Billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head in the Fifteenth Annual INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. The winner-take-all $50,000 event will be held August 10-11 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT. The Challenge of Champions is widely considered the toughest tournament to win in professional billiards. Once each year eight international champions are brought together in a sudden-death shootout with a pressure-cooker format of winner-take-all for $50,000. The purse is the highest single payday in America, and the winner claims one of the most coveted titles in pool - Champion of Champions.

The 2005 field includes top stars in the sport. Thomas Engert, 2004 winner of the INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS, travels from Germany to defend his crown. Corey Deuel, winner of the 2004 Pro Tour Championship and Sudden Death 7-Ball Championship, will represent the USA. Efren Reyes, the 2004 Master of the Table Champion and the 2005 Japan Open Champion, will represent the Philippines.

Niels Feijen, winner of the 2004 Skins Billiards Championship and Euro Tour Champion, will represent the Netherlands. Fong-Pang Chao, two-time winner of the INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS and Taiwan National Champion, will represent Taiwan. Gabe Owen, the 2004 U.S. Open Champion and the Mosconi Cup Champion, will also represent the USA. Alan Rolon, the 2004 Panamerican Champion and five-time Puerto Rico Champion, will represent South America. Yoshihiro Kitatani, the 2004 Tokyo Grand Prix Champion and Japan National Champion, will represent Japan.

Mohegan Sun Casino, the host site, will make the 2005 event ADMISSION FREE to pool fans from around the USA and the world.

The event drew such large crowds last year at Mohegan Sun that it was standing-room-only attendance. There will be four playing sessions in the two-day international tournament. On Wednesday, August 10, the quarterfinal rounds will be played at 4 PM and 7 PM, with two matches in each session. On Thursday, August 11, the two semifinals will be played at 4 PM and the final Championship match will be played at 7 PM. The semifinals and the final match will be taped for airing on ESPN in September.

The INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS is regarded as the supreme test of skill in professional billiards. The eight players are so evenly matched that any one player could beat the other seven on a given day. In addition, the tournament format is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in the sport. The matches are two sets, race to five games each set, with a 1-game sudden death tie-breaker in the event of tied sets. The 9-ball does not count on the break, and to win a game, the 9-ball is call shot. The caliber of competition is so intense that a single mistake invariably eliminates a player from any chance at the winner-take-all purse of $50,000.

On the final night, one of the players will claim the Champion of Champions crown and a check for $50,000. The trophy and the check will be presented by the Mohegan Sun, Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cue. The tournament is also sponsored by Aramith Pro Billiards Balls, Simonis Cloth, Liguria International, Mueller Recreational Products, Silver Cup Chalk, and Ozone Billiards.

The 2005 tournament will be the Fifteenth Annual event, and has been televised on ESPN in each of the last fifteen years. Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session. Make plans today to attend the 2005 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. For information call the Mohegan Sun toll free at 1-888-226-7711, Ext. 7163. International Challenge of Champions Winner-Take-All for $50,000 August 10-11

Billiards champions from around the world will go head-to-head in the Fifteenth Annual INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. The winner-take-all $50,000 event will be held August 10-11 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT. The Challenge of Champions is widely considered the toughest tournament to win in professional billiards. Once each year eight international champions are brought together in a sudden-death shootout with a pressure-cooker format of winner-take-all for $50,000. The purse is the highest single payday in America, and the winner claims one of the most coveted titles in pool - Champion of Champions.

The 2005 field includes top stars in the sport. Thomas Engert, 2004 winner of the INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS, travels from Germany to defend his crown. Corey Deuel, winner of the 2004 Pro Tour Championship and Sudden Death 7-Ball Championship, will represent the USA. Efren Reyes, the 2004 Master of the Table Champion and the 2005 Japan Open Champion, will represent the Philippines.

Niels Feijen, winner of the 2004 Skins Billiards Championship and Euro Tour Champion, will represent the Netherlands. Fong-Pang Chao, two-time winner of the INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS and Taiwan National Champion, will represent Taiwan. Gabe Owen, the 2004 U.S. Open Champion and the Mosconi Cup Champion, will also represent the USA. Alan Rolon, the 2004 Panamerican Champion and five-time Puerto Rico Champion, will represent South America. Yoshihiro Kitatani, the 2004 Tokyo Grand Prix Champion and Japan National Champion, will represent Japan.

Mohegan Sun Casino, the host site, will make the 2005 event ADMISSION FREE to pool fans from around the USA and the world.

The event drew such large crowds last year at Mohegan Sun that it was standing-room-only attendance. There will be four playing sessions in the two-day international tournament. On Wednesday, August 10, the quarterfinal rounds will be played at 4 PM and 7 PM, with two matches in each session. On Thursday, August 11, the two semifinals will be played at 4 PM and the final Championship match will be played at 7 PM. The semifinals and the final match will be taped for airing on ESPN in September.

The INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS is regarded as the supreme test of skill in professional billiards. The eight players are so evenly matched that any one player could beat the other seven on a given day. In addition, the tournament format is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in the sport. The matches are two sets, race to five games each set, with a 1-game sudden death tie-breaker in the event of tied sets. The 9-ball does not count on the break, and to win a game, the 9-ball is call shot. The caliber of competition is so intense that a single mistake invariably eliminates a player from any chance at the winner-take-all purse of $50,000.

On the final night, one of the players will claim the Champion of Champions crown and a check for $50,000. The trophy and the check will be presented by the Mohegan Sun, Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cue. The tournament is also sponsored by Aramith Pro Billiards Balls, Simonis Cloth, Liguria International, Mueller Recreational Products, Silver Cup Chalk, and Ozone Billiards.

The 2005 tournament will be the Fifteenth Annual event, and has been televised on ESPN in each of the last fifteen years. Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session. Make plans today to attend the 2005 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE OF CHAMPIONS. For information call the Mohegan Sun toll free at 1-888-226-7711, Ext. 7163.