Sudden Death 7-Ball will feature eight top players from an international roster competing for a purse of $40,000. Corey Deuel, the 2001 Sudden Death 7-Ball Champion and 2001 Player of the Year, will return to defend his title. Earl Strickland, the 2002 WPA World Champion and Six Time World Champion, will represent the USA. Mika Immonen, the 2001 WPA World Champion and 2002 Derby City Classic Champion, will represent Finalnd.

Francisco Bustamante, the 2002 Las Vegas Invitational Champion, will represent the Philippines. The USA will also be represented by Troy Frank, the 2002 Players Championship winner, Rodney Morris, a U.S. Open Champion, and Michael Coltrain, a Mosconi Cup Champion. Lus Salvas, the 2002 Cornwall Open Champion and Dooly’s Open Champion, will represent Canada.

The winner will claim a cool $25,000 in Sudden Death 7-Ball. The game is o­ne of action and offense, designed by ESPN to attract a younger television viewership. Played by rules to make it exciting and entertaining, whoever pockets the seven ball wins the game. A match consists of two sets, race to seven games each set, with a o­ne-game sudden death in the event of tied sets. The seven ball must be “called” to win and does not count o­n the break. The format lends itself to close matches and quick run-outs.

Trick Shot Magic will present eight international stars of the sport contending for a purse of $40,000. Mike Massey, winner of the 2000 and 2001 Trick Shot Magic, and 2002 WPA World Artistic Pool Champion, will return to defend his title. Charles Darling, the 2001 WPA World Artistic Pool Champion, Tom Rossman, WPA World Artistic Pool Ranked Number 2, and Steve Geller, National Trick Shot Champion, will also represent the USA.

Stefano Pelinga, the 2001 Trick Shot Magic Runnerup and Italian Trick Shot Champion, will represent Italy. Sebastian Giumelli, WPA World Ranked Number 4 and South American Champion, will represent Argentina. Ray Allard, the Great Britian Champion and World Ranked in Artistic Pool will represent England. Gerry Watson, the Canadian Champion and WPA World Ranked, will represent Canada.

The Trick Shot Magic winner will claim the crown and $25,000. Format for the tournament consists of twelve skill shots and twelve artistic show shots in each match. Players will execute a challenge shot of their choice, and their opponents are required to duplicate the shot or lose a point. The players alternate shots in two-man head-to-head matches, performing intricate trick shots meant to stymie their opponents. A sudden death tiebreaker to decide a match will require an eight rail bank shot o­nto the face of a $100 bill.

ESPN will telecast three 1-hour programs o­n both Sudden Death 7-Ball and Trick Shot Magic. ESPN Zone will make both events Admission Free for spectators. ESPN Zone is a 35,000-square-foot sports-themed dining and entertainment complex located at 601 East Pratt Street in Downtown Baltimore (phone: 410-685-3776). The winners’ checks will be presented by ESPN Zone, Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cue. The tournaments are also sponsored by Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, Sardo Tight Rack, and Silver Cup Chalk. The tournaments will be produced by Matt and Bettiane Braun of Billiards International, Ltd.

Ample parking is available near ESPN Zone. Tournament sessions begin o­n October 9 at 10 AM for both events. The SUDDEN DEATH 7-BALL Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 6 PM o­n October 9. The TRICK SHOT MAGIC Semifinals and Championship Finals will begin at 4 PM o­n October 10. Admission is free and those attending should plan to arrive early. For more information call: 860-379-8414.