Story and Photos by Ted Lerner
(Shanghai, China)–Going about her business with steely fortitude and dead-eyed accuracy, China’s 17 year old sensation Chen Siming took dead aim at defending her title today, as she handily won her two matches in the China Open 9-Ball tournament in Shanghai, and moved into the semi-finals.
Chen will now face red hot Jasmin Ouschan of Austria later tonight at the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium in suburban Shanghai, in what promises to be a fabulous matchup of two greats in the women’s professional game.
In the other semi-final to be played simultaneously, China’s current World 9-ball Champion Fu Xiao Fang will take on Korea’s Lim Yun Mi.
Chen had little trouble in her two alternate break matches so far today. The youngster never waivers, and plays with a beautiful rhythm that simply speaks voluminous talent. Chen first disposed of fellow Chinese Li Jia, 9-3, then handily beat teammate Chen Xe, 9-5.
Since losing her first match of this year’s China Open, Ouschan has continually turned up the gas. She looked positively unstoppable today in her two matches, first crushing China’s Yu Han, 9-3, then outclassing Chinese Taipei’s Cholu Chieh Yu, 9-6.
Ouschan’s convincing victory over for Amway Cup champion Chou was highly impressive as the Taiwanese had just come off a rousing win over Korea’s Yu Ram Cha in a match aired on Shanghai TV. The 25 year old Chou is one of Chinese-Taipeis rising talents, so Ouschan’s dominating victory cannot be understated.
Whoever wins between Chen and Ouschan is clearly going to have to bring their A-game for Sunday’s final. Fu also looked unbeatable today as she first buried China’s Re Qiuyue, 9-2, then easily beat former world champion Liu Shin Mei of Chinese Taipei, 9-5.
Lim didn’t have an easy draw today, either, but performed magnificently as well. Lim first took down former World 9-ball champion Liu Sha Sha, 9-4 on the TV table. Lim then beat Karen Corr of Ireland, a win that was magnified by the fact that Corr had looked solid all week.
The ladies are competing for a total of $112,800 in prize money.
The World Pool Association will be providing live scoring throughout the remainder of the China Open. Updated brackets can be found by clicking here.
WOMEN’S LAST 16 MATCHES
Karen Corr(IRE) 9- Kelly Fisher(GBR) 3
Jasmin Ouschan(AUS) 9- Yu Han(CHN) 3
Chen Siming(CHN) 9- Li Jia(CHN) 3
Chou, Chieh-Yu(TPE) 9 -Yu Ram Cha(KOR) 3
Fu Xiao Fang(CHN) 9- Ren Qiuyue(CHN) 2
Chen Xue(CHN) 9- Akimi Kajatani (JPN) 6
Liu Shin Mei(TPE) 9- Gao Meng(CHN) 7
Lim Yun Mi(KOR) 9- Liu Sha Sha(CHN) 4
WOMEN’S QUARTER FINAL MATCHES
Chen Siming(CHN) 9- Chen Xe(CHN) 5
Jasmin Ouschan(AUS) 9- Chou Chieh Yu(TPE) 6
Fu Xiao Fang(CHN) 9- Shin Mei Lui(TPE) 5
Lim Yun MI(KOR) 9– Karen Corr(IRE) 3
