Bean Hung Clinches Her First WPBA Title in a Thrilling Display at the Fairfield Invitational

In the quaint town of Fairfield, Iowa, the WPBA Fairfield Invitational unfolded with excitement and high-level play. This intimate event, hosted at the Fairfield Convention Center, marked the WPBA's fourth appearance in Fairfield since 2019. With a field initially set for 48, a last-minute withdrawal due to illness brought the competition down to 47 skilled players.

The tournament commenced on Thursday, opening with a round of 32 players. The strength of the field was immediately evident, leading to some tough initial matches. After the day's play, the participants gathered for an important player meeting.

The social highlight was followed by a pro-am event, organized by WPBA Vice President Daryn Hamilton, featuring 12 teams. Pia Filler from Germany led the winning team, bringing delight to the locals who shared their enjoyment with us later that night.

Friday's matches started with the 16 winners from Thursday facing off against the top 16 WPBA-ranked players. Surprisingly, four of the top 16 were handed losses. The day, marked as the longest of the tournament, saw three rounds of one-loss matches. Notable early exits included Pia Filler, Eylul Kibaroglu, and Teruko Cucculelli. The evening continued with intense winner's side matches and a mix of one-loss side games.

Saturday was filled with exceptional matches, leading to the final day's excitement. A notable hill-hill match between Brittany Bryant and Kristina Tkach saw Bryant clinching a spot, leaving Tkach in fifth place alongside Margarita Fefilova. Allison Fisher secured her advance with a victory as well.

The highlight was the winner's side match between Bean Hung and Kristina Zlateva, initially tied at 3-3. Bean advanced to the final with an 8-5 win. In the third and fourth-place match, Allison Fisher took a commanding lead over Brittany Bryant, eventually securing her spot in the semi-final against Kristina Zlateva.

The semi-final was a showcase of skill and composure, with Kristina Zlateva defeating Allison Fisher 8-4, setting up a rematch with Bean. The final, a single race to 10, was intensely competitive. Tied at 5-5 at one point, Bean Hung ignited her game, eventually winning the 2024 Fairfield Invitational 10-6.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors - Diamond Billiard Products, Simonis cloth, Aramith balls, Outsville, and local sponsors. Special thanks to Daryn Hamilton for their incredible efforts, and to all volunteers who played a crucial role in the event's success.

As we look forward to the Brunswick Borderline Invitational from May 1-5, 2024, we reflect on the Fairfield Invitational as a remarkable demonstration of the talent and spirit within women's professional billiards.

**Final Standings:**

1st Place: 🥇 Bean (Meng-Hsia) Hung - $6,500

2nd Place: 🥈 Kristina Zlateva - $4,200

3rd Place: 🥉 Allison Fisher - $3,000

4th Place: 💰 Brittany Bryant - $2,400

5th-6th Place: 💰 Kristina Tkach, Margarita Fefilova - $1,750 each

7th-8th Place: 💰 Kennedy Meyman, Briana Miller - $1,300 each

9th-12th Place: 💰 Stephanie Mitchell, Lonnie Fox-Raymond, Caroline Pao, Veronique Menard - $1,000 each

13th-16th Place: 💰 Janet Atwell, JoAnn Mason Parker, Pam Kelly, Sofia Mast - $700 each

17th-24th Place: 💰 Angela Janic, Susan Williams, April Larson, Emily Duddy, Naomi Williams, June Maiers, Ashley Benoit, Jordan Helfery - $500 each