SATOSHI KAWABATA - JAPAN

Age - 35
Based - Osaka, Japan
Nickname - Dynamite Lefty
Hobbies - Swimming
Cue Used - Olivier
Achievements - 2000 Japan Open Champion. 2003 BCA Open 5th Place. 2000 Taiwan Invitational Champion. Top Ten ranked on San Miguel Asian Tour.

Perhaps, the most famous Japanese pool players known to pool fans in the world are Takahashi or Okumura, both former WPA World Champions. However, it has been Kawabata who has become the most well-known Japanese player in Asia over the past 12 months due to his regular TV appearances in ESPN Star’s 2004 and 2005 SMB Asian Tours.

Kawabata became the No.1 on the JPBA rankings for the first time in 2004 after years of coming second behind the likes of Takahashi, Okumura, Toshikawa, and Yamamoto. Kawabata has fought hard to attain his top spot in Japan and good finishes on the Asian Tour enabled him to gain a spot in this summer’s World Pool Championship.

“This year is a turning point for me, he said. “When I received the invitation to Masters, I thought that this is a great opportunity albeit unexpected.”

Kawabata is called "the best 9-Ball player in Japan" due to his powerful break-shot and his fast playing style, so don't be surprised if the Asian player who gains the 2005 Masters title is a left-handed 35 year-old from Asia and not a left-handed 16 year-old.