THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
THE 2012 WORLD CUP OF TRICK SHOTS
The Wolf Den
Mohegan Sun Casino
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd
Uncasville
Connecticut
USA
Tel: 1-888-226-7711
www.mohegansun.com
www.trickshotworldcup.com
23-25 October 2012
DARREN APPLETON WINS 2012 CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
“This is the toughest tournament in the world,” said an elated Darren Appleton moments after capturing the 2012 International Challenge of Champions title. The pressure packed $25,000 winner-take-all event was held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, October 23. Appleton, from England, defeated Shane Van Boening of the USA by a thumping score of 5-1 and 5-1 in the final match, and was crowned “Champion of Champions” for an incredible second year in a row. The two semifinals and the Championship match were taped by ESPN for telecast beginning December 9.
“You have to be on your game the entire tournament,” said Appleton. “There’s no margin for error when every player is a champion. One shot missed and you can lose $25,000! The pressure is just incredible.”
Indeed, of the four international champions in the event, Appleton had to fight to defend his title as the reigning “Champion of Champions.” The Semifinal and Final matches require the winner to win two sets, race to 5 games each set. In the event of a tie, the pressure becomes intense with a one game sudden death shootout.
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Appleton played US Open 10-Ball Champion Dennis Orcollo in a semifinal match, which went into sudden death. Orcollo won the first set 5-2 and Appleton surged back to take the second set 5-3. H He He then won the lag for the one game sudden death, and after trading safeties, he ran the table to close out the match.
Van Boening, the 2012 Players 9-Ball Champion, defeated the Jung Lin Chang of Taiwan, the 2012 World 8-Ball Champion, in the other semifinal that also went into sudden death. Chang took the first set by an impressive 5-0, but Van Boening found his stroke to claim the second set 5-3. After battling back and forth in sudden death, Van Boening ran out to emerge the winner.
Appleton’s final match against Van Boening, featured flawless run outs and exquisite safety play on Appleton’s part. Van Boening was unable to get out on his break four times in the two sets, which left him trailing far behind in a lopsided contest. Known for his pinpoint accuracy, Appleton handily won the Championship match in unstoppable form with scores of 5-1 and 5-1.
The crowd gave Appleton a standing ovation when he won the final match. He raised his arms in victory and then accepted the highest single purse in international winner-take-all tournaments. The trophy and the check were presented by Mohegan Sun and Diamond Billiard Tables. The presentation brought another round of cheers from the audience.
The 2012 event was the 22nd annual International Challenge of Champions and the sixteenth to be held at Mohegan Sun. Tom Cantone, Vice President Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan Sun, was delighted with the support displayed by the turnout of pool fans. “The crowds were even more than we anticipated, and the players were amazing,” he said. “We are extremely pleased.”
In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Diamond Billiard Tables, Aramith Tournament Billiard Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Executive Billiards Delta-13 Rack, OB Cues, BCA Pool League and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPA sanctioned event was produced by Billiards International.
THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS | |||||
MOHEGUN SUN CASINO, CONNECTICUT, USA | |||||
THE WINNER'S LIST | |||||
| 1991 |  | Mike Lebron |  | USA | |
| 1992 | | Buddy Hall | | USA | |
| 1993 | | Allen Hopkins | | USA | |
| 1994 | | Nick Varner | | USA | |
| 1995 | | Chao Fong-Pang |  | Taiwan | |
| 1996 | | Ralf Souquet |  | Germany | |
| 1997 | | Oliver Ortman | | Germany | |
| 1998 | | Lee Kun-Fang | | Taiwan | |
| 1999 | | Francisco Bustamante |  | Philippines | |
| 2000 | | Oliver Ortmann | | Germany | |
| 2001 | | Chao Fong-Pang | | Taiwan | |
| 2002 | | Efren Reyes | | Philippines | |
| 2003 | | Francisco Bustamante | | Philippines | |
| 2004 | | Thomas Engert | | Germany | |
| 2005 | | Chao Fong-Pang | | Taiwan | |
| 2006 | | Johnny Archer | | USA | |
| 2007 | | Niels Feijen |  | Netherlands | |
| 2008 | | Fu Jian-Bo |  | China | |
| 2009 | | Mika Immonen |  | Finland | |
| 2010 | | Mika Immonen | | Finland | |
| 2011 | | Darren Appleton |  | Great Britain | |
| 2012 | | Darren Appleton | | Great Britain | |
GA YOUNG KIM WINS THE 2012 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
“I feel like I just won an Olympic Gold Medal,” said an elated Ga Young Kim moments after capturing the 2012 Mohegan Sun International Tournament of Champions title for an astounding third year in a row and was crowned the Women’s “Champion of Champions.” The two semifinals and the Championship match were taped for broadcast by ESPN beginning December 23.
“We may look cool out there, but the pressure is overwhelming,” said Kim “You have to play your heart out when every player is champions. One or two errors and you lose $20,000! Your emotions are just wild during the entire tournament.”
Nonetheless, of the four international champions in the event, Kim proved to be an irrisistable force on her way to the title. She defeated Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan, the Masters 9-Ball Champion, in the semifinal round 4-1 and 4-2. The semi and final matches required a player to win two sets, race to four games each set. In the event of a tie, the pressure becomes brutal with a one game sudden death tiebreaker.
The other semifinal also brought cheers from the crowd. Allison Fisher and Karen Corr, both BCA Hall of Fame members, battled back and forth in a match that ultimately went into sudden death. Corr took the first set by a score of 4-2 and Fisher rallied back to capture the second set 4-3. In sudden death, Fisher was on her way to victory when she failed to pocket the five ball and Corr then quickly cleaned the table for the win.
Kim’s final match against Corr was neck-and-neck, featuring precise run outs and fierce safety play. Kim looked unbeatable as she easily claimed the first set by 4-2. But Corr then rocketed back in the second set with a drubbing score of 4-0. Known for her uncanny shotmaking, Kim won the lag for the one game sudden death, and following an exchange of safeties, she ran the table.
The crowd gave Kim a standing ovation when he won the final match. She raised her cue in victory and then accepted the highest single purse in Women’s international winner-take-all tournaments. The trophy and the check were presented by Mohegan Sun and Diamond Billiard Tables.
The 2012 event was the 15th annual International Tournament of Champions. Tom Cantone, Vice President Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan Sun, was delighted with the brilliant play and packed house of pool fans. “The crowds appreciate watching champions go head-to-head,” he said, “and the players were a credit to the sport.”
In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Diamond Billiard Tables, Aramith Tournament Billiard Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Executive Billiards Delta-13 Rack, OB Cues, BCA Pool Leaque and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPBA sanctioned event was produced Billiards International.
THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS | |||||
MOHEGUN SUN CASINO, CONNECTICUT, USA | |||||
THE WINNER'S LIST | |||||
| 1998 | | Allison Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 1999 | | Jeanette Lee | | USA | |
| 2000 | | Allison Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 2001 | | Allison Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 2002 | | Allison Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 2003 | | Jeanette Lee | | USA | |
| 2004 | | Allison Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 2005 | | Ga Young Kim |  | Korea | |
| 2006 | | Karen Corr |  | Ireland | |
| 2007 | | Karen Corr | | Ireland | |
| 2008 | | Karen Corr | | Ireland | |
| 2009 | | Kelly Fisher | | Great Britain | |
| 2010 | | Ga Young Kim | | Korea | |
| 2011 | | Ga Young Kim | | Korea | |
| 2012 | | Ga Young Kim | | Korea | |
TEAM EUROPE DOWNS TEAM USA IN WORLD CUP OF TRICK SHOTS
The WORLD CUP OF TRICK SHOTS was held October 25 at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Team Europe claimed the title over Team USA in the only international team competition in the sport of Trick Shots. The prize purse was $30,000 for the event and Gold Medals to the winning team. The two semifinals and the Championship match will be broadcast by ESPN on January 6.
Captain Nick Nikolaidis led Team Europe to victory and the Gold Medal. Other Team Europe members who were awarded the Gold Medal were Luke Szywala, Gabriel Visiou, and Florian Kohler. Silver Medalists from Team USA included Captain Andy Segal, Bruce Barthelette, Jamey Gray, and Mike Dechaine.
The format for World Cup consisted of two skill shots and eight artistic show shots by both teams in a match. Team members executed a challenge shot of their choice, and their opponents were required to duplicate the shot or lose a point. In the semifinals, with two members from each team, the players alternated shots in four player head-to-head matches, performing intricate trick shots meant to stymie their opponents. A sudden death tiebreaker to decide a match required an eight rail bank shot onto the face of a $100 bill. The Championship Finals match pitted all eight members of Team USA and Team Europe in the wildest shootout of the year.
The players on Team Europe displayed their brilliance to emerge as the top trick shot artists in the world. The Championship match was poetry on green felt, with Team Europe defeating Team USA by a hairline score of 21-20 to take the Gold Medals. Team USA, whose members were otherwise on their game, claimed Silver Medals and second prize. In the first semifinal, Team Europe players Visiou and Kohler prevailed over Team USA members Segal and Gray. The other semifinal saw Team USA artists Barthelette and Dechaine slip past Team Europe players Nikolaidis and Szywala in a tight match. The winning team in each semifinal carried a 1 point bonus forward into the final match. The Championship match went down to the wire, with Team Europe claiming the Gold Medals by the narrow margin of one point.
The standing-room-only crowd gave Team Europe a rousing ovation at the conclusion of the Championship match. The victory was particularly rewarding for Team Europe as the teams were tied 3-3 in the history of the event, and Team Europe has now won Gold Medals four times in seven years. The Gold Medals and the team checks were presented by Mohegan Sun and Diamond Billiard Tables. The presentations brought another round of cheers from the audience.
In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Diamond Billiard Tables, Aramith Tournament Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Executive Billiards Delta-13 Rack, OB Cues, BCA Pool League and Silver Cup Chalk. The event was produced by Billiards International.
THE 2012 WORLD CUP OF TRICK SHOTS | |||||
MOHEGUN SUN CASINO, CONNECTICUT, USA | |||||
THE WINNER'S LIST | |||||
| 2006 | | Team USA | | USA | |
| 2007 | | Team Europe |  | Europe | |
| 2008 | | Team USA | | USA | |
| 2009 | | Team USA | | USA | |
| 2010 | | Team Europe | | Europe | |
| 2011 | | Team Europe | | Europe | |
| 2012 | | Team Europe | | Europe | |
