Seoul,Korea- Dragon Promotions 5th Annual XTM Asia 10-Ball Championships is getting underway at The Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon Seoul, one of the oldest and prestigious landmark hotels of Korea. The event formerly known as the Korea International Championships has drawn players around the globe including Germany, Finland, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Turkey, USA, and of course Korea. The event will award $10,000 to the winner of the Men's division and $3500 to the Women's division and the mantle of Asia 10-Ball Champion. Korea TV giant XTM will be televising the last 6 matches of the event for both men and women.
The top seed of the event will be Mika Immonen (FIN), fresh off his victory at The US Open 9-Ball Championship, going for his first major international 10-Ball title win. Charlie Williams playing for Korea under Heoun Ho Kim, World Cup Champion Rodney Morris (USA), and 2x World Champion Thorsten Hohmann(GER) round up the top four seeds. Other favorites include Japan's 19 year old hot shot Hayato Hijikata (5th Seed), Hong Kong's Lee Chenman, and eyes will be on Filipino young guns Jech Limen and Rodrigo Geronimo making their international debut from Bugsy Promotions and Negros Stables management groups in Manila.
Korea's Gui Young Lee will come in as the #1 seed for the women's event. Lee, known as "Queen of Amateur Pool", has been dominating amateur women's championships in Korea the past few years and has made the transition to pro pool, already with a notable win over former World Champion Xiao Ting Pan. Turkey's Neslihan Gruel comes in as the #2 seed with a recent win at the Turkish Championships and 3rd at the European Championships. Unfortunately Korea favorite Yu Ram Cha will not be able to attend due to her competing at The WPBA Nationals in Florida, USA the same week.
The event sponsors includes official equipment Min Tables, Simonis Cloth, and Aramith Balls. Predator and Poison Cues and outside industry sponsors Tony Moley Cosmetics, Ra Beauty Salons, Hamilton Hotel, and XTM.
Dragon Promotions is one of the leading producers of billiard programming in the world today. Dragon produces over 40 events a year airing on networks in USA, Korea, India, and Europe such as ESPN, MBC ESPN, XTM, XPORTS, and Euro Sport. Events include The World 14.1 Championship, The Predator International 10-Ball Championship, King & Queen of Carom, Empress Cup, Pro Pool Schools, Women's Trickshot Challenge, World Junior 10-Ball Championships, Korea vs USA, and many more. Dragon also manages some of the world's best players including Raj Hundal, Shanelle Loraine, Rodney Morris, Charlie Williams, Jeanette Lee, Mika Immonen, Mike Davis, Yu Ram Cha and many more.
