Incheon, Korea- Dragon Promotions presents the 3rd Annual KPT Championships at Lotte Department Store in Incheon, Korea. Players from around Asia, Europe, and USA are in attendance for the $15,000 1st place Open event. Defending Champion Yu Ram Cha is looking for a title defense as she and European Woman's #1 Jasmin Ouschan are also playing in the Men's Division. Joven Bustamente, recent Korea International Champion, is looking to make back to back Korea wins for himself. Other top favorites in the field include Rodney Morris of USA, Charlie Williams of USA, Hong Kong's rising star Lee Chenman and Korea's #1 ranked Young Hwa Jeong. Japan's Miyuki Sakai , who defeated Karen Corr last week in a WPBA event, is also a contender in the womens division.
The event this year has new twists as new events were added which include Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. A pro mini-tournament was also added with World Junior 10-Ball Champion Hayato Hijikata taking down JBC Japan #1 Hiroshi Takenaka, Korea International Champion runner-up Goh Takami and Korea #1 Young Hwa Jeong back to back to win.
The Mixed Doubles Championship saw Japan's Takenaka and Sakai crush married couples champions Jeong and Lim 8-2 while Korea born team of Williams and Cha easily defeated Pil Hyun Cho and Mi Kwang Lee 8-1.
Day 1 of the singles held few surprises with most of the top seeds advancing except for Jamsin Ouschan defeating KPT top 20 mens ranked player and then upsetting #4 seed Goh Takami 9-5. Rodney Morris almost suffered a scare with a Korean qualifier player breaking and running the first 5 racks to gain 5-0 lead and later held Morris down 7-3 but The Rocket came back with strong safeties and near flawless play to win 9-8.
On the ladies side Yu Ram Cha destroyed new comer Mi Kwang Lee 7-0 while Jasmin Ouschan thrashed current #1 KPT Womans ranked Eun Ji Park 7-1. Sakai escaped 7-5 from Korea's Amateur Woman's Champion Gui Young Lee.
Play continues for next 3 days with the final day being aired on MBC ESPN. The event is sponsored by Lotte Department Store and Ra Beauty Core Salons. KPT Championships Official Table is Min Table and also supported by billiard industry sponsors Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.
For more information on Korea events goto www.dragonpromotions.co.kr or www.dragonpromotions.com
