Williams Moves Up to #2 Seed at Predator World 14.1 Championship
Day 4 of the 69th World 14.1 Championship saw the remaining players that made the top half cut race to 150. Oliver Ortmann continued his rampage with his 150 and out shutout of Earl Herring. Top seeds Thorsten Hohmann and Mika Immonen also made it through to the final 16 with ease. But the surprise darkhorse was USA’s Charlie Williams who advanced to the final 16, and also moved up his seeding as the #2 best playing player of the Predator World Straight Pool Championship presented by Ozone Billiards. The Dragon Promotions revived event is in its 4th consecutive year alive with help of industry giants such as Predator, Ozone Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Master Chalk, Aramith Balls, Accu-Stats and the Laser Rack. Comet Billiards will host this year’s event which will start play on August 24, 2009 and end August 29. The greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA’s east coast again to New Jersey, and attend this prestigious event to play for the coveted title of World Straight Pool Champion.
“This Ortmann is incredible. He plays so effortlessly and strong. He’s had three 100 ball runs already, including today’s 150 and out. That’s unreal to do at a World Championship,” said Danny Diliberto, expert commentator for Accu-Stats and former champion. Oliver Ortmann still remains the #1 seed into the final 16, holding his opponents to an astonishing 61 points total in six matches. That averages out to be Ortmann losing less than one rack per match.
Ortmann continued his rampage with his 150 and out shutout of Earl Herring.
With the exception of Germany’s Ralph Eckert who was defeated by Mika Immonen and then upsetted by NYC’s Jim Gottier, the Europeans are having a time of it still with Thorsten Hohmann staying undefeated with his 150-76 win over Shaun Wilkie. He remains the #5 seed. Immonen remains also at #4 seed. France’s Stefan Cohen keeps turning heads with his solid play and a 150-83 win over Stevie Moore. Scotland’s lone soldier Jonni Fulcher has been solid with 150-103 win over Danny Barouty and 150-111 over Max Eberle.
Though a top 5 ranked pro in the USA for the past several years, Charlie Williams didn’t seem to be a top contender for the World 14.1 crown. Yet Williams stands with the 2nd best record of the event, and still undefeated. Williams defeated group favorite Tony Robles in significant margin at 100-56, and then ran over European 14.1 Womens Champ Gerda Hoftsatter 100-31, ran 73 and then 27 to win in 2 innings against Jude Rosenstock, and today delivered a devastating 85 and 56 back to back to defeat NYC favorite Steve Lipsky 150-8.
“Charlie usually doesn’t care enough to try too hard and doesn’t try to play shape but just makes alot of tough shots. But when he really wants to bear down and play good shape,patterns,etc …well, he can”,said top pro Mike Davis. Davis later defeated Lipsky in a hard fought 150-126 match to qualify for tomorrow’s final rounds.
Notable highlights of Day 4
–Johnny Archer delivered a power packed punch to Corey Deuel in a 150-0 blowout. Archer ran an 84 then missed. Deuel missed his first shot at the table. Archer never looked back.
-Jordan’s Zaid Thweib became the first middle eastern ever to make it to the last stage of the World 14.1
-African American Earl Herring made it to the final 16, despite his 150-0 loss to Ortmann
-Danny Barouty led Allen Hopkins 109-3. Hopkins ran a 111 back and won the match 150- 115.
Fans can watch live online at Accu-Stats for 8 matches per day.
Per day tickets can be bought at the door during the event.
View the Predator World Straight Pool Championship Round Robin Schedule
View the Predator World Straight Pool Championship Round Robin Scores
View the Predator World Straight Pool Championship Double Elimination Round Brackets
View the Predator World Straight Pool Championship Single Elimination Round Brackets
The Mosconi High Run Award will pay $500 to the players with overall high run of the event plus $100 to the highest run each day.
The high run prizes are sponsored by Jay Helfert of Los Angeles CA, and Louis Pannullo of Queens, NY. An additional $1000 will be awarded to any player who breaks Thorsten Hohmann’s World 14.1 High Run Record of 174 . This bonus will be provided by Stu Mattana and Harold.
Straight Pool Action galore at the World 14.1 Tournament
August 28 at 5pm, the night before the finals, Comet Billiards will host a special sponsor / pro team match tournament for the patron sponsors of the event. Billiard aficionado Stu Mattana of NYC and long time billiard supporter Harold Siegel of NYC are two of this year’s generous patrons of the Predator World 14.1 Championship. Their contributions are helping keeping the event going. Dragon Promotions encourages others to come on board to join as a sponsor and can be reached at worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or call 1-407-782-4978
The 2009 Predator World Straight Pool Championship is proudly sponsored by Predator Cues, Comet Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Ozone Billiards, Laser Rack, Master Chalk and patron sponsors Stu Mattana and Harold Siegel of Excelsior Graphics. For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.
Ozone Billiards has been providing pool players with top quality billiard products for more than eight years. Its commitment to customer service has helped Ozone Billiards grow to be one of the largest retailers of billiard supplies in the United States. For more information about Ozone Billiards and its product lines, visit www.ozonebilliards.com
Predator Group, an international billiards industry leader, is focused on bringing constant innovation and game-improving equipment to billiards players worldwide. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Predator Group’s core brands include Predator Cues – high-end (professional level) cues with revolutionary technology to enhance performance, Poison Billiards – recreational cues with cutting-edge designs and Predator engineering for best-in-class playability, and Uni-Loc® – precision billiards equipment manufacturer. For more information regarding Predator Group’s products, visit www.predatorgroup.com.
photos courtesy Jerry Tarantola