 Anita McMahon |
The Tiger Canadian Women's Pool Tour held the fifth tour event of the season at the Wooden Rack, Mississauga, Ontario. Originally scheduled as a WPBA Midwest Classic Qualifier, the event was expanded to include two spots for the CBSA Canadian 9-Ball Championships in Ottawa. Tom Cacic sponsored the additional spots. The host room, Tiger Products, Tom Cacic and mfsmortgages.com combined to make this a $1,650 added event. Many thanks to all of the sponsors and also to room owners Bill, Barb and Joey Gualtieri for taking great care of the players and spectators over the course of the two-day tournament. Twenty-eight women registered for the event, including Anita McMahon who has returned to the pool scene. Anita, who is sponsored by LeSkratch, wins the 2007 WPBA Midwest Qualifier.
Sunday came down to eight strong players: Anita McMahon, Rachael Abbink, Denise Belanger, Janet Ritcey, Naomi Williams, Marina Linguerri, Corrine Johnson and Susan Wipper.
In the A-side quarter and semi final brackets, McMahon was on fire and took out both Wipper (7-5) and Williams (7-4) sending them to the one-loss side. At the B-side, the field grew smaller as Abbink, defeated by McMahon on Saturday, storms through the field defeating Belanger 7-2, Linquerri 7-6, and Wipper 7-4.
In the B-side final, Abbink takes on top CWPT tour point player Williams. In the seventh game, Abbink leads the score 5–2. In this alternating break format, it is Williams turn to break and she is hoping for a turning point in this match. The spectators are witness to some great safety play by both players, which results in Williams winning the rack and closing in on Abbink's lead. Williams stages a tremendous come back and both players are now on the hill. It's Abbink's turn to break. The 1-ball sinks but the 2-ball remains tough. Abbink decides to play a solid hook shot leaving the cue ball behind the 9-ball. Williams pulls out her jump cue and attempts the shot, but she doesn't make the hit. With ball-in-hand, Abbink runs the rest of the rack. With a 7-6 score, Williams finishes in 3rd place and Abbink earns a re-match with McMahon.
The tournament finals are sure to be exciting with two fantastic players pitted against each other. In this true double elimination format, Abbink, the B-side winner, must beat McMahon twice to win the event. The first set has Abbink in the groove as she took full control of the table leading the score 6–1 in the eighth frame. McMahon struggles to find her mojo, and is uncharacteristically rattling shots. Abbink plays safe on the 2-ball. McMahon tries to kick but it's a cue ball foul. Abbink takes full advantage and runs out the rack. With a 7–1 score, Abbink forces the second set.
The players and the spectators are ready for more action. In the first game, Abbink plays another great safety shot and locks up McMahon. With the well-earned ball-in-hand, Abbink runs out the rack and puts up the first score of the set. In the next game, McMahon sees the light and combos the 2 to the 9-ball to tie the score at one apiece. It seems that McMahon has found her stride: with a couple of early combos on the 9-ball and a run out she jumps out to 6–3 lead! Abbink is feeling the pressure now and focuses her attention on the match and takes the next frame to close to gap to 6-4. But McMahon is back and ready to play; she runs out a flawless rack. With a 7–4 score, Abbink settles for 2nd place and McMahon wins the Tiger Products 2007 Midwest Qualifier. Nice shooting ladies!
