Turning Stone Classic IX Set to Kick Off Thursday
by InsidePOOL Staff
A full field of 128 of the best pool players in the game is arriving at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY, for the Turning Stone Classic IX, which begins Thursday, August 16. This event is galvanized by Mike Zuglan of the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour.
Defending champion Johnny Archer, who has won the last two Turning Stone Classics, will be looking to see if three’s a charm. But he’s got a lot of competition. Niels Feijen, who won the $50,000 winner-takes-all prize at the International Challenge of Champions last week, will certainly be looking to add yet another title to his resume.
The Filipino contingent is well-represented so far, with Jose Parica, reigning world champion Ronnie Alcano, and EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball winner Dennis Orcollo present and accounted for. Any of these players could certainly pose a serious threat to reach the finals.
Additionally, the WPBA’s Karen Corr, ranked number two currently on that tour, is there to make her mark. Corr is the only female player to ever win a stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. And the talented and aggressive Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, winner of the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championship in 2006, is there to see what kind of damage she can do.
Matches begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, and there will be four rounds in two-hour intervals. There are 16 Diamond tables set up, and Accu-Stats is on-hand to film some of the featured matches. The format is a race to 9, double-elimination. With the $25,000 added, the prize fund is now at approximately $41,000. The winner will receive $8,000, and Mr. Zuglan will pay out through thirty-second place.
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