The Tournament of Champions is o­ne of the most widely viewed billiards programs o­n ESPN. o­nce each year four international champions are brought together in a sudden-death shootout with winner-take-all of $25,000. The purse is the highest single payday in the sport, and the winner claims o­ne of the most coveted titles in pool – Champion of Champions!

The 2002 field includes top stars in the sport. Karen Corr is World Ranked Number 1, the 2001 Player of the Year, and champion of the 2002 WPBA Spring Classic and the BCA Open. Allison Fisher is a Three Time winner of the Tournament of Champions, a Three Time WPA World Champion, and a Four Time Player of the Year. Jeanette Lee is the 2001 World Games Gold Medalist, the 2001 BCA Open Champion, and World Ranked Number 3. Helena Thornfeldt is the Winner of the 2002 U.S. Open Championship, World Ranked Number 4, and holder of multiple WPBA Classic Tour titles.

The 2002 event will be ADDMISSION FREE for pool fans from around the USA and the world. There will be three playing sessions in the international tournament. o­n the evening of November 6, the CHALLENGE THE STARS PRO AM will feature Mohegan Sun guests teamed with the Pro Champions. o­n the evening of November 7, the two Tournament of Champions semifinals will be played at 5 PM and 6 PM, and the final Championship match will be played at 8 PM. The semifinals and the final match will be taped for airing o­n ESPN starting in January.

The TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS is widely considered the most difficult tournament to win in professional billiards. The four players are so evenly matched that any o­ne player could beat the other three o­n a given day. In addition, the tournament format is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in the sport. The matches are two sets, race to five games each set, with a 1-game sudden death tie-breaker in the event of tied sets. The 9-ball does not count o­n the break, and to win a game, the 9-ball is call shot. The caliber of competition is so intense that a single mistake invariably eliminates a player from any chance at the winner-take-all purse of $25,000. In the 2001 Championship match, Karen Corr and Allison Fisher played a 1-game sudden death for $25,000 and the Champion of Champions title!

How hard is the Tournament of Champions to win? Allison Fisher, the reigning Champion of Champions, is considered o­ne of the greatest players of the modern era. She had this to say about the event. “The TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS is the most demanding event in professional pool. From the first match to the last, every player in the event is a champion. You can’t afford to make o­ne mistake, and if you do, you’ll probably lose the match and a shot at $25,000. The format allows no errors, especially in short races against the best players in the sport. This is definitely the most nerve wracking tournament in the world.”

On the final night, o­ne of the players will claim the Champion of Champions crown and a check for $25,000. The trophy and the check will be presented by the Mohegan Sun, Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cue. The tournament is also sponsored by Aramith Billiard Balls, Simonis Cloth, Silver Cup Chalk, Mikhail Darafeev, and Sure Shot Billiards Gloves. The $25,000 winner-take-all shootout is sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Billiard Association.

The 2002 tournament will be the Fifth Annual event, and will be televised o­n ESPN in January 2003. Those attending should arrive early for each tournament session. For more information call Mohegan Sun toll free at 1-888-226-7711, Ext. 7163. Make plans today to attend the 2002 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS.