May the Best Winner Win?

I feel compelled to write about this topic because I think it poses some interesting questions for the pool world. As you read in my previous entry, the WPBA Regional Tour Championships in 2012 had a new format, the WPBA RTC East Champion would play the WPBA RTC West Champion at the US Open. This clash of the titans seems like a match of epic proportion, but what happens when it is the clash of the runner ups? Due to circumstances beyond their control, both My Hahn Lac (East) and Kim Jones (West) declined their opportunity to compete at the US Open, which means that the RTC Championship match will end up being Megan Smith vs. Liz Cole, both ladies finished in 2nd place at their respective RTC event (coincidentally they both lost 9-8).

Here's the dilemma... Both My Hahn and Kim had to play great to earn their division title. They advanced from the round robin phase of their events, defeating many opponents and eliminating opportunity for other players that would take that US Open spot in a heart beat, especially with paid entry. Is it fair to all of their opponents that they declined the spot? Maybe, maybe not. Does the WPBA have the authority to enforce policies associated with participation at their events? Yes. Is the WPBA RTC Champion a true champion? I don't know... It is definitely a complicated situation and I am glad that I don't have to make any decisions regarding changes in policy or otherwise.  Some other interesting questions that I have thought about while writing this entry... Is it possible to create a payout structure that would provide more money than just the entry for "qualifier" events? What format would you choose for the RTC if it was up to you?  How do you approach sponsors for "would be" opportunities?

What I do know is that I will be lucky enough to see how it all plays out in person, as I will be one of sixty-four players competing at the most prestigious professional women's billiards event in the United States.  As the 2011 US Amateur Champion, I earned entry, hotel, and airfare to the US Open in 2012.  This will be the second professional tournament of my short pool career.  Honestly, I am thrilled to be representing the amateur pool world at the Open and would love to thank the APA for all that they do...

The WPBA US Open will be hosted at the River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, OK June 7-11, 2012. I am very excited to play at this event and look forward to the opportunity to compete along side some of the best pool players in the world.

WPBA Regional Tour Championships 2012

The 2012 WPBA Regional Tour Championships have been announced and this year will be different than all others.  Two events representing the East (April 13-15 in Mooreville, NC) and the West (May 4-6 in Bellevue, WA) will culminate to one final round to be held at the WPBA US Open this June.  Both East and West Champions will earn paid entry to the WPBA US Open and will play for the 2012 WPBA RTC Tour Championship Title.  Format has not been completely presented at this point, although there will be a round robin in the early stages and then bracket play for the final rounds.  Rail2Rail Productions will provide live streaming of the entire event at rail2rail.tv.  I am thrilled to be competing in my fifth RTC event. 

With the announcement of the 2012 Regional Tour Championships, I am inspired to reflect on my journey through the regional tour system, what I like to call the farm club for the WPBA. 

My first WPBA Regional Tour Championship was in 2008.  I had finished in the top 20 on tour, but at that point really had no idea what level of competition was out there, other than the WPBA.  When I received the invitation I was excited to go and play against the top regional tour players from around the country.  I really didn't know what to expect and that was a thrill within itself. The event was held in Florida which was one of the furthest trips I had yet to make in my short career.  I remember my first match was against Erica Testa out of the NY area.  I was thoroughly intimidated because she was obviously way more experienced than me.  She pretty much knew everyone there and had sponsors logos on her shirt.  To me, at that time, she might as well have been Allison Fisher.  LOL.  Anyway, I played my heart out and won 7-6.  OMG, I wasn't sure if I could love the game any more than I did at that moment.  With all of the NWPA ladies there to route me on, I was absolutely charged electric.  Unfortunately, I went on to lose my next two matches 7-4 and 7-4, my opponents just outplayed me.  Susan Mello was the 2008 WPBA Regional Tour Champion.

In 2009, the RTC event was hosted much closer to home, at The Parlor in Bellevue.  By now, I had won my first NWPA event (the year end event in 2008 was a qualifier for the San Diego Classic, my first and only WPBA event to date), and had started practicing with intent, i.e. shooting drills as opposed to just hitting balls.  In my first match, I was up 5-2 against my opponent and then something happened, I just lost my confidence.  I kept making mistakes that fed my self doubt, which made me make even more mistakes, UGH!  After that match is when my book of memories was born.  I went for a walk to reflect on my abilities and my position (not only in the tournament "only one bullet left", but in the overall scheme of the pool world.)  I came back with a renewed confidence and went on to win my next four matches.  I ended up losing 7-5 to Liz Cole.  I had the opportunity to tie the match at 6, but hung up the 8 ball on a pretty routine cut along the rail.  I ended up T9-12th.  Happy with my overall performance, I went on to collect signatures from all of the ladies in attendance.  Ming Ng ended up winning the 2009 WPBA Regional Tour Championship over Bonnie Plowman from CO.

In 2010, with another NWPA event win under my belt and my best ranking yet (I finished 3rd overall for the 2009 NWPA season, behind Liz Cole and Cindy Sliva), I headed to the Hard Times in Bellflower, CA.  For a full recount of that tournament, see previous blog posting...  In summation, I was pregnant, extremely hormonal, and full of expectations.  I wanted so badly to play well that I ended up self destructing when I made mistakes and missed opportunities.  I did not advance through the first round robin, even though I did recover to win my last match of the phase against a player who eventually ended up finishing in the top 8 to receive her WPBA tour card, Miss Emily Duddy (6-5).  I also had some great matches against Tina Larsen (6-2) and Veronique Menard (5-6).  Shu Han Chang dominated the field so thoroughly that event, she did not lose a match in either round robin phase, and seemed to shoot better and better as the tournament progressed.  Shu Han was the 2010 WPBA Regional Tour Champion over Mary Rakin from CA.

The 2011 WPBA RTC event was hosted at Bogie's Billiards in Houston, TX.  With a 9 month old baby at home, this was my first traveling tournament.  I had to deal with all of the emotions that go along with being away from your first child.  Separation anxiety for her or for me, I am not sure which was stronger, but we both made it through ok...  The tournament was ran by Miss Lone Star herself, Kim White-Newsome.  This woman has so much charm and class that I have to say that she could run every RTC and I would be ok with that.  As one of the top players from the US over the last twenty years and her home grown southern hospitality, Kim showed a level of appreciation for the competitors that I had yet to encounter in my tournament experience.  She made every player feel welcome and went out of her way to touch base with each of us to make sure that we were getting what we needed.  The tournament itself went off without a hitch.  I played consistently one of the best tournaments of my history, but came up one match short of earning my tour card, ending up T9-12th in a field of 64.  Match wins included Denise Belanger (9-3), Kimberly Broughton (9-8), Sara Miller (7-4), Marianne Merrill (7-5)  while my two losses were to Janet Atwell (4-9) and Brianna Miller (1-7). Yu Ram Cha, who had taken some time off from the WPBA, cruised through the field and became the 2011 WPBA Regional Tour Champion defeating Susan Williams in the final (AZ).

Looking back, I am excited to participate in the 2012 RTC and am hopeful that I can bring my best game when the time comes.  Tournament play forces you to channel all of the concentration and skill you can muster.  Any player can win, but it requires a level of focus and determination that can only be maintained through shear force of will.  Let the games begin :).  Make sure you check out the action and I am sure there will be more posts related to the event.