New Queen of 9-Ball Crowned in New York

By Bill Rosenberger

Fans were treated to some very exciting 9-ball when WPBA pro Gerda Hofstatter overcame a defeat in the hot seat match to dethrone former New York State 9-Ball champion Dawn Hopkins in a double-elimination final.  The two-day event of the J. Pechauer Northeast Women's tour was held at the packed Pocket Billiards in New York o­n October 2-3.

Hofstatter herself is the former New Jersey State 9-Ball champion, as well as the number-nine player o­n the WPBA, so playing in big matches is nothing new to her.  But it is rare when two former 9-ball champions compete in such a long and hard-fought match.  Both ladies plowed through the first day of competition to meet o­ne another in the hot seat match o­n Sunday.  Hopkins kept her momentum going, sending Hofstatter to the left side.  Karen Corr, who had just ousted road partner Julie Kelly, was set to face Hofstatter in the semifinals.

The semifinal match saw the Austrian "G-Force" simply wipe out the number-two Corr 7-0.  Barbara Stock, tournament director, said Corr didn't get to shoot very much and described Hofstatter as focused o­n getting back to the finals for the rematch against Hopkins.

In the finals, Hofstatter and Hopkins displayed why they are two of the best women's 9-ball players in the Northeast.  The first set went hill-hill before Hopkins jumped to a 5-4 lead.  Then the wheels seemed to fall off for her, and she missed the 9 ball and then scratched in the next game.  All of a sudden, Hopkins was down 6-5.  However, she controlled the table throughout the twelfth game but again missed the 9 ball, and Hofstatter nailed it for a 7-5 first set win.

The second set was more of the same for both players.  Hofstatter continued to dominate while Hopkins struggled.  Hofstatter jumped out right away to a 4-0 lead and eventually built it to 5-2.  Then she turned o­n the jets and finished Hopkins off for the 7-2 second set win and the 2004 New York State 9-Ball championship. 

Results:

1st Gerda Hofstatter $570

2nd Dawn Hopkins $415

3rd Karen Corr $290

4th Julie Kelly $175

5th Romana Dokovic, Miyuki Sakai $100