Partypoker.net World Pool Masters 2007

Since 15 years the „Partypoker.net World Pool Masters“ is one of the most prestigious events of the year. Only 16 players will get a chance to play in this invitational tournament. This year only the second women in the history of this event got the honour to be a part of it. The Austrian Jasmin Ouschan got the invitation as a result of her great achievements during the year and especially the 5^th place at the men straight pool World Championships. Every year the World Pool Masters take place in Egmond aan Zee in the Netherlands. Several cameras, of the sports channel Skysports, were constantly filming all the matches to give the people at home a chance to tune in on the World Pool Masters. We played in a K.O. System by a race to 8.

The players field comprised next to the new World Champion Ronnie Alcano (PHI) also the World Champion of 2006 Wu Chia-Ching from Taiwan. Considering there are 4 World Champions and a few WC finalists in this event, it is one of the toughest competitions in the world.

Next to the main event there is also a World Pool Masters Trickshot Challenge, where 8 players or trickshot artists meet. Since Jasmin Ouschan already gained some experience in the world of trickshot she took the chance to be a part of it.

„It is an honour for me to take part in an event next to trickshot stars like Stefano Pelinga (ITA) or Lukas Szywala (POL). I don't expect to much because most of them have so much more experience and have been doing that for a lot of years but I think it will be a good learning experience for me” commented Ouschan before the show.

Ouschans show was based on different sports and the attempt to combine pool with other sports.

„I think my show has duly arrived even though my best shots didn't want to work and that what cost me the points in the end. But it was a lot of fun” Ouschan said after the show.

Rob „The Magician“ Mollien, who works as a professional magician, won the show with a fantastic mixture of funny entertainment and great shots.

The main event was still the pool tournament. In the first round Ouschan met Nick van den Berg from the Netherlands.

„I played Nick ones where I lost with a tight score, so I am able to prepare for this match but to play a Dutch player in front of a Dutch crowd is something you should never underestimate. He is a very good player with a lot of experience and considering his silver medal at the 8-Ball World Championships 2006 and 1. place in the Euro Tour ranking 2006, I am definitely the outsider. So I have nothing to lose” Ouschan before the match.

However the match against Nick looked more like a nightmare than a successful debut for Ouschan. Because of a very good break in game 1, Van den Berg was able to make the 1:0 by making a 4-9 combination. Ouschan couldn’t sink a ball on her first break which led to another 4-9 combination and a 2:0 lead. The first shot Ouschan was able to execute was a very good safety of Van den Berg in game 3. She missed the ball and gave him the chance to make the 3:0. In game 4 Ouschan had a again just a safe option but the 2 ball ran a little bit to long and gave Van den Berg a difficult shot. But Van den Beg was in his rhythm and it seemed like nothing can disturb him by shooting through the racks. At the score of 5:0 Ouschan got the first open ball to shot and run out. But the short ray of hope changed nothing and the balls kept running for Van den Berg. At 5:1 Van den Berg made his first mistake on the 7 ball but left Ouschan only a difficult safe option. Ouschan did everything she could but still couldn’t stop him from making the 6:1. The second mistake of Van den Berg in game 8 ended up in a safe for Ouschan. She couldn't capitalize anything out of that situation and Van den Berg had another combination to go 7:1. A good break and run out was the end for Jasmin Ouschan World Pool Masters debut.

„There are matches where the balls just don’t want to run your way and where you can only sit in your chair and watch. Pool Billiard can be really hard sometimes. But he played almost perfect and didn’t give me many chances. Of course I wanted to perform better but considering the few chances I got I am not too disappointed” Ouschan after the match.

In the final David Alcaide from Spain played the winner of 2004 Thomas Engert from Germany. Thomas Engert managed to control the match and win this event for the second time in his life.

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