1999 World Champion Efren Reyes of Angeles City, Philippines, scraped through his opening match at the 2000 World Pool Masters as he finally overcame UK No.1 Tommy Donlon in the deciding rack here at Lakeside Shopping Centre.

Reyes, 45, who was the beaten finalist here last year, won the opening rack in a match where the lead changed hands five times! Donlon then took the initiative to lead 2 -1 before the onus went back to the Magician who won the next two to lead 3 - 2.

However, the Disher, who has won 6 UK Tour events this season, cashed in on some Reyes errors to lead 4 - 3, before his own mistake let Efren square it at 4 - 4. Donlon could not add to this and Efren took the next two racks to put himself within sight of the finishing post.

Donlon wasn't finished though and he managed to compose himself to clear up in the next two racks to take the match to the decider. Tommy got a ball off the break but failed in an attempt to pot a long 3 ball off the rail and with that he left Efren a relatively easy clearance for the match.

Efren now faces Italy's Fabio Petroni in this afternoon's quarter-finals.

Commented Reyes, " I was lucky today. I didn't play too good but he missed a lot too. In the practice room upstairs I was playing very well but when I got to the arena it was different. Petroni is a good player and although I've never played him I've seen him play so I will need a lot of luck to win. I won't play worse than I did today though. "

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