Sudden Death Finals Go to Feijen

Sudden Death Finals Go to Feijen
by InsidePOOL Staff
The International Challenge of Champions crowned a new victor Thursday evening in Niels “The Terminator” Feijen, who triumphed over Lee Van Corteza in a thrilling sudden-death tiebreaker. Produced by Billiards International, Ltd., this two-day event awarded a stunning winner-takes-all first prize of $50,000.
In the first semifinal match of the event, Feijen raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set, in part because of the alternating-break format and a couple of errors on opponent Thorsten Hohmann’s behalf. He broke and ran the next rack to win 5-1. Things did not improve much for the German champion in the second set—he tried to play safe but left Feijen a 2-9 combination, which he made. Another miss by Hohmann drove the nail into the proverbial coffin, and Feijen won the second set 5-2, advancing to the finals.
Van Corteza struck down defending champion Johnny Archer in the second semifinal match. After a rocky start in the first set for both, Van Corteza tried to play defense on the 1 ball when it was 4-3 Archer and left a shot. From there, it was smooth sailing for “The Scorpion” to claim the win. But in a stunning turn of events in the second set, Archer came up dry on his first two breaks, instantly putting Van Corteza up 4-0. A missed 3 ball lent Archer hope, and he took the next two racks, but then a missed 7 ball by the American forced the first one-game tiebreaker of the event. Van Corteza won the lag—always key—and broke and ran out.
Van Corteza looked as though he might steamroll over Feijen, and he did do everything right in the first set, quickly winning 5-1. The great pressure must’ve caught up to both players, for they both missed the 8 ball in the first rack of the second set, though Feijen ended up drawing first blood. The Derby City Classic’s 9-ball champ took the next two games, one by virtue of a missed 5 on Van Corteza’s part. “Van Van” got the next rack after Feijen fouled on a jump attempt, but the Dutchman rebounded to reach the hill. A 2-9 combo on his next break earned him that match 5-2. The all-important lag was won by Feijen, who was forced to play safe on a tricky 3 ball. In trying to reach the 3, Van Corteza scratched, giving Feijen ball in hand and, essentially, the match.
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International Billiard Champions Clash

International Billiard Champions Clash

by InsidePOOL Staff
The first day of the 17th Annual International Challenge of Champions billiard tournament wrapped up with not one sudden-death playoff, an unusual occurrence. Hosted by the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT, this event is presented by Billiards International, Ltd.
With the staggering winner-takes-all prize of $50,000, the event has a format of two races to 5. In case of a split, a one-game playoff results. Eight champions were invited from all over the world to play in this single-elimination tournament.
Current U.S. Open champion John “Mr. 400” Schmidt was the first to fall, going up against Dutchman Niels Feijen, who won the matches by narrow 5-3, 5-4 margins. Former U.S. Open champ Ralf Souquet went next. Lee Van Corteza of the Philippines sent the German packing with his decisive 5-2, 5-1 victories.
Defending champion Johnny Archer bested Taiwan’s Ching-Shun Yang, going double-hill in the first set and then delivering a 5-0 whitewashing. And two world champions clashed when Thorsten “Hitman” Hohmann ousted reigning champ Ronato Alcano 5-3, 5-4.
The next round of matches will see Feijen versus Hohmann and Van Corteza against Archer. The winners of those matches will advance to the finals.

Efren Closes Day 1 of the International Challenge of Champions

Efren Closes Day 1 of the International Challenge of Champions
By InsidePOOL Staff
In the match of the evening between Efren The Magician Reyes and Nick Van den Berg, Reyes triumphed 7-4 after his opponent hung the case 9 ball in the jaws of the pocket.
This match was o­ne of the best of the evening, and it was difficult to predict a winner at any point. The young and obviously talented Van den Berg did not appear to be intimidated by Reyes, who was recently inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame last month.
Reyes pulled into a 3-1 lead early o­n, but Van den Berg fought back and got within a game of his opponent at 5-4 Reyes. With a couple of balls slopped in, Reyes reached the hill in the next rack with him breaking the next game.

Olhausen Official Table Sponsor of International Challenge of Champions

Olhausen Official Table Sponsor of International Challenge of Champions
May 22, 2003, San Diego, CA ¾ Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc. (“Olhausen”), announced today that billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head in the Thirteenth Annual INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. The winner-take-all $50,000 event will be held August 13th – 14th at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut, and play will be o­n Olhausen professional tables. For the 8th straight year, Olhausen is pleased to be the official table sponsor for this event.

The Challenge of Champions is widely considered the toughest tournament to win in professional billiards. o­nce each year, eight international champions are brought together in a sudden-death shootout with a pressure-cooker format of winner-take-all for $50,000. The purse is the highest single payday in America, and the winner claims o­ne of the most coveted titles in pool: Champion of Champions.

2003 International Challenge of Champions

2003 International Challenge of Champions

Pocket pool champions from around the world will go head-to-head in the Thirteenth Annual INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. The winner-take-all $50,000 event will be held August 13-14, 2003, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. The Challenge of Champions is widely considered the toughest tournament to win in professional billiards. O­nce every year, eight international champions are brought together in a sudden-death shootout with a pressure-cooker format of winner-take-all for $50,000. The purse is the highest single payday in America, and the winner claims o­ne of the most coveted titles in pool – Champion of Champions.

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