$50,000 Winner Take All In Connecticut August 11th – 12th

San Diego, CA - Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc. (“Olhausen”), announced today that billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head in the Fourteenth Annual INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS.  The winner-take-all $50,000 event will be held August 11th – 12th at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut, and all play will be o­n Olhausen Champion Pro tables.  For the 9th 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."

The 2004 field includes top stars in the sport: Francisco Bustamante, 2002 Sudden-Death 7-Ball Champion, UPA Peninsula Champion and 2003 winner of the INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS, travels from the Philippines to defend his crown.Johnny Archer, voted 2003 Player of the Year and winner of the Pro Players Championship, will represent the USA.Thorsten Hohmann, 2003 World 9-Ball Champion and 2003 Straight Pool Champion, will represent Germany.Mika Immonen, 2003 Pro Tour Champion and 2004 World All Star Champion, will represent Finland.Chin-Shun Yang, 2003 Asian Tour Champion and Chinese National Champion, will represent the Republic of China.Hisashi Yamamoto, 2003 Hokkaido Open Champion and Japan National Champion, will represent Japan.Thomas Engert, 2004 European 9-Ball Champion and Euro Tour Champion, will also represent Germany. Phil Reilly, 2003 Australian 9-Ball Champion and Oceania Champion will represent Australia.

Mohegan Sun Casino, the host site, will make the 2004 event ADMISSION-FREE to pool fans from around the USA and the world.  The event drew such large crowds last year at the Mohegan Sun that it was standing-room-only attendance. There will be four playing sessions in the two-day international tournament. o­n Wednesday, August 11th, the quarterfinal rounds will be played at 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M., with two matches in each session.  o­n Thursday, August 12th, the two semifinals will be played at 4:00 P.M. and the final Championship match will be played at 7:00 P.M.  The semifinals and the final match will be taped for airing o­n ESPN in October. The INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS is regarded as the supreme test of skill in professional billiards.  The eight players are so evenly matched that any o­ne player could beat the other seven o­n a given day. In addition, the tournament format is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in the sport. The matches are two sets, race to five games each set, with a o­ne-game sudden-death tiebreaker in the event of tied sets.  The 9-ball does not count o­n the break, and to win a game, the 9-ball is a call shot. The caliber of competition is so intense that a single mistake invariably eliminates a player from any chance at the winner-take-all purse of $50,000. In the 2003 Championship match, Francisco Bustamante and John Horsfall played a o­ne-game sudden-death tiebreaker for $50,000 and the "Champion of Champions" title. On the final night, o­ne of the players will claim the "Champion of Champions" crown and a check for $50,000. The trophy and the check will be presented by the Mohegan Sun, Olhausen Billiard Mfg., Inc, and Viking Cue. The 2004 tournament will be the Fourteenth Annual event, and has been televised o­n ESPN in each of the last thirteen years.  Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session. Make plans today to attend the 2004 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS.  For information, call the Mohegan Sun toll free at 1-888-226-7711, Ext. 7163.Olhausen, located in Poway, California, is known for their beautifully hand-crafted pool tables and fine line of matching game room accessories.  The Olhausen Authorized Dealer Network extends throughout the United States and the world. Olhausen products are proudly made in the USA and are available in Oak, Maple, Cherry, and a variety of exotic hardwoods, which can be custom-finished to match your décor. Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Inc. is celebrating 30 years in the business and has consistently pursued a tradition of dedication to Quality, Service, Selection, and Value. These attributes have earned the company the title of "The Best in Billiards."For more information about Olhausen or its products, call 1-800-866-4606 or log o­n to Olhausen’s World Wide Web Site at ( http://www.olhausenbilliards.com).

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