Amit falls in semis: Ouschan pockets world pool crown

MANILA, Philippines - Austrian Jamine Ouschan, combining good looks with talent, turned back former world champion Ga Young Kim, 10-6, to crown herself the new Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball champion before a loud, appreciative crowd at Robinson’s Galleria yesterday.

Ouschan pounced on the 26-year-old Ga’s meltdown on a string of missed shots in the middle game as she battled back from 0-4 down to pull off the big reversal and pocket the top $20,000 purse and a big golden cup.

“I still can’t believe it, I came close to winning it before and now I finally won,” said the teary-eyed Ouschan. “But to win it here in the billiards’ capital of the world before my best fans, this is really something special.”

Ga, who dethroned last year’s inaugural champion and sentimental favorite Rubilen Amit with an emphatic 9-5 victory in the semifinals early in the day, looked headed for a romp after sweeping the first four racks with power breaks and pool wizardry.

But the comely Korean, nicknamed “Little Devil Girl,” ran into trouble and lost her focus, enabling Ouschan, who took up the sport when she was five years old, to bounce back and claim the crown that ranks high in her long list of pool victories.

Ga’s final miscue – a seemingly easy shot on the red three that missed the left corner pocket – allowed Ouschan to clean up the board and wrap up the championship.

After knocking down the final ball, the Klagunfurt native, who had to scramble her way past former No. 1 Kelly Fisher, 9-7, in the other semis match, yelled in jubilation and raised her arms in triumph while trying to hold back her tears.

“I think it takes a couple of hours before it does,” said Ouschan when asked if the impact of the win had already sunk in during the awards rites graced by representatives from title sponsor Yalin, organizer Dragon Promotions and ABS-CBN vice-president for sports Peter Musngi.

The win was one of the biggest, if not the greatest, by Ouschan since she bagged the gold in the 2005 World Games. She has also won nine European Championships in 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool.

Ouschan also received a bouquet of flowers and admiration from a huge Friday crowd that brought with them flaglets bearing a picture of her and posters saying “We Love Jasmine Ouschan” and “I’m a Jasmine Ouschan Fan.”

Ouschan thus finished the tournament undefeated, winning all her five preliminary round games before bundling out Japanese Miyuki Fuke, Irish Karen Corr, former world and No. 1 Kelly Fisher of England before repulsing Ga.

For Amit, she said she gave it all and was happy to reach the Final Four.

“I really gave it all to win it again this year because I really want to make my countrymen happy,” said Amit, the spearhead of Team RP in the pool event in the 16th Asian Games slated Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China.

“Even though I didn’t win it again, I’m still happy I still made it as far as the semis on this high level,” she said.

Mike Neumann, Ouschan’s coach and trainer the past 17 years, said their decision to skip the US Open to rest for a whole week in Klagenfurt, proved the key to victory.

“We’ve decided to pass up on the US Open and rest her (Ouschan) for a week so that she can focus on the World (10-Ball) Championship,” said Nuemann. “I’m glad we did because she’s now champion.”

10-Ball Notes: Nuemann happily recalled five years ago that he was approached by Amit and told him she’s a big fan of Ouschan. “And now she won last year and she’s still saying she’s still a fan of Jasmine,” he said.