Seoul, Korea- Players from around the world once again arrived to take part in one of Korea's premiere events, The KPT Championships. The upscale Novotel Doksan is hosting this prestigious event and its second time working with Dragon Promotions under the leadership of Novotel Doksan GM Rodney Trutwein. Countries represented included Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Germany, USA, Guam, Philippines, India, Brazil, and Korea. In the men's division top favorites include #1 seed Charlie Williams, defending champion of the event, #3 seed Ricky Zerna of Philippines, runner up in 2007, #5 seed Thorsten Hohmann GER, #7 seed Carlo Biado PHI, #9 seed Goh Takami JPN, #10 seed Mike Davis USA, and #12 seed Raj Hundal IND. Korea favorites include #1 Young Hwa Jeong, #4 Hee Chul Kim, and now New York City bi-coastal Shin Young "Godzilla" Park.
The women's division is also stacked with world class talent with defending Champion and World 9-Ball Championship quarter finalist Yun Mi Lim, Korea #2 Eun Ji Park, and 2006 Korea Pro Tour Champion Yu Ram Cha. The top favorite of the event will be Taiwan's Yuan Chun Lin who is the reigning World 9-Ball Champion as well as winner of the All Japan Championship in 2007. Japan's top guns include Mika Muneta and 2004 Korea International Champion Akio Otani. Malaysia hopefuls Ester Yee and Suhana Sabtu, Guam's Shanelle Loraine, USA's Tina Meraglio and new comer Luciene Vieira of Brazil. The dangerous Chieh Yu Chou of Taiwan will also be a threat as she tied for 5th at the World 9-Ball.
Most of the top seeds went through Day 1 unchallenged except for Japan's Syo Tsuken's 9-1 drubbing of Philippine's Carlo Biado. Ricky Zerna of PHI also dropped his match to Korea's #2 Ha Min Wuk. Yu Ram Cha, the only woman in the men's division, destroyed Japan's Y.Takagi 9-2.
Play continues tomorrow, and the day after, with the final four players coming back on the fourth and final day for televised matches for MBC ESPN.
The 4th Annual Korea Pro Pool Tour Championships is sponsored by MBC ESPN, Ra Beauty Core Salons, Novotel Doksan, Predator Cues, Poison Cues. The official equipment used are Min Tables and Vigma Balls.
