THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509240147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Other tournaments may pay more money, or offer more exotic locales, but for prestige, no 9-ball billiards tournament in the world can touch the U.S. Open, which will be held at the Holiday Inn in Chesapeake Tuesday through Sunday.
``The U.S. Open championship is better than the world championship,'' said Steve Mizerak, who won the U.S. Open in 1978. ``I think it always has been and always will be.''
``Right now, it's the premier event,'' said Mike Panozzo, editor of Billiards Digest, the sport's premiere journal.
The tournament, in its 20th year, annually draws the top players in the world, and this year is no exception. Among those in the 128-player field are defending champion Efren Reyes of the Philippines and three-time champs Earl Strickland and Mike ``Captain Hook'' Sigel. Eight other former champions will also be in the field.
A record purse of $100,000 is up for grabs, with the winner receiving $20,000.
Play starts Wednesday with matches at 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Evening matches are scheduled for 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Bleacher seats are $7 for matinees and $10 for evenings, or $85 for the week. VIP seats are $10 for matinees, $15 for evenings, or $120 for the week. Bleacher seats for the finals, set for Sunday at 8 p.m., are $10.
The tournament, founded by Barry Behrman of Q-Master Billiards in 1976, is the longest-running event on the Pro Billiards Tour. The semifinals and finals will be taped by Prime Network and shown later this fall.
For spectator information, call 853-8900 24 hours a day; or 499-8900 after 10 a.m. by CNB