Karen Corr

"The Irish Invader" struck out for new horizons in 1998 when she left the world of snooker behind to see how she could do o­n a tour she had just heard of that was happening in the United States-the Women's Professional Billiard Association 9-Ball Tour.  It wasn't long before Corr won 10 qualifying events in a row and became eligible to play in WPBA events, ultimately going o­n to be the first person to win all six Classic events o­n the WPBA tour o­nly four years later in 2002.

The accomplishments she had o­n the snooker circuit cannot be overlooked, though, despite her meteoric rise o­n the 9-ball scene.  She got her first taste of being a champion at age 15 when she won her first Ladies Snooker Championship in England.  Her first World Snooker Championship came o­n October 10, 1990, coinciding with her twenty-first birthday.  She was the World Snooker Champ again in 1991, 1995, and 1997.

By the end of her first year in the U.S., Corr was ranked number 24 o­n the WPBA tour.  A year later she was ranked number 4, and moved up to number 1 the following year.  She remained the number-one-ranked player for two years, reminding everyone what a formidable opponent she is. 

Corr is serious when she plays, but does have a lighter side, which was seen by all those who were in attendance when she won her sixth straight Classic event at the Nationals.  Surprising the crowd, Corr kicked off her shoes, jumped o­nto the table, and did an Irish jig to celebrate her astounding accomplishment.  This was o­ne of many for Corr, who also took first place at the BCA Open in 2003, first place at Valley Forge in 2003, first place at the U.S. Open in 2003, and first place at the Canadian Classic 2003.

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