Kelly Fisher defends San Diego title

The latest British snooker pro to join the American pool circuit continues the trend started by Allison Fisher and Karen Corr. This weekend Kelly Fisher won the WPBA San Diego Classic for the second year in a row.

She stormed through the field, beating many of the top pros on the way. In the semi-final she beat the greatest of them all, Allison Fisher, 7-4, before overcoming Corr by the same score in the final.

Corr had earlier beaten yet another Brit, Sarah Ellerby, in the second semi-final.

The win will at least move Kelly into fourth place in the WPBA rankings. With this pace she might soon challenge Allison and and Corr at the very top.

Ellen Van Buren's 9th place means she is the newest touring pro.

See also:

• 2006 San Diego Classic - Highlights (wpba.com)
• Fisher Wins Again!!! (American Pool Network)
• Kelly Fisher Repeats Win at San Diego Classic (Inside Pool Magazine)
• Kelly Fisher Defends Her Title at San Diego Classic (Billiards Digest)
• My Favorite Words (WPBA Diaries: Ellen Van Buren)
• 2006 Brunswick San Diego Classic Diary (Kim Shaw)

Majid wins in Italy

Englishman Imran Majid won the Dynamic Billard Italian Open.

On his way he knocked out many top players. After overcoming home favourite Fabio Petroni 9-8 in the first round he topped snooker pro Mark Gray in the next round. In the quarter-final he won 9-5 over Dutch star Nick van den Berg. After that he ousted Niels Feijen (Netherlands) 9-5 in the semis before beating ranking leader Thomas Engert (Germany) 9-4 in the final.

The win takes Majid to No.3 in the Euro Tour Ranking. Engert retains his lead and van den Berg stays in second place.

See also:

• Euro Tour - Monfalcone 2006 (American Pool Network)
• Majid wins the title (www.souquet.de)
• IBP Euro Tour Monfalcone/Italy (www.jasmin-ouschan.com)
  

Sanchez wins World Cup

Daniel Sanchez from Spain won the 3 cushion World Cup event in Porto, Portugal.

In the final he beat Dick Jaspers (Netherlands) 3-1. Jaspers had the highest average in the tournament, with 1.810.

Both Swedish master Torbjörn Blomdahl and trickshot wizard Semih Sayginer (Turkey) went out early, in 18th and 19th place respectively.

Despite losing the final Jaspers is still on top in the World Cup ranking. Sanchez rises to second . Frederic Caudron (Belgium) and John Tyssens (Netherlands) share third.

This was the second World Cup event of the year. There are three more to go.

Sanchez tops the UMB World Players Ranking. He is followed by Jaspers, Caudron and Blomdahl.

See also:

• Tournament Details (UMB)
  

The World Snooker Championship has started

It's that time of the year again. The top snooker players assembles in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for the 888.Com World Snooker Championship. The event runs from April 15 to May 2.

Shaun Murphy is the defending champion but John Higgins is the favourite. He'll have a tough time though. His half of the draw is crowded with top contenders, mainly Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark J Williams.

See also:

• BBC
• Global Snooker Centre
• Sporting Life
• Eurosport

Related posts:

• Draw for World Snooker Championship
• Dott is new world snooker champion

Reanne Evans is new world snooker champion

20-year old Reanne Evans (England) won the World Ladies Snooker Championship.

In the final she beat compatriot Emma Bonney 5-3.

Susie Opacic (England) is the new junior champion and Chitra Magimairaj (India) won the Billiards title.

See also:

• Evans Above (World Snooker)
• Global Snooker Centre: Ladies
  
• Complete Ladies World Champs Results (PDF)
• World Ladies Billiards Title 2007 (Cuesports India)

Ortmann and Ouschan on top of Europe

The European Pool Championships was dominated by two players, one seasoned campaigner and one young contender.

German master Oliver Ortmann clinched golds in 14.1 and 8-ball. Jasmin Ouschan of Austria duplicated that feat in the women's division.

Multiple European champions Ralf Souquet (Germany) and Line Kjørsvik (Norway) took top honors in 9-ball.

In the wheelchair division Jouni Täthi (Finland) and Roy Kimberley (GBR) won in 8-ball and 9-ball respectively.

See also:

• Germans Dominate the 2006 European Pool Championships (American Pool Network)
  
• European Championships - Gold and Silver (www.souquet.de)
• Women, Men, Wheelchair European Championships 2006 in Brandenbourg/Germany (www.jasmin-ouschan.com)
• European Championships Pool (wendy-jans.com)
• Alex Lely's Weblog
• Nick van den Berg's Weblog
• European Pool Championships 23-3/1-4 (Matchroom Sport Forums)
  

Related posts:

• EC 2006 website up
• The European Championships have started