Top Field Narrowed to 4 at International Challenge of Champions

Top Field Narrowed to 4 at International Challenge of ChampionsBy InsidePOOL StaffWith eight of the world’s top players present to vie for the $50,000 first place prize at the International Challenge of Champions, which kicked off today, August 11, 2004, only four remain for Thursday’s matches. Presented by Billiards International, Ltd., the event is held at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.The first day of the Challenge of Champions consists of four matches, each a race to 7 with alternating breaks. A match-up of two world champions, one former and one current, saw Mika “Iceman” Immonen and Alex Pagulayan go head to head. “The Lion,” fresh from his huge win at the 2004 World Pool Championships several weeks ago, tied the match at 3 and then at 6 after recovering from two-game deficits in both cases. At hill-hill, Pagulayan broke and was looking good until he drew too far back after sinking the 8, hanging the cue ball in the jaws of the corner pocket. Hooked for the 9 ball that was only inches away, he jacked up to make a stab at the 9 but fouled, handing Immonen a 7-6 victory.
Another former world champion, Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer, met German champion Thomas Engert in the second match. “The Lean Machine” was in the lead the majority of the match, with neither player making a ball on the break every time. Archer, who just won the Big Apple 9-Ball Challenge at Master Billiard in Queens, NY, a few days ago, had several significant errors throughout the match and saw Engert reach a 6-3 lead. He was able to win two more games but missed a cut on the 5 ball in the last rack, and Engert ran out to win 7-5.Yet another former world champ showed up for the third match. Thorsten “The Hitman” Hohmann, who surprised the world with his victory last year at Cardiff over Alex Pagulayan, faced off with Australian player Phil Reilly. Hohmann’s consistent, understated game soon put him ahead, while Reilly, despite two combos on the 9 ball, trailed in the match. on the hill 6-3, Hohmann took advantage when Reilly scratched on the break and lined up the 1-9 in the side and drilled it for a 7-3 win.The final match, between defending champion Francisco Bustamante and Japan’s number one player, Hiroshi Takenaka, was a hard-fought battle. Innumerable safeties and uncharacteristic misses littered this match, but after the two seesawed to 5 apiece, Takenaka took the hill first when Bustamante missed the 5 ball. Takenaka’s next break set him up perfectly for the 2-9 carom that he needed in order to advance into the final four with a 7-5 victory.Tomorrow will see one winner crowned “Champion of Champions” and awarded $50,000. The first semifinal match will be between Mika Immonen and Thorsten Hohmann, and the second semifinal match will be between Thomas Engert and Hiroshi Takenaka. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.

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