Jasmin Ouschan and Karim Belhaj
Predator Group, the industry leader in innovative pool billiards products, announced today the resurrection of the Predator World Women’s 10-Ball Championship, scheduled for Klagenfurt, Austria September 6-10, 2022.
This 64-player, double-elimination tournament, will have a $148,000 prize fund and will be the first World Women’s 10-Ball title competed for since Rubilen Amit of the Philippines defeated Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher in the Philippines at the 2013 World Championship. Coincidentally, Fisher won the last women’s world pocket billiards championship contested before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the industry, defeating Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan in the finals of the World Women’s 9-Ball Championship held in China during December of 2019.
“The women’s game is very important for a number of reasons,” said WPA President Ian Anderson. “There are a lot of great women’s players throughout the world. Unfortunately, we haven’t had as many women’s events in the past but the more that we can have, the better.”
No female competitor has been hotter than Fisher, who was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2020. The crafty Brit, who won the World Women’s 10-Ball Championship in 2011, not only won the first Predator Pro Billiard Series Women’s event of 2022 but also took top honors at the WPBA’s Northern Lights Open as well as the Super Billiards Expo’s Pro Players Championship.
The Predator World Women’s 10-Ball Championship is yet another new event in the ever-expanding portfolio of the United States-based billiards manufacturer, which revamped the dormant men’s World 10-Ball Championship in 2019 when it partnered with amateur league operator CueSports International to stage the event as part of CSI’s annual Expo in Las Vegas. Last year, Predator and CSI launched the U.S. Pro Billiards Series – a series of professional 10-ball events coinciding with CSI state championships – as well as the Austria Open, which featured men’s and women’s professional competition. The company expanded into the women’s game further this year with the creation of women’s U.S. Pro Billiard Series events, including April’s Women’s Professional Billiards Association Alfa Las Vegas Open which Fisher claimed by defeating Canada’s Brittany Bryant.
“I really like the current schedule because there are so many events,” said Ouschan. “I’m super excited and I really can’t wait for the World 10-ball to happen again. And seeing that it’s happening in Austria, that’s doubly special to me.”
“We have Predator doing a number of events plus the World Championships for men and women plus a World Championship for juniors,” said Anderson. “Their contribution has been fantastic.”
The tournament will be held in hometown of Ouschan, who won the World 10-Ball Championship in 2011. One of the most decorated female players throughout Europe and the world, the Austrian has come close in recent World Championship events only to be turned away in the finals – finishing second at the World 9-Ball Championships in 2019 and 2015 as well as placing second back-to-back years at the Amway World Open.
The event will be a bit of a homecoming for the Austrian who, while well-known in her native land, rarely has a chance to showcase her skills on a large stage in front of her fellow countrywomen and men.
“It’s so cool to bring such a huge event to Austria because I and my brother are really known here but the people never really get to see anything,” she said. “There’s not much pool on television so, bringing a big tournament to my hometown is so special. But, then I know you have an extra portion of pressure that comes with it. Winning a World Championship in my hometown is just a crazy thought.”
“We are so excited to be reviving the World Women’s 10-Ball Championship and bringing it to Austria in September,” said Karim Belhaj, CEO of Predator Group. “We want to give back to all of the professional game, which is why we launched the Women’s Pro Billiard Series events this year and have now added the Predator World Women’s 10-Ball Championship to our roster. Alongside the men’s World 10-Ball and World Junior Championships we are continuing to celebrate the game and we hope that everybody can benefit from the excitement created around the sport.”
The Predator Pro Billiard Series is a series of open, professional events held around the world to provide more opportunities for professional and aspiring pool players to compete in high-quality events, earn more income, sharpen their skills and play their way into the Predator World Women’s 10-Ball Championship held each year by Predator and the World Pool-Billiards Association. Follow @
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