Allison was allowed back in the match, but her failure to make a ball on the break cost her the title.

Ewa Laurance almost blew her big chance. After a winless 1997 and a slow start to '98, Laurance stared an easy straight-in on the 9 to seal the win over Fisher at 7-5 (race-to-7 With ESPN filming). After running the table and thinking she avoided the worst by masterfully cutting in a 7 ball, Laurance stood over the cue ball confidently and proceeded to rattle the 9 in and out of the pocket, leaving Fisher an easy out and a tie at the hill with the break.

She hadn't lost a match all weekend, but Fisher couldn't hold back Laurance's momentum.

Fisher returned the favor by leaving Laurance a wide-open table after failing to pocket one ball, as Laurance smoothly ran out the 9 balls and jumped to the ceiling in joy.

"That gave me a real bad scare," said a smiling Laurance, still slightly shaking in the wake of her triumphant moment. "All I had to do was pocket a ball, I suppose," said a disappointed Fisher, who now has her first non-title in four WPBA-sanctioned events of 1998.

Laurance ground out each win — three in all this day — first against Jeanette Lee, second against Gerda Hofstatter and finally against Fisher. Although she never trailed against Lee, Laurance fought the shot clock, which was she not used to playing under, and it rattle her slightly, but not enough to matter, as Lee struggled all match. Against Hofstatter, Laurance gave up three game off the bat, but ran the next seven to meet Fisher in the final. Here Laurance won the first four games, but watched Fisher sneak in to make the sore 6-5 when Laurance almost cost herself the match with the missed 9.

Laurance collects $6,500 while Fisher settles for $4,500.