Ine Helvik

This have been some day:) First we had rehearsal for the red carpet show, the change into our finest clothes, back for the actual red carpet show, then opening ceremony and the finally the draw!

I can not upload any photos today, which is a shame, i got the full draw on my camera. We have some exciting matchups, the two most exciting being:
Karen Corr – Jasmin Ouschan
Zhou Doudou – Fu Xiaofang

I am playing against Severine Titaux ( FRA) at 13:00

I will do my best to upload the picture from the red carpet show tomorrow. It is no question this is big in China, there were several TV cameras and journalists present. We all had to go down th escalator and walk up the red carpet for pictures, then sign our own little star and put in on the official wall.

We have a new official website, w9ball.com. But I think you are better of with wpa-pool,com. Just give Ted until tomorrow to fix everything:)

Time for bed

Ine:)

Arrived safely in China and i have already had a practice session. The tables play good but the heat may cause some problems. . .  After 20 minutes the sweat was dripping. I guess we just have to dress accordingly:)

We have 4 practice tables and 16 tournament. 15 of them are placed in a place without any facilities for spectators but it is nice and quiet. The tv table is in the center of the mall. Both Line and I are in the large banner on the main arena, kind of cool:)

The venue is 5 min walk from the hotel and we have shops and all we need within walking distance.

As I am writing on my phone i will cut my posts a bit short. No blog or Facebook access in the room, only in the mall.

Updates will follow;)

Take care
Ine:)

Finally they updated the ranking on eurotourwomenonline.eu!! I am now officially on 5th place in Europe:) I just have to keep playing good and I will be able to improve on this also. Or at least hold my position.

It is getting more difficult now, we have Jasmin Ouschan climbing the list, she has played almost every stop this year and she keeps doing good. (Off course:P) I am so happy that our ranking now includes most of the top players in Europe so it gets more realistic than it has been earlier. The Swedish open had a field that compares to the EC.

Also, a eurotour stop with the men in Treviso in december is confirmed. I love Italy:)

Off to China on sunday, I think I got my PC prepared for the great firewall:)

Take care

Ine:)

Sunday I leave for Shenyang, China, to play in the WC 9-ball for the fourth time. I am really looking forward to go and I am using the days upfront to practice and also make sure to relax in the Norwegian sun. We actually have had between 20 and 25 degrees for more than a week and it feels good!

I also make sure to watch some good pool on kozoom.com, right now it is the EC for youth that is on. Next week it will be the Seniors playing and then the Eurotour. I have to make sure I can upload all this in China:) I have been looking for a livestream for the World Games also, but the Billiard category is not on the list on the official tv livestream site. I do follow the event calendar though, they have got livescoring:) Unfortunately my friend Line Kjørsvik lost in the QF, Kelly Fisher was to strong. Now Fisher is our last Western player and I hope she will go all the way:)

All in all I feel good and ready for the World Championships. All the current  pool tournaments are encouraging me to practice (despite of the weather:)) and it is also make me go into a pool mode if you understand what I mean. The mental preparation I need to perform my best in a tournament starts at least a few days before the event and now I feel I am getting there already. For some reason people do not talk much about their mental preparation, but I think all players do this either conscious or unconscious. In my view, the mental preparation,  and off course the mental strength (your mental game on the table) are some of the most important elements of my game. What do you think?

If I get this blog to work in China I will write a few lines about my mental preparation before the tournament. I have a few days to kill by myself before the other players come. I need the time to fight the jet lag:)

The 2013 WPA Women’s World 9-ball Championship has now got an officiial facebok site that will be updated by Ted Lerner, you can find that HERE. (You need to log into facebook to see it)

When the draw comes out I will publish the links, or at least try. If I am not able to update my blog, my friend Alison Chang will update hers. http://alison-chang.com/

Have a good week and remember to follow the World Games!! 

Ine:)

PS, We will be three players from Norway this year. Line Kjørsvik and Martine Christiansen are also playing:)

Photo by Swedish Billiard Federation

After two good matches I am in the top 16 from the winners side:) I started the day playing against Silje Helene Munk (DEN) and won 7-0. My next opponent was Jasmin Michel (GER) and that match I won 7-3. I have played really well today and hope to do the same tomorrow. I play again at 10 against Agatha Sokolowska (POL)

Time for bed:)

Ine