Ga Young Kim
“I feel like I just won an Olympic Gold Medal,” said an elated Ga Young Kim moments after capturing the 2012 Mohegan Sun International Tournament of Champions title for an astounding third year in a row and was crowned the Women’s “Champion of Champions.” The two semifinals and the Championship match were taped for broadcast by ESPN beginning December 23.
“We may look cool out there, but the pressure is overwhelming,” said Kim “You have to play your heart out when every player is champions. One or two errors and you lose $20,000! Your emotions are just wild during the entire tournament.”
Nonetheless, of the four international champions in the event, Kim proved to be an irresistible force on her way to the title. She defeated Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan, the Masters 9-Ball Champion, in the semifinal round 4-1 and 4-2. The semi and final matches required a player to win two sets, race to four games each set. In the event of a tie, the pressure becomes brutal with a one game sudden death tiebreaker.
The other semifinal also brought cheers from the crowd. Allison Fisher and Karen Corr, both BCA Hall of Fame members, battled back and forth in a match that ultimately went into sudden death. Corr took the first set by a score of 4-2 and Fisher rallied back to capture the second set 4-3. In sudden death, Fisher was on her way to victory when she failed to pocket the five ball and Corr then quickly cleaned the table for the win.
Kim’s final match against Corr was neck-and-neck, featuring precise run outs and fierce safety play. Kim looked unbeatable as she easily claimed the first set by 4-2. But Corr then rocketed back in the second set with a drubbing score of 4-0. Known for her uncanny shotmaking, Kim won the lag for the one game sudden death, and following an exchange of safeties, she ran the table.
The crowd gave Kim a standing ovation when he won the final match. She raised her cue in victory and then accepted the highest single purse in Women’s international winner-take-all tournaments. The trophy and the check were presented by Mohegan Sun and Diamond Billiard Tables.
The 2012 event was the 15th annual International Tournament of Champions. Tom Cantone, Vice President Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan Sun, was delighted with the brilliant play and packed house of pool fans. “The crowds appreciate watching champions go head-to-head,” he said, “and the players were a credit to the sport.”
In addition to the fine tournament site at Mohegan Sun, the event was sponsored by Diamond Billiard Tables, Aramith Tournament Billiard Balls, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products, Executive Billiards Delta-13 Rack, OB Cues, BCA Pool Leaque and Silver Cup Chalk. The WPBA sanctioned event was produced by Billiards International.
