THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 20, 1994 TAG: 9409200455
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
World champion Earl Strickland begins defense of his U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship Wednesday at the Holiday Inn-Chesapeake as he faces a field of 88.
Strickland, a three-time winner of the Open, defeated Tony ``Hurricane'' Ellin in last year's finale. The runner-up also is back.
Final day action of the $72,500 tournament on Sunday will be shown on tape-delay telecast by ESPN in three showings in December.
Strickland, from Greensboro, N.C., calls the Open ``the hardest tournament in the whole world to win.''
Added Strickland: ``I know, because I've played 'em all over the world.''
The first prize will be $20,000, largest ever given in the Open.
Eighteen of the 20 leaders in the Pro Billiards Tour rankings this year have entered. Only No. 4 Mike Sigel and No. 14 Jeff Carter are not competing.
Among the contenders are a host of former Open champions, including Tom Kennedy (1992) of Lakeland, Fla., Buddy ``Rifleman'' Hall (1991) of Metropolis, Ill., Nick Varner (1990 and 1989) of Owensboro, Ky., Mike Lebron (1988) of Philadelphia, David Howard (1986 and 1982) of Jacksonville, Fla., Jimmy Reid (1985) of Lake Worth, Fla., Allen Hopkins (1981 and 1977) of Pomona. N. J. and Steve Mizerak (1978) of Edison, N. J.
Strickland's other Open wins came in 1987 and 1984. In rankings for the past 12 months through the World 9-Ball Championship, Strickland again stands No. 1. Johnny Archer is No. 2 and Varner No. 3. Varner is 1, Strickland 2 and Archer 3 in rankings for 1994 events.
Archer, 9-ball world champion last year, has never won the Open. He has finished second twice. Here last year he lost to Sigel in an exciting semifinal match, 11-10, as Sigel ran the table.
Every Open winner since the inception of the tournament 19 years ago except three-time champion Sigel (1983, 1980 and 1976) and the late Louis Roberts, the 1979 champion, are here.
There are 11 foreigners in the field - five Canadians, four from the Philippines and two from Australia. Also entered are Mark Jarvis and Rodney Morris from Hawaii.
Action starts Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
Matinee matches are also scheduled at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Evening matches will be at 7, 9 and 11 p.m.
A tournament pass costs $70. Admission is $6 for the matinee and $8 for the evening matches. VIP tickets are $10 for the matinee, $12 for the evening and $100 for the tournament. by CNB