[Editor's note: Last night's post-match write-up inaccurately reported the prize monies won by Ms. Fisher and Mr. Reyes Friday evening. Each earned $25,000 for the Ultimate Challenge, and $40,000 for the Champion's Shootout, for a total of $65,000 — not $90,000 as initially reported. We regret the error.]
Efren Reyes and Allison Fisher sure picked the perfect time to get into stroke. Each played perhaps their best pool of the ESPN Ultimate Challenge and Champion's Shootout in the title matches. Reyes played nearly flawlessly in his 7-2 triumph over Taiwan's Kun Fang Lee, while Fisher kept the dangerous Vivian Villarreal at bay throughout her 7-1 triumph in the ladies' Champion's Shootout.
"I made two position mistakes," said Reyes, long his own harshest critic. "But I played pretty good. Better than in my other matches."
Reyes earned $65,000 for the night's work, winning $25,000 for the Ultimate Challenge title, and another $40,000 for the win over Lee.
"We're going to go sing karaoke," Reyes said, when asked about his celebration plans. "I'm not a good singer, but tonight I will sing."
Lee, the 31-year-old reigning Challenge of Champion's winner, and runner-up to Johnny Archer at the ’97 WPA World 9-Ball Championships, failed to capitalize on the few chances he did have. (The race-to-seven matches feature alternating breaks.)
"I never had a chance," he said. "I never felt comfortable."
No one at the ESPN weekend pool festival at Disney World should be more comfortable than the aforementioned Fisher. By winning the dual titles at stake Friday, Fisher too picked up a tidy $65,000. But unlike Reyes, whose work is done, Fisher is also in line to double her money Saturday by cleaning up some unfinished business from the 1998 Ultimate Challenge and 1998 Champion's Shootout. Fisher is already guaranteed a spot in both of the holdover matches from last January's ESPN event. A $130,000 weekend is just two match wins away.
"It's really unbelievable, isn't it?" said Fisher following her win over Villarreal. "I'm trying to stay focused, but it isn't easy."
Fisher plays Jeanette Lee in the Ultimate Challenge finale. Should Lee win, Fisher would return for the Champion's Shootout as the reigning world 9-ball champion. If Fisher wins, she would play Villarreal, who once again will be at the ready as the WPBA's No.2-ranked player.
"I want another shot at her," said Villarreal, who earned $10,000 for her effort. "I mean, I missed one ball, and played two bad safes, and I won only one game! How strong is that?"
The 1998 Ultimate Challenge and Champion's Shootout will be aired live, back-to-back, on ESPN Saturday beginning at 2:00 pm EST.
