Defending Champs Dumped

Round 1 Results
 
Switzerland 8 – 5 China
Sweden 8 – 7 Indonesia
 
DEFENDING PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool champions China were sensationally ousted from this year's competition by a fighting Swiss team comprised of Dimitri Jungo and Ronni Regli at the SM Mall North in Manila.
 
The Chinese duo of Fu Jianbo and Li Hewen had won this competition twice in its five year history but were put under pressure every step of the way by Swiss, who whilst being underdogs, carried plenty of pedigree.
 
Jungo was a former WPA World Junior Champion in 2000 and recently bagged the German Open on the highly competitive Euro Tour. His partner Regli is half-Filipino and tends to fly under the radar but he came with the shots when it mattered.
 
The Chinese took a 2-0 lead but the Swiss held their own as they won three racks on the bounce to take the lead.  A missed pot from Fu in the next gave the Swiss another opportunity and they took it to go to 4-2. The match went 5-3 then 5-4 to the Swiss and it was anyone's.
 
Looking more of a team though, Switzerland powered ahead to 7-4. There was a dry break from Regli but Li made a hash of the safety. The table was severely crowded in the centre but they carefully pick off the balls to record an outstanding victory.
 
"We're both players who can beat anybody if we have a good day and we also have a good team spirit,” said a delighted Jungo.
 
“We're a small country but there have always been good players from Switzerland. It's unbelievable to beat China and we can play good and win the tournament. “
Regli commented, "It feels amazing and it was a dream of mine to play in a big event here in the Philippines. The last time I was here was 11 years ago but I've never played here before."
 
The PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool takes place at the Block Atrium at the SM Mall North in Quezon City, Manila. It features 32 two-player teams representing 31 nations – hosts Philippines have two sides. The total prize-fund is $250,000 with $60,000 going to the winning pair.
 
In the second match, Team Sweden – Marcus Chamat and Thomas Mehtala – mounted a stirring comeback as they turned around a 5-1 deficit to record an 8-7 victory over a young Indonesian team.
 
Man of the match was Marcus Chamat, who showed a massive heart as he rallied his team-mate. Mehtala had made some nervous errors and looked under the cosh throughout, but his team mate carried him through when it mattered.
 
They got it back to 5-4 and then should have gone level but a shocker from Mehtala gifted the rack to the Indonesian team made up of Irsal Nasution and Riyan Setiawan. Indonesia reached the hill first at 7-5 after Mehtala missed a 9 ball.
 
The Swedes nicked the next with a ball in hand opportunity then completed the first break and run of the day to level things at 7-7. And they sealed the win by clearing a very difficult table under pressure in the final rack.
 
"At 5-1 down we weren't thinking we were out but just wanted to see what we could do. But then we missed an easy 9-ball and then thought we would be losing if we kept making these mistakes,” said Chamat.
"I'm relieved to get through but we have a day's rest and hopefully Thomas and I can practice and get some groove into our game, but if we play like this again then we will be flying home soon.”
 
The 2011 World Cup of Pool is sponsored by PartyPoker.net, the world's leading online poker school. Cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc, tables by Star Xing Pai and the Official Cue is Predator.