River Spirit Casino & Resort
Tulsa
Oklahoma
USA
www.wpba.com
www.riverspirittulsa.com
www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov
6-10 June 2012
2012 US Open Champion Allison Fisher (Photo by Dale Shank)
Allison Fisher Wins Record Breaking 6th US Open for England
by Joseph Lee
Sussex native Allison Fisher won England its 6th US Open for women's pocket billiards. The US Open is not only one of the most prestigious titles to win in billiards, but it is the longest running women's billiard event in history. Fisher went undefeated in 7 consecutive matches with hardly ever being threatened. In the finals Fisher took on Austria's Gerda Hofstatter whom she defeated 7-3. The event was held at River Spirit Casino & Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma and aired on ESPN. Previously the most US Open wins recorded was by American men's champion Earl Strickland who holds 4 US Open titles. Fisher surpassed that record and now holds more US Open wins by any man or women in history. Fisher actually broke her own record of 5 US Open wins which she delivered last year, and successfully defended this year.
"I am very pleased with this win on so many different levels. Last year I won the event, even though I was not seeded #1 nor the favorite. This year I came in as the #1 seed and the paper favorite to win, and the expectation pressures were high. So winning was sweeter in a different way this time. All in all I'm very happy and it's nice to bring another gold for the United Kingdom", said Fisher.
With the Olympic Games around the corner in London, it's a nice start to have the UK making a splash in international sports.
"After all these years of winning, she still makes it look so easy", commented American veteran pro Laura Smith.
Share this article on FaceBook
"Read More..." for the details.
Fisher still globe trots the world even to China where she won a major title there last year
Fisher on top of holding the 6 US Open titles, she also holds 15 World Championship Golds, 11 of them from snooker. Her 4 World Champion pool wins is also a record for man or woman since the official recognition of pool from the International Olympic Committee in 1990. All told, Fisher has an astonishing 155 major titles in her combined snooker and pool career, rivaling Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Martina Navritilova or any other star athlete in the world.
"I've been watching her play since the 1990s. It's funny, most female players are already past their peak in their mid to late 30's. Allison is in her mid 40's and she is a better player now then she ever was. I don't even think she has reached her peak yet because she keeps trying to improve. She is beyond extraordinary. A better word might be supernatural", said top USA pro Charlie Williams who is also a renown coach. He has been training Allison since 2010.
"Allison is the greatest woman's player ever. Snooker and pool. All the awards and recognition she gets is well merited. She deserves it", said UK's Darren Appleton of West Yorkshire. Appleton is the current reigning men's pool US Open and World Champion.
The 44 year old Allison Fisher is now the only player in the history of billiards, man or woman, to have won major championships in 4 different decades, starting in the 1980's. And she doesn't seem to be slowing down.
Allison Fisher after winning the previous year's US Open Championship in 2011