschan took this chance to start with a 50 ball run. With a few safety situations, Hunter tried to get her out of the rhythm but it didn't work. Ouschan kept putting a lot of pressure on him and kicked him out of the tournament with a 150:56 score.

„In my first match I could have done more in the beginning but the other 2 matches were really okay. I already have the 9^th place now which was one of my little goals for this event but I am going to try to get more out of it, even though I know that it gets really difficult now”, said a realistic Ouschan.

Ouschans opponent was Warren Kiamco from the Phillipines. After a few racks you saw right away how much experience and knowledge he had about this game. Kiamco played a high level and gave Ouschan not many chances. With a score of 200:81 in only 7 innings, Kiamco defeated Ouschan and entered the quarter final.

„He played really good and I didn't get that many chances to make points. But after the 5^th place last year and the 9^th place now I think showed again that a woman can be successful in men events as well”, said Ouschan after her defeat.

„I am very happy for Martin Kempter from Austria, who showed a great performance in this event. He played the high score of 160 balls and entered the semi final by defeating the favorit and Straight Pool World Champion of 2006 Thorsten Hohmann from Germany. Great performance as an “underdog”, Ouschan commented after the tournament.

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