Second Round WPBL Playoffs: Poison Upset The Rockets

The second match of round two action in the World Professional Billiard League’s Championship Playoffs saw the #11 seed Pittsburgh Poison eliminate the #3 seed Chicago Rockets. The match was played at the WPBL Arena in Las Vegas, NV Sunday February 9, 2014. 

 

The Pittsburgh Poison outlasted the Chicago Rockets 21-20 in a shoot-out to win the match-deciding game, and move on to the semi-finals of the WPBL playoffs. After Raj Hundal executed a difficult shot on purple to put Chicago within a point in the shoot-out, the match came to an end when Rodney Morris missed a two point orange ball that would have put Chicago ahead.

 

Hundal helped send the match to the final game tied at 7 apiece after a decisive 30-12 win in singles over Sylver Ochoa. Hundal skillfully worked his way around the table, sinking a number of shots that helped Chicago come from being down 6-2 at intermission to tie the score at 7.

 

Mika Immonen opened singles play by shutting out Adam Smith 30-0, as the Rockets climbed to within one match point as a result at 6-5. However, their deficit grew to 7-5 when Shawn Putnam outlasted Rodney Morris 24-18 in a singles shoot-out that put Pittsburgh back up by 2, before the final game of 3 on 3 that ended on Morris' miss.

 

Pittsburgh's 6-2 intermission lead was highlighted by Putnam and Smith's 30-1 hammering of Immonen and Hundal that lifted Pittsburgh to a 4-0 lead early.

 

Every lower seed in the tournament has now won all 6 matches, with the #1 seed New York up against the #8 seed Las Vegas Dice Monday February 10, 2014 at 6:30 PST.

 

Pittsburgh's semi-final match Thursday February 13, 2014 will be against the winner of Tuesday’s Minnesota Outlaws and the Miami Cruise match. The Thursday match can also be seen live online at ESPN3 at 6:30 PST.

 

To purchase the WPBL All Star Charity Billiards Challenge or the entire Championship Package, please visit www.WPBLtv.com. Follow the WPBL as the playoffs continue, additional announcements and updates will be made frequently. For a complete listing of broadcast matches, standings, merchandise and more visit the WPBL website.