2012 Dates Set for Womens US Open 9-Ball Championship

River Spirit Casino in Tulsa to Host Its 2nd U.S. Open, June 6-10, 2012

TULSA, OK - The Women's Pro Billiard Tour announced that the 2012 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships will return to the fabulous River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma June 6-10, 2012. Great Britain's Allison Fisher will be on hand to defend her title, won on this very stage on June 19, 2011. The quarter final, semi final and final matches will be taped by ESPN for seven one-hour national broadcasts.
The WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships is a major stop on the Women's Pro Billiard Tour and is happy to make its home at the River Spirit Casino for a second year in a row. Said WPBA president Tamre Rogers, "The River Spirit Event Center and Casino staff were second to none, and Tulsa fans are simply the best! The event and staging were spectacular and the tour is already looking forward to returning to Tulsa in 2012.

"River Spirit Casino and the River Spirit Event Center are pleased to have hosted the 2011 Women's US Open 9-Ball Championships and proud to have been selected to host the event again in 2012 and 2013,"commented Jerry Floyd, General Manager at River Spirit. "The Tulsa area and the entire state support and deserve world class events such as this one. We are committed to making this year's event bigger and better than 2011.â€

Already slated to compete are the best known names in the world of women's pro billiards, including Jasmin Ouschan; famed "Black Widow" Jeanette Lee; Chinese sensation Xiaoting Pan, British "Kwikfire" Kelly Fisher; 2010 U.S. Open champ Ga Young Kim aka "Little Devil Girl"; Hall of Famer and defending champion Allison Fisher; USA's own Monica Webb; and Ireland's Karen Corr. The event will once again kick off with a charity pro-am on June 6, 2012 at 7 p.m. Open to the general public, fans have a chance to compete against top players while raising money for Komen for the Cure Tulsa.

It all takes place at the River Spirit Event Center, adjacent to the River Spirit Casino at 81st and Riverside in Tulsa.

Visit www.riverspirittulsa.com/entertainment/eventcenter for tickets and more information!

About River Spirit Casino and Event Center River Spirit Casino, Tulsa's $195 million casino project at 81st & Riverside, showcases 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma. With over 2,600 high-tech electronic machines, 23 table games and 15 poker tables, River Spirit Casino offers the most current technology and latest games available. The facility features four dining and beverage venues including the largest casino buffet in Oklahoma, a steakhouse, a 24-hour café, a lounge and a sports bar. The newly renovated River Spirit Event Center is located at the site of the former Creek Nation Casino - Tulsa at 81st and Riverside Drive. The venue has nearly 20,000 sq. ft of useable space for sporting events, entertainment, conventions and meetings and all amenities.

For more information on River Spirit Casino please visit www.riverspirittulsa.com. As an active community partner, River Spirit Casino provides a positive economic impact for Tulsa and surrounding towns. Proceeds from gaming operations help to fund a variety of Muscogee (Creek) Nation service programs such as housing, education, elderly assistance and healthcare. For more information on the tribe's history and government, please visit the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's Web site. www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov

About the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 as the Women's Professional Billiard Alliance, and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2011 as the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women's Pro Billiard Tour, which features ESPN-televised events with the world's greatest women players. Visit www.wpba.com for more. The WPBA Classic Tour is sponsored by the American Poolplayers Association, Diamond Billiards, Iwan Simonis, Delta 13, Pooldawg, and Aramith