Karen Corr (born November 10, 1969) is a snooker and pool player. Nicknamed The Irish Invader, Karen is currently ranked the number 2 woman pool player in the world by the WPBA.
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| Nickname | The Irish Invader[1] |
|---|---|
| Professional | 1990—? |
She began her career in snooker at the age of 14 and won her first Ladies Snooker Championship in England, when she was 15 years old. She moved to US in 1998, winning her first WPBA Classic Tour title in 2000. By the end of 2001, she was ranked as the number 1 player.
Biography
Born in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, Karen lived near Maghera, County Londonderry. At the age of 8, her parents moved to England where she eventually joined a club and began her career in snooker at the age of 14.
Karen was 15 when she entered her first woman's event in Leicester, England. On the day after her 21st birthday, in 1990, she won her first World Snooker Championship. Karen continued on to win additional World titles in '91, '95, and '97.
The Ladies Snooker prize funds were never large enough for Karen to support herself financially. She was forced to work various jobs, including bartending, to enable herself to continue to play professionally. In 1997, she was invited to play in an exhibition tour throughout Australia and New Zealand with her friend, and fellow pro, Julie Kelly. While on that tour, Julie told her about the tour in the US, and that she was going to play. Karen then decided to go also, but only during the snooker off-season.
In June of 1998, Karen moved to the United States and began playing pool. She was curious to see how she would do at pool. After winning 10 qualifying events in a row, she was able to enter WPBA pro events.
While in America, Karen and Julie lived with Julie's sisters in New Jersey, and then in Boston for a time, before finally settling in northeast Philadelphia.
Karen won her first WPBA Classic Tour title, "The 2000 Cuetec Cues Players Championship" in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She completed that year with two more Classic tour titles. She also won the "All Japan Open Championship" held in Osaka, Japan. She placed second in the "WPA Women's World Championship" and in the "UCC World Ladies Championship" held in Tokyo, Japan.
By the end of 1998, Karen was ranked 24. At the end of 1999, she soared through the rankings, all the way to #4. By the end of 2000, she was ranked 2nd in the world. But, 2002 proved to be her best year of all.
Karen became the first person to win all 6 Classic tour events since they began. She won the silver medal at the World Games and placed 2nd at the World Championships. Before 2001 ended, Karen found herself at the top, the #1 ranked player in the world and remained there for 2 years.
Karen is dedicated to the sport. On most days you'll find her at "Pete Fusco's Family Recreation Center" in Feasterville, PA. Here she works with her coach, "World's All-round Champion", Pete Fusco, learning more and more about the game.
Career Titles
1990-1991
- World Snooker Champion
1995-1996
- World Snooker Champion
1997
- World English Billiards Champion
- World Snooker Champion
1998
- N.E. Woman’s Tour Player of the Year
- World English Billiards Champion
- European Snooker Champion
1999
- Billiard Digest Magazine's Rookie of the Year
- N.E. Woman’s Tour Player of the Year
- World English Billiards Champion
2000
- 2000 WPBA Los Angeles Open
- 2000 WPBA Baltimore Shootout
- 2000 WPBA Players Championship
- 2000 Northeast Women's Tour Pennsylvania State 9-Ball Championship
2001
- 2001 WPBA National 9-Ball Championship
- 2001 WPBA Midwest Classic
- 2001 WPBA WPBA Fall Classic
- 2001 WPBA Carolina Classic
- 2001 WPBA Spring Classic
- 2001 WPBA Players Championship
- 2001 NEWT Tour Ladies' New Jersey State 9-Ball Championship
- 2001 Women's New York State 9-Ball Championship
- 2001 Pennsylvania State Ladies 9-Ball Championship
2002
- 2002 WPBA 9-Ball Championship
- 2002 WPBA BCA 9-Ball Championship
- 2002 WPBA Spring Classic
- 2002 Women's New Jersey State 9-Ball Championship
2003
- 2003 WPBA Canadian Classic
- 2003 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
- 2003 WPBA BCA 9-Ball Championship
- 2003 Women's Pro Player Championship
- 2003 Women's Maryland State 9-Ball Championship
- 2003 Women's New Jersey State 9-Ball Championship
- 2003 Women's New York State 9-Ball Championship
2004
- 2004 WPBA National 9-Ball Championship
- 2004 WPBA BCA 9-Ball Championship
2005
- 2005 WPBA Florida Classic
2006
- 2006 WPBA Midwest Classic
- 2006 WPBA Florida Classic
- 2006 WPBA Carolina Women's Billiards Classic
External Links
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