Field Set for WPBA Masters on January 26-29 at the Soaring Eagle Casino

A week from tomorrow, the WPBA Masters will be getting underway at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. This event will be the kick-off for the WPBA

Known as the most prestigious professional women’s pocket billiards tour in the world, the WPBA draw top stars from all over Europe and Asia to compete on the tour, alongside the toughest players from North America.

International champions often seen on ESPN such as Allison Fisher, Jasmin Ouschan, and Ga Young Kim will be among the top competitors in this event. Some of the best from the NYC area will also be in action at The Masters, including Jennifer Barretta, Emily Duddy, Liz Ford, and Erin McManus.

Check out all the info on the event including the full player list below…

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48 Top International Players Vie for Title at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort hosts the 48 best female billiard players in the world January 26-29, 2012, when the Women’s Professional Billiard Association WPBA Masters 9-Ball Championship kicks off the 2012 Women’s Pro Billiard Tour season.

The following players have confirmed entry in this year’s WPBA Masters:

Ga Young Kim, Allison Fisher, Jasmin Ouschan, Monica Webb, Kelly Fisher, Jeanette Lee, Ewa Mataya Laurance, Line Kjorsvik, Gerda Hofstatter, Brittany Bryant, Jennifer Barretta, Nicole Keeney, Tamara Peeters, Helena Thornfeldt, Cathy Metzinger, Liz Ford, Melissa Little, Jennifer Chen, Lonnie Fox, Liz Cole, Dawn Hopkins, Naomi Williams, Laura Smith, Eleanor Callado, Kyoke Sone, Val Finnie, Erica Park, Morgan Steinman, Emily Duddy, Belinda Calhoun, Susan Williams, Maureen Seto, Jana Montour, Teruko Cucculelli, Emilyn Collado, Jessica Barnes, Rebecca Wagner, Janet Atwell, Angel Paglia, Vicki Paski, Erin McManus, Tina Hess, JoAnn Ashton, Cheryl Pritchard, Karen Corr, Teresa Gifford, Barbara Lee, and Jacqui Herrera.

WPBA MASTERS HEADLINERS

www.jasmin-ouschan.com
2010 World 10-Ball Champion
2009 3x tour champion and Player of the Year
Current Rank: #3

 

2010 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 US Open 9-Ball Champion
2009 Colorado Classic Champion
Current Rank: #1

 

www.allisonfisher.com
2009 BCA Hall of Fame Inductee
4x World Champion and WPBA Title Record Holder: 76 titles since 1995!
Current Rank: #2

 

www.jeanettelee.com
2007 World Team Cup and Empress Cup Champion
2005 China Invitational Champion
Current Rank: #7

LOCAL FAVORITES

 

www.vickipaski.com
2011 Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
2005 WPBA Hall of Fame Inductee
1993 WPBA president/co-founder of WPBA Classic Tour
Current Rank: #46

 

10 time Michigan VNEA 8 Ball Champion
9 time Michigan VNEA 9 Ball Masters Champion
2011 BCA National Masters Team Champion
2011 VNEA International Intermediate Team Champion

Preliminary rounds begin Thursday, January 26, through Saturday, January 28 with 40 top players and 8 WPBA Regional Tour representatives. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, January 29 beginning at 1 p.m., when the final four players remaining will compete for the title of 2012 WPBA Masters Champion. These three final-round one-hour matches will be taped by ESPN for future television broadcasts. Tickets are available via
startickets.com.

Alongside the WPBA Masters will be the Soaring Eagle Open III, featuring amateur singles 8-Ball and 9-Ball tournaments in men and women’s divisions, with $10,000 in added prize money. This event will begin on Thursday, January 26 and continue through Sunday, January 29, 2012. Visit www.soaringeagleopen.com for more information. Photos/interviews with top players available on request.

About the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)

The WPBA was established in 1976 as the Women’s Professional Billiard Alliance, and is the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women’s Pro Billiard Tour, which features ESPN-televised events with the world’s greatest women players. Visit www.wpba.com for more. The WPBA Classic Tour, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012, is sponsored by the American Poolplayers Association, Diamond Billiards, Iwan Simonis, Delta 13, Pooldawg and Aramith.

About the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort:

The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is the Midwest’s premier AAA Four Diamond gaming and hospitality destination offering top-name entertainment year-round, award-winning dining, high stakes bingo and a full-service spa. For more information, visit www.soaringeaglecasino.com.