HARRIS — The Women’s Professional Billiard Association’s U.S. Open Pool Championships made their return here this weekend, featuring a 64-player international field with $60,000 added to the prize fund.

This marked the first time the U.S. Open was held in the Upper Peninsula following an absence of nearly a decade.

The tournament is considered a landmark event in this year’s schedule for the WPBA, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Two-time world champion Chieh-Yu Chou of Taipei earned top honors in the nine-ball, double-elimination event by defeating Savannah Easton of Las Vegas, Nev. 10-3 at the Island Resort & Casino here Sunday.

The 16-year-old Easton took a 3-1 lead by sinking the ball into the left corner pocket.

Chou, however, took over from there.

“I don’t think about the score,” she said. “I just concentrate on what I’m trying to do.”

Chou, who’s ranked No. 11 in the world, practiced for more than an hour before the title match.

“Practicing is very important,” she added. “That way you’re able to focus on the match. It’s a matter of focusing on everything (in the matches). Every time I come here (to the U.S.A.), I feel comfortable.”

From that point, Chou appeared unstoppable while winning the last nine games.

In the previous match, Easton stormed back from a 7-5 decision to defeat Sliviana Lu of Indonesia 8-7 in the B side final.

“I always have to keep it humble and stay calm in my matches,” Easton said. “If you get rattled, usually the opponents can sense that and pounce on that, so I try to keep it and then try eating healthy before my matches and drinking lots of water and stuff.”

Lu sank a shot into the right corner pocket to make it 7-5.

Easton converted a shot into the right corner to climb within 7-6, then finished the job by sinking the ball into the left corner pocket in the last two games.

Lu finished third and Tzu-Chien Wei placed fourth.

Easton started her day with an 8-3 triumph over Wei, which many believe was an upset.

In her match with Wei, Easton ran the table in the first game and didn’t miss a shot until the third while building a 3-0 lead.

Wei got within 5-3 with a shot into the left pocket, but was unable to catch Easton.

Brittany Bryant defeated Easton in Saturday’s quarterfinals, dropping her into the loser’s bracket.

Easton, who started playing pool at age 12, answered with four straight victories prior to her title-round appearance.

The 17-year-old Bryant then joined Easton in the loser’s bracket after dropping a decision to Lu, setting up a rematch between the tourney’s youngest players.

Easton won the rematch by dropping the nine-ball, enabling her to advance to Sunday’s quarterfinals.