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Jones No Match For Sigel
Aug 22, 2005, 10:59 PM

Mike Sigel leaned on his experience to secure pool's biggest bundle.

For one of the few times in his pool career, Mike Sigel was left overwhelmed and speechless following his straight-sets, 9-2, 9-2 win over Loree Jon Jones in the first International Pool Tour World 8-Ball Championship at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Saturday evening.

Presented with bundles of cash that totaled a highest-ever $150,000 top prize, Sigel tried to put the moment into words. The only thing that came out, however, were tears.

"Six weeks of practice, and all the hype, and what this means for pool, it was too much," said Sigel of the much-anticipated "battle of the sexes" head-to-head match.

Jones, who admittedly was no match for her own nerves, still received a tidy $75,000 paycheck for the afternoon's work.

The Sigel-Jones match will serve as the launching pad for bigger and more elaborate events for pro pool in the future, according to entrepreneur/promoter Kevin Trudeau.

"Just think," Trudeau said after the match. "Mike Sigel just earned the biggest single payday in the history of the sport, and it will be the smallest first prize in IPT events!"

As expected, both players were shaky at the start of the match, played in an elaborate arena setting and witnessed by 500-plus fans, including numerous sports and entertainment celebrities. Jones missed several chances to put pressure on Sigel, who rolled off from a 3-2 lead to a 9-2 first-set win. In the second set, a relaxed Sigel played more to expectations, while Jones again missed several critical shots.

Check out our photos from the event at http://www.billiardsdigest.com/ipt_stop1