The Taiwan American Billiards Association (TABABA) teamed up with Jimmy’s Billiards to host the inaugural “Professional and Amateur Scottish Doubles Tournament” in Milpitas on April 11th, attracting numerous billiards enthusiasts from the Bay Area.
The event featured top female professional players paired with local amateur players in a competitive setting, with renowned players such as Rita from Taiwan, currently ranked 5th in the world and a former consecutive 2-year-7-month world number one, as well as Bean, a Taiwanese-Australian player ranked 11th, WL and Amber from Taiwan ranked 12th and 13th respectively, Pearl ranked 16th, Sakura Muramatsu from Japan ranked 21st, 20-year-old Taiwanese player Hong Xinyu ranked 30th, and 23-year-old Singaporean player Venus Lim making her international professional debut.
Several dignitaries from the political and overseas Chinese community attended the event to show their support, including Guo Huizhen, head of the San Francisco Consulate, Tsai Chia-hua, deputy director of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, commissioners Liu Lingxia, Li Yuanlin, Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, council members Shao Yang and Raymond Liu. The President of the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA), Dean Roeseler, also expressed his support through a video speech.
Yang Zhichao, Chairman of the Taiwan American Billiards Association, highlighted that this event was not only a first for Milpitas but possibly the first in the United States and even globally, where professional and amateur players were paired in a billiards tournament. He mentioned that the Pro-Am format, similar to golf, is rare in the billiards world, and he hopes to promote the sport and expand the audience base through such initiatives.
In his address, Dean Roeseler expressed his delight in seeing top professional players and local talents come together for exchange and thanked the organizers for their long-term support in promoting women’s billiards development and fostering international exchanges.
Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano expressed her pleasure in witnessing the opening of the first Women’s Professional and Amateur Billiards Tournament, noting the increasing presence of women in sports, which is inspiring. Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan emphasized the longstanding contribution of Taiwanese-American businesses to the local community and how sports activities aid in promoting multicultural exchanges and community cohesion.
Guo Huizhen stated that Taiwan’s women billiards players hold a leading position globally, with many top-30 ranked players participating in this tournament, making it an exciting event that deepens Taiwan-US exchanges through sports. Tsai Chia-hua pointed out that billiards showcases Taiwan’s diverse sports culture, allowing mainstream society to see Taiwan through international exchanges, and she expressed gratitude for the longstanding support from the overseas Chinese community.
Council member Shao Yang mentioned that such events contribute to promoting Taiwan-US cultural exchanges and appreciated the personal attendance of the two mayors to show their support. During the event, the Milpitas and Fremont city governments presented commendations, acknowledging the association’s contributions to promoting international billiards competitions.
The tournament began with a ceremonial first ball hit by Wang Wanling, who skillfully sank the ball, showcasing her exceptional talents. She mentioned to the Epoch Times that sinking the ball requires a combination of strength and skill, with an element of uncertainty, which highlights the fun and charm of billiards.
The tournament featured 8 professional players paired with local amateur players, adopting a double-elimination format that culminated in a single-elimination final lasting two days. Amateur participants included Kevin Bui, Clara Kwong, Felix Jan, Somya Shah, John Gayaban, Chris Le, Daniel Yang, and Ming Chao.
Rita, reflecting on her participation, expressed her excitement about the warm reception from fans upon her first visit to the Bay Area and the opportunity to exchange ideas with players from various countries. She noted the increasing number of US tournaments in recent years and her growing enjoyment of the competitive environment, while also hoping for continued societal support for professional players.
Commissioner Liu Lingxia mentioned that she had previously not paid much attention to the development of women’s billiards but was deeply moved upon learning about their impressive international achievements. She believed that there should be increased support and investment to keep Taiwanese players shining brightly.
The semi-final teams that advanced included: Rita/Daniel Yang, Wang Wanling/Ming Chao, Sakura Muramatsu/Kevin Bui, Bean/Somya Shah, showcasing intense competition and high-level performance, making it a thrilling and entertaining event. ◇