The World Championship in the discipline 8 Ball took place in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates( ca. 45 min. by car from Dubai). Jasmin Ouschan, who qualified for this men event in Paris, was the only female ever to take part in this event. Since there is no Women World Championship in this discipline the World Pool Association decided for an equal treatment and allowed the women to be able to qualify. The early concerns about the reaction towards the only female player in a men event that takes place in a men dominated culture didn't come true and Ouschan was treated like all her male competitors.
The venue was the Fujairah Expo Center, a big complex that looked a little bit like a tent. In the playing arena were 6 “Knight Shot” tables with fast rails but a slow cloth due to the strong air conditioning, that were surrounded by stands. Out of the limited 64 players field, nominated players from all continents, the new World Champion was detected under really strong safety regulations. The reason for that was the participation of the crown prince Billa Muhtadee, son of the legendary King of Brunei. The tournament was played in groups with 8 players in each group (Double Knock-out System) where only the best 4 players advanced to the final 32. From here the new draw was made by lot due to the group results and it was a normal Knock-out System.
Ouschan was drawn into group G. Also in this group was the Russian Konstantin Stepanov, Nr.1 in the Euro Tour Ranking 2007 and Mosconi Cup member, the Philippine Joven Bustamante, 3rd at the World Championship in 2007 and the American hope Corey Deuel. As well as the several times European Champion Marcus Chamat from Sweden, Darren Appleton from Great Britain who just won the last Euro Tour, the unpredictable Kasper Kristofferson from Denmark and the WC experienced Sallem Al Junebi who played for the host country.
„ It couldn't be more difficult I think. But this is a World Championship and so you are not supposed to have weak opponents. The only surprising thing is that I have 4 other Europeans in my group but it has the advantage that I know these players and so I can well prepare. My goal to finish in the upper one third of the field seems to be even harder now but I am going to sell myself as expensive as possible and will fight for every chance.”
In the first round Ouschan met Sallem Al Junebi. Due to the the tough group drawing it was kind of a must to win. The Austrian started a little bit restrained but was able to win with a 8:5 score. On the next day in round 2, which was the qualifying match for the final round, Ouschan had to play Kasper Kristofferson who just kicked the Russian Stepanov with a 8.6 score into the losers round. As well as in the match before Kristofferson showed flawless pool and crushed Ouschan with 2:8.
„Kristofferson is known for his strong 8 Ball game and you can only congratulate him for this great performance. He only missed one ball and played amazing pool. Now I have to put all my energy together and concentrate on the next day where I have to win against the Briton Darren Appleton to enter the final 32.”
Even though the Briton was the one to favour in this match, due to his latest Euro Tour victory and his strong performance against Joven Bustamante, Ouschan started with a strong game and managed to take a rapid 6:2 lead. At the following breaks Ouschan couldn't make a ball on the break and had to give the table to Appelton. He used his chances in a “british cool” way and was able to even out to 6:6. In game Nr.13 Ouschan made a ball on the break and run-out to lead 7:6. Game Nr.14 was affected by safety situations until Ouschan tried to finish the difficult game. After an amazing kiss shot Ouschan left the table as the winner with a 8:6 victory over Appelton and managed to enter the final 32.
„ It was a really great match where I missed only one ball, broke better than the day before and so I didn't give my opponent many chances. On the one hand I am happy about the performance and on the other because I could persuade the Arabian people of my ability on the table. Otherwise I lose a little of the pressure to prove that women can play too because I think finishing under the best 32 is already proof.”
After the day of rest on Tuesday and the drawing that was made at the gala dinner, which was an invitation by the “Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi”, Ouschan got again a European opponent. It was Marcus Westen from Germany. The match was played on the TV table where the match was broadcasted on the Dubai Sportschannel. Marcus Westen, who finished 3rd in the last European Championship and entered the final 32 with 2 victories (8:1 and 8:4) and no lost, couldn't find his stroke at the beginning of the match which led to a 5:2 lead for Ouschan. A mistake which could have brought the 6:2 for Ouschan woke up the German and Westen started to catch up. Ouschan who was a little bit under pressure now stayed concentrated, fought back and took a 9:7 lead until she gave away a huge chance to win. Westen reduced her lead to 9:8 and when Ouschan couldn't make a ball on her next break, Marcus Westen put in another gear and managed to win 9:10.
„With the 17th place I have reached my goal to finish in the upper one third, but I can’t be happy about it yet because the 9th place was within my grasp and I gave it away. I have to take some time now to be able to look at it more objective.”
The tournament ended for Jasmin Ouschan with the respectable 17. place.
„Yesterday I was depressed that I gave away the chance to be under the top ten in this event. But today the world looks a lot more positive for me and to be the 17th best pool player in this discipline, which is not my most favourite one, makes me proud. Also because I am writing history since I am the first women who ever qualified for such an event. I am very happy with my result especially since I had 2 World Championships and a Pro event within 4 weeks including this one.”
In the final was Ralf Souquet against the Philippine titleholder Ronny Alcano. Souquet, who might have been the underdog in this match, punished all critics and won the 8 Ball title with an incredible zero-mistake match and a 13:9 score. Ouschan dignified the performance of the German friend, “ that the world best 8 Ball player finally earned his crown and after the flawless performance also set a new milestone for the future.”
Results:
| Men WC | 1st | Ralf Souquet (GER) |
| 2nd | Ronny Alcano (PHI) | |
| 3rd | Marcus Chamat (SWE) | |
| Dennis Orcollo (PHI) | ||
| 17th | Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) |
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Match Summery Ralf Souquet (S) vs. Ronny Alcano (A) (Race to 13):
| Alcano wins the lag. | |
| Game 1: (A) Dry break. (S) runout without problems. | Score: 1-0 |
| Game 2: (S) 1 Ball on perfect break. Few difficulties but continues his run. RunOut. | Score: 2-0 |
| Game 3: (A) Again dry break. (S) Solid RunOut Nr.3. | Score: 3-0 |
| Game 4: (S) Dry break and leaves an easy table. (A) No problems and RunOut. | Score: 3-1 |
| Game 5: (A) Changed his breaking position and was awarded with a ball. Position mistake at the first ball leaves him a difficult cut into the side pocket. He cuts it in and decreases (S) lead. | Score: 3-2 |
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Game 6: (S) again with a perfect break. A little position mistake didn´t stop him from another strong RunOut. |
Score: 4-2 |
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Game 7: (A) Aggressive break but successful. (A) Thin cut ball stays in the pocket and leaves (S) an open table. (S) RunOut. |
Score: 5-2 |
| Game 8: (S) Breaking strong again. Without a doubt (S) goes on with a flawless performance. | Score: 6-2 |
| Time-Out (A) | |
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Game 9: (A) Break from the side was successful. Opens up the problem with the first ball and runs out in his Philippine way. |
Score: 6-3 |
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Game 10: (S) After checking the rack many times and getting an applause from the Philippine crowd after giving the okay (S) goes on with perfect breaking. Opened up the rack with the first ball and stays in the flow |
Score: 7-3 |
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Game 11: (A) Breaking from the side but this time without a ball. (S) Managed with his fine position play another RunOut. |
Score: 8-3 |
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Game 12: (S) Having his second dry break. (A) At the second ball (A) had to use the bridge but in a certain way, by not leaving the butt of the bridge on the table but on his left shoulder. Looked cool and worked out. After a position mistake (A) had to go around the table to play the last ball before the 8. Tough RunOut. |
Score: 8-4 |
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Game 13: (A) Softer break than before but with a ball. (A) Who doesn´t seem intimidated by (S) perfect performance so far runs out another rack. |
Score: 8-5 |
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Game 14: (S) Stays on the table by making one ball on the break. (S) Even though he had to adjust his plan during the rack he keeps increasing his lead. |
Score: 9-5 |
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Game 15: (A) Made the 8 Ball on the break and decided to take it. (A) who choose to play the difficult rack almost hooked himself behind (S) stripped balls. With a lot of English (A) managed to curve around make the ball and still find the tunnel for the last ball and runs out. |
Score: 9-6 |
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Game 16: (S) After a dry break the Philippine crowd started clapping for (A). (A) cleans up the easy table again with a “bridge on the shoulder” shot. Important game! |
Score: 9-7 |
| Referee Change | |
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Game 17: (A) Changed his breaking position again and makes 2 balls and gets an open table. (A) Left the only problem ball until the end which led to a position mistake on the last 2 balls. Due to that he had to bank the last ball before the 8 to run out. |
Score: 9-8 |
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Game 18: (S) With another dry break and a happy Philippine crowd. (A) By making the first shot (A) created a problem which he couldn´t solve until the end. (A) After a bad contact on the second to last ball he was forced to play a difficult bank shot which he missed. (S) finds an open table and takes his chance. |
Score: 10-8 |
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Game 19: (A) Changed his breaking position again, makes one ball and gets a very difficult rack. (A) After getting rid of the problems he leaves one tough long shot before the 8. With a smooth and perfect shot (A) secures game 19. |
Score: 10-9 |
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Game 20: (S) After checking the rack (S) went back to his chair and sat down. Unfortunately the chair broke and (S) hurt his back a little bit. Returning to the table (S) broke perfectly and made one ball. (S) continues with a perfect RunOut. |
Score: 11-9 |
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Game 21: (A) Solid break with 2 balls. (A) played a risky shot and almost hooked himself. He solved it with a good draw shot and it seemed that the rack is over. Until he missed the 8 which he tried to play with a kiss shot into the side pocket. (S) finds 5 open balls but kept it exciting with an breath taking 11 ball that hit 2 rails before it went in. |
Score: 12-9 |
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Game 22: (S) Good break with one ball and the chance for the title. (S) opens up the problem which leaves him a tough 2 ball into the side. (S) makes it and runs out a difficult rack to win the 2008 World 8 Ball Championships. |
Score: 13-9 |
Congratulations to the new World Champion Ralf Souquet, who showed a flawless performance
through out the whole match.
