ALLISON FISHER DEFENDS GREAT LAKES CLASSIC TITLE!
Allison yet again proved why she is the #1 player in the world as she defeated "The Texas Tornado" Vivian Villarreal 7-4 in the finals of the Great Lakes Classic at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.
Not everyone thought Allison could defend this title; she began the tournament with a surprise loss at the hands of Xiaoting Pan, a newcomer from China. But Allison made her way patiently through the one loss side until she was one of eight left standing and the top 16 (eight on one loss side and eight on winner's side) began the final single elimination portion of the tournament.
In the ESPN televised semi final match, Allison defeated Texan Kim White 7-4, earning her the chance at the title. Fisher remains solidly in #1 with this win, and takes home $13,000. Vivian's second place finish was worth $8,000.
Allison
Fisher moved ahead to play Vivian Villarreal in the final match.
THE TEXAS TORNADO
Texan Vivian Villarreal defeated Indianapolis' Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee in a grueling 7-6 semi-final match that lasted over two hours. The final game, as the score stood 6-6, took 25 minutes. When the dust had settled, Vivian, aka the Texas Tornado, emerged the winner! Jeanette finishes in 3rd place. Vivian will now face the winner between defending champion and #1 ranked Allison Fisher, and #29 ranked Texan, Kim White.
Vivian Villarreal, back in the finals and looking for a title
A NEW FACE FOR THE TV CAMERAS!
Houston's Kim White, elected WPBA president in November, proves sports and politics can mix. She emerged undefeated over Georgia's Alice Rim with a 9-1 victory to make the final four.
Allison Fisher made a brilliant jump shot in an 8-8 battle against Karen Corr to win her spot in the final four. Fisher and White face off at 3 pm Sunday.
A jubilant Kim White prepares for her match against #1 ranked
Allison Fisher
Indianapolis superstar Jeanette Lee aka The Black Widow, back in only her second event of 2006 since undergoing spine surgery last August, defeated China's Xiaoting Pan 9-2. This was Pan's second 2006 event. The young player, who speaks no English, made her way to US shores in January to begin competing in qualifiers and is already the talk of pool town. Her loss to Lee still left her with a respectable 5th place finish in the star-studded field.
Facing Lee will be none other than "the Texas Tornado" Vivian Villarreal of San Antonio. Vivian defeated WPBA National champion Ga Young Kim 9-6 and faces Jeanette Lee at 1 pm Sunday.
The winners between White/Fisher and Villarreal/Lee will face each other at 5:00 pm for the final bout and their share of the $90,000 purse.
Mitch
Laurance and Jeanette Lee before the match.
Jeanette
Lee
Allison Fisher and Kim White lag for the break
Kim jumped ahead to an early 2-0 lead
Vivian
struggles early in the final match
Allison Fisher 2006 Great Lakes Open
Champion
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