On
August 2001
Immonen Takes World Crown After 511 matches over nine days understandably gutted to fall at the final Mika Immonen, London-born Finn, is hurdle; I just couldn t get going. Even the new Champion of the World, as when I was two racks up early on I never he overcame Ralf the Kaiser Souquet thought I could win it. Mika played well of Germany by 17 - 10 in front of a and he s a true champion but I made two packed house at the Cardiff terrible mistakes which ultimately cost International Arena to claim the title me seven or eight racks. of 2001 Admiral World Pool The worst part was the waiting today. I Champion. just didn t know what to do. I went for a 128 players came to Cardiff seeking walk for a couple of hours but basically I glory and the game s top prize of spent my time sitting in a room doing $65,000 but in the end it was just one nothing. I practiced for about 25 minutes man who stood alone, atop of the pile. prior to the match and I felt very 28 year-old Immonen, who now lives comfortable and wasn t even nervous but in New York, played the kind of that was blown away. dominant pool that saw him come Mika broke well and had the roll and I Mika Immonen through knock-out matches against think that he is worthy world champion the likes of Corey Deuel, Tony Drago, Anthony Ginn, and good for the game. Niels Feijen and Alain Martel. After winning European championships and EuroRalf took the better of the early exchanges as he Tour events Immonen moved to New York City a year moved into an early 4 - 2 lead but a careless mistake ago and has had plenty of success State-side winning saw Mika move into gear and take the next three to the ESPN 7-Ball Shoot Out and go 5 - 4. Ralf took the the Turning Stone Casino next but Immonen Classic but this is by far and then edged ahead and away the biggest win of his things looked ominous career. with the score at 11 Immonen displays over the nine 7. days of the 2001 World Pool Souquet, though is Championship showed an icerenowned throughout cool nerve under pressure. the pool world for his Commented Immonen, During resilience and he dug the match I was telling myself Chia Hsiung Lai deep and won the next not to think about what is Ralf Souquet three to put the match happening here, that it s just a in the balance at 11 - 10 to Immonen. game of pool, not the World That was the Kaiser s last stand, though. He made Championship. I focused on my another rare mistake and let Immonen back to the techniques and tried to visualize table and at 16 - 10 up the Iceman found himself patterns to take the pressure off. breaking in what would be the ultimate rack of the I was really confident about my championship match. game throughout the week. I d Immonen dropped the 3-ball off the break but with been away on holiday to Cancun the 1-ball unavailable to pocket, Mika laid it off to for a week prior to the the rail leaving Ralf a tricky kick shot. It was almost championship and practiced a great recovery by the Kaiser but the cue ball over solidly for ten days leading up to Alain Martel ran by an inch, and that was all the Immonen needed. this week. Once I discovered how When the 9-ball dropped the CIA crowd erupted as to break the balls I knew I could out run any of these the emotion of the occasion got to Immonen and tears guys. of joy began to flow. This is definitely going to get a lot of attention in An emotional Mika said immediately afterwards. My Finland. It s a relatively new game there and I am motto is never, say never. Five years ago I thought the first generation of pool players back home and I that I would win the world championship before I was think my success here will make the game bigger 30 so at 28 I have accomplished my dream. and bigger. When I came to the final rack I was so nervous I I hope that finish TV will be picking up on this as thought I was going to puke but I gathered myself well as Mosconi Cup because this game can only and thought what s three balls after the thousands get bigger and bigger. I ve potted all week? Immonen plans to invest most of his winnings and Souquet, who won this trophy in 1996 was taking his girlfriend Helen on a getaway holiday. (World Pool Championships 2001 continued on page 21)
Page 9
In The Corner
with
Brad Gowin Portland, OR This is a Must Read
Throughout the years of my going into pool rooms, I have continuously remained amazed at the lack of utilization between the pool room owners and players. This issue has been going on for many years and has never been dealt with. Now is the time. The room owners complain about top players not spending any money. They view the top players as predators. The owners feel the top players come into their room to steal money from the regular customers and spend a little as possible. They think the good players are taking money out of their pockets and always complaining about anything and everything. The owners believe the top players are a bunch of cry baby prima donna s. Even at the BCA trade show, the poolroom owners have a meeting every year and discuss this problem. The solution they come up with is to get rid of the good players. After all, good players are more trouble than they are worth. The players complain about owners not doing anything to help support them. There are no, or very few tournaments for them to play in, while the B players have tournaments all the time. Where is the reward for becoming a good player? What is going to happen to the game if, once you become a good player, you are shelved to collect dust, like a trophy on a shelf? In all other sporting events, the top players are put on a pedestal. These top players are treated with respect. They receive rewards and privileges where ever they go! In pool, top players in each city usually end up taking jobs and quit playing altogether. There you go! We have defined a problem. In order to remedy a problem, you need to look for solutions. Sometimes there can be more than one solution to a problem. In other situations, there may be only one solution. There is always an answer to every problem. A correct solution needs to satisfy both parties. Both must give a little, in order to receive the benefits and respect deserved from one another. An ideal situation would be a win-win, rewarding both sides. My proposal would be for the top 6 players. These players would receive discounts on their pool time, but would be required to earn it. The first three players would receive free pool time. These players could be numbered 1,2,and 3. The next three players would receive pool time at a 50 percent discount. These players could be numbered 4,5, and 6. In order for these players to receive such benefits, they would have to maintain their status on a monthto-month basis. The top three players would need to play each other a minimum of once a month. These matches would be a $50 entry, tournament match, race to 9, with $100 going to the winner. The format would be... Player 1 vs. Player 2 Player 1 vs. Player 3 Player 2 vs. Player 3 (continued on page 10)
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