While the Allisons, Gerdas, Ewas and Jeanettes of the pro pool world made their regualr climb to the top, Amy Paul is making the same noise in Boston as when she shocked the Women's Professional Billiards Association in San Diego this past February. Paul became the first non-ranked WPBA player to make an ESPN telecast, and if she doesn't watch out, she may make it two in a row.

The Brunswick Cues Boston Classic, the third stop on the 1998 Classic Tour, has eight players alive in the winner's bracket, Paul being the most foreign to most fans, yet becoming a thorn in the side of some of the top-ranked players in the WPBA. Paul defeated Robin Dodson, 9-6, and then beat Joanne Mason-Parker, 9-5, to advance against Jennifer Chen in the 2pm round Saturday.

Parker has been enjoying a slight revival, despite not playing much these days: She beat fourth-ranked Vivian Villarreal, 9-5, before losing to Paul.

Chen beat roommate and new WPBA president Aileen Pippin, 9-5, to meet Paul. The winner of that match faces the winner of the Allison Fisher/Nikki Benish clash, which came as a result of Fisher's coasting by Julie Mason and Loree Jon Jones in the ealrier rounds of the day. Benish beat Pat Tipton and Maureen Seto to make it to the winner's bracket today.

On the bottom half of the bracket, Gerda Hofstatter and Ewa Laurance escaped hill matches alive against Linda Haywood and Dawn Hopkins, respectively. Jeanette Lee and Helena Thornfeldt both advanced and will also play at 2pm today.