Champion's Challenge Over

Mika Immonen, the reigning and defending champion is OUT of the 2002 Hasseroder World Pool Championship after a tremendous battle with Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Daulton.

With a place in the last 32 on offer, it was always a chancy prospect for the 28 year-old New York-based Finn who had failed to beat Daulton in tournament play in four previous attempts.

As the match progressed, Immonen always held a narrow advantage but turned up the heat to take an 8 - 5 lead in the race to nine match.

However, Daulton managed to claw his way back in after a poor Immonen safety and got his momentum going.

Shannon, a 30 year-old from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has one of the mightiest break shots in the game and it stood him in good stead as he broke and ran three racks on the spin to give him a superb 9 - 8 victory (right).

Shannon is one of the game’s most entertaining players and a world-class gifted shot-maker and he will be a tough proposition for either Lu-Kung Hung or Chien-Te Chung in the next round.

Daulton was modest in victory afterwards; “I guess that was an upset in the rankings but I didn’t make myself an underdog. I knew he would be hard to beat on the TV but the opportunities came my way.

“Although I was 8 - 5 down, I could have easily been ahead but that is 9-Ball. I’m pleased to be through after the disappointment of losing here to Babica a couple of years ago.”