Johnny Archer Captures 2006 Champion of Champion Billiards Title

Johnny Archer Captures 2006 Champion of Champion Billiards TitlePool player pockets $50,000 for billiard victory"This is the toughest pool tournament in the world," said an elated Johnny Archer moments after capturing the 2006 International Challenge of Champions title. The pressure packed $50,000 winner-take-all billiards event was held at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, August 9 and August 10. Archer, from the USA, defeated Thorsten Hohmann of Germany in a one game Sudden Death in the final match, and was crowned the new "Champion of Champions." The two semifinals and the Championship match were taped by ESPN for telecast beginning October 5.Archer was the first American since 1994 to win the International Challenge of Champions. "We may look cool out there, but the pressure is just incredible," he said. "There’s no margin for error when every player is a champion. One shot missed and you can lose $50,000! Your nerves are off the chart during the entire tournament."
Indeed, of the eight international billiard champions in the event, Archer had to fight his way to the title. He defeated Euro Tour Champion Alex Lely in a quarterfinal round Sudden Death, after splitting sets 5-1 and 5-2. The Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final matches require the winner to win two sets, race to 5 games each set. In the event of a tie, the pressure becomes intense with a one game Sudden Death shootout. Of the seven matches in the tournament, four went to Sudden Death to determine a winner.Archer, a four-time World Champion, next had to play Philippine Champion Marlon Manalo in a semifinal match, which also went to Sudden Death after they split sets 5-3 and 5-1. His final match against Hohmann was a nail biter, featuring flawless run outs and exquisite safety play. Hohmann easily won the first set 5-2 after Archer failed to get out in four games on his own break. Hohmann then took the first game of set two, but came up dry on his own break in three games. Archer quickly rallied, ripping off five games in a row, to win the second set 5-1. Known for his pinpoint accuracy, Archer won the lag and after a gut-wrenching safety duel closed out the Championship match in a one game Sudden Death.The Quarterfinal matches also brought cheers from the standing–room-only crowd. Marlon Manalo defeated Euro Tour Champion Niels Feijen in Sudden Death after they split sets 5-2 and 5-2. Fong-Pang Chao of Taiwan, the 2005 winner and defending Champion, narrowly ousted Ralf Souquet, the current World Pool Masters Champion, by a score of 5-1 and 5-4. Hohmann in a close match eliminated Skins Billiards Champion Santos Sambajon 5-2 and 5-3, then took on Chao in the other semifinal match. After battling back and forth, Hohamnn emerged the winner 5-1 and 5-3. The crowd gave Archer a standing ovation when he won the final match. He raised his arms in victory and then accepted the highest single purse in international winner-take-all tournaments of $50,000. The trophy and the check were presented by Bob Yalen, Director of Sports for Mohegan Sun, and Gregg Hovey, President and CEO of Olhausen Billiards. The presentation brought another round of cheers from the audience.The 2006 event was the Sixteenth Annual International Challenge of Champions and the tenth to be held at the Mohegan Sun. Paul Munick, Senior Vice President of Mohegan Sun, was delighted with the support displayed by the crowd of pool fans. “We will continue to host this event,” he said. “The crowds were even more than we anticipated, and the players were amazing. We are extremely pleased.” In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Olhausen Billiards, Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Ozone Billiards, Original Italian Slate, Liguria International and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPA sanctioned event was produced by Matt Braun and Bettiane Braun of Billiards International, Ltd.Visit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest news from the sport of billiards and pool.

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