Archive Page

Pressure Becomes The Great Equalizer On Judgement Day

Omar Al Shaheen. photo by Bader

(Doha, Qatar)-Omar Al Shaheen knows that success in championship pool is as much about perseverance as it is about being an amazing shot maker.  Sometimes, when things aren’t going your way, you just have to be patient.  When your time finally does come, you have to be ready to grab the cherry.

 

Today at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, that cherry came in the form of a brilliantly played match against former World 9-ball Champion Darren Appleton. Today was Judgement Day at the 2016 World 9-ball Championship, the last chance to make it into the Final 64, the knockout rounds and the real road to 9-ball glory. 

 

Of course Appleton, one of pool’s giants, was the heavy favorite. But the 23 year old Kuwaiti played flawlessly and completely carefee, while the Brit couldn’t find the measure of the break shot and looked tight. Al Shaheen won in a master class, 9-5, putting Appleton out, and himself in the money rounds of pool’s biggest event.

 

To understand just how Al Shaheen got to this point of being able to oust one of pool’s best players, it helps to look back over the last few days.  The talented and good looking youngster didn’t even have a spot in the tournament a few days ago. He entered the brutally tough qualifiers last week, reached the finals two times, only to lose to two top players. But as he was lamenting what could have been this year, he got the call that another player had dropped out and, as the leading point holder of the qualifiers, he got the very last spot in the world championship.

 

Al Shaheen then lost his very first match and was forced over to the losers’ side of his group bracket. But then the Kuwaiti found his groove, handily beating Sweden’s Marcus Chamat, to set up a showdown with Appleton. He suddenly realized all the tough competition and, yes, the losing, had prepared him for this moment.

“I think it’s good that I lost many times,” an ecstatic Al Shaheen said after disposing of Appleton. “In the qualifiers I lost three times, two of them in finals to very good players. In the group stages I lost my first match. So that’s four times. So now I can accept losing. And it was good practice. Today I just play my game and I am relaxed. Darren is a very good player and I feel very good right now.”

 

31 one other players left the Al Arabi with similar wide grins today as they booked their spots in the Final 64 which begins Tuesdaymorning here.  They  join the 32 players who qualified on Sunday in what is a brutally stellar  field of pool greats ready to do battle  over the next three days  for  pool’s most prestigious prize.

 

Leading the way, as usual, are the Taiwanese and the Filipinos. Taiwan brings 10 heavyweights into the knockout stages, including defending champion Ko Pin Yi, Chang Yu Lung and Chang Jun Lin. Filipino fans will have nine players to get behind  including Dennis Orcollo, Warren Kiamco, Lee Vann Corteza, Carlo Biado, Jeffrey De Luna and Johann Chua. Filipino Alex Pagulayan, who won the World 9-ball crown in 2004, plays out of Canada and also made it through to the knockout rounds.

 

It wouldn’t be surprising if China finally takes its first World 9-ball title. Former champion Wu Jiaqing(formerly Wu Chia Ching) is playing rock solid pool, while Lui Haitao has consistently been raising his game over the last few years. Six Chinese players will be featured in the Final 64.

 

Poland has proved this year that it could arguably be Europe’s leading pool country with four players qualifying. A slew of other Europeans make up the field as well. 

Perhaps the most notable statistic this year is the rise of the Middle Eastern players.  Six players from the Middle East have qualified for the knockout rounds, a first in the history of this prestigious event. Clearly having the World 9-ball Championship in Qatar for the last seven years has significantly helped the sport grow.

 

Judgement Day always brings with it plenty of jangling nerves and high drama as players wilt under the gravity of the circumstances. One small roll of the ball can spell the difference between a player going 2 games and out, and perhaps a run at a world title.  If there was ever a sport where whole careers rest on a razor’s  edge, pool is it.

 

The Philippines young Jeffrey Ingacio has given Pinoy fans high hopes for the young generation to make their mark, but he had to get very lucky in holding off tough Canadian Francis Crevier to advance, 9-7. 
 

Great Britain’s Jayson Shaw has played himself into being one of the top players in the world over the last six months, but today he had to come from way behind against a stingy Justin Campbell of Australia to qualify, 9-7. 
 

2007  World 9-ball Champion Daryl Peach had to go toe to toe with the Philippines Antonio Gabica, but the Brit prevailed 9-7 in a high quality match.

 

Bangladesh isn’t the first country to come to mind when one thinks of great pool players. Today, however, will stand as a monumental day in Bangladeshi cue sports history. 29 year old MD Alim became the first player from Bangladesh to make it to the knockout rounds of the World 9-ball Championship. Alim, who owns a business installing satellite TV services in Dhaka, was playing in his very first world championship this week. Today, he went to the wire with Italy’s Bruno Muratore and showed major league poise and skills in crossing the finish line to qualify.

 

Another player to look out for is Iran’s Ali Maghsoud. A few days ago Maghsoud took down the great Mika Immonen. Today the Iranian sucked up the massive pressure and beat Japan’s Hiroshi Takenaka, 9-7 to make his first Final 64.

 

Other Middle Eastern players continued to impress. Abdul Rahman Al Amar of Saudi Arabi continues to show maturity beyond expectations. Today he came from behind to win at the wire against Poland’s Konard Juszczyszym, 9-8, and move on to the money rounds.

 

Last year’s runner up Shane Van Boening again had the break mastered as he trounced the Philippines Francisco Felicilda, 9-3. Oscar Dominguez made it two Americans in the final 64 with a win today.

 

Other notable players bouncing back from defeats and advancing today include the Netherlands’ Niels Feijen, Germany’s Ralf Souquet, the Philippines Dennis Orcollo, Japan’s Yukio Akagariyama and Taiwan’s Chang Yu Lung. 
 

One particular match at the end of today’s play seemed to encapsulate the drama and pressure of Judgement Day to a “T.”  The Philippines Carlo Biado was not playing well and found himself down to Japan’s Hayato Hijikata, 7-4 in a race to 9. Hijikata pushed the score to 8-6, but with the finish line and a qualification in sight, the Japanese began to wilt and the match went to 8- 8 and a pressure packed one rack decider, with Hijikata breaking.

 

The Japanese sank a ball on the break and then proceeded to make a superb full table bank on the two, with an open table to the win. But just as Biado started to slink down in defeat in his chair, Hijikata missed a wide open shot on the 4-ball. The Filipino bounced out of his chair but even then his legs looked weak from the pressure. Biado held it together and cleared the table for an unlikely spot in the knockout stages.

 

“When he made that 2-ball, I just knew the match was over,” a seriously relieved Biado said after the match. “But then he missed the 4-ball and I knew this was my chance. My heart was beating and it was pressure.  Now that I won the match, I have a lot of confidence. I’m in the Final 64. Anything can happen, and anyone can win. May the best man win.”

 

Play in the first day of the group stages begins Tuesday at 10am(GMT +3). All matches now become race to 11, alternate break. The round of 64 and round of 32 will be played on Tuesday. The round of 16 and quarterfinals will be played on Wednesday. The Semi-finals and Finals will be played on Thursday. The final will be a race to 13, alternate break.

 

**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from July 30-August 4, 2016. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $40,000. The runner up will receive $20,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.

 

The players will be competing on Wiraka DYNASTY  Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Tournament  Pro cup TV Pool Balls featuring the new Duramith Technology.

 

The 2016 World 9-ball Championship is being hosted by The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), and is sanctioned by the The World Pool Billiard Association, the governing body of the sport of pool.

 

Up to date brackets and live scoring can found at this link: 
http://www.online-brackets.com/view/user/wpc9ball/1010

 

The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 

 

Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolbilliardassociation/

 

The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa 

 

RESULTS DAY 3
Winners advance to the Final 64
Losers are out.

Group 1
Jeong Young Hwa(KOR) 9 – 1 Mazen Berjuai(LEB) 
Mario He(AUT) 9 – 4 Waleed Majid(QAT)

Group 2
Karol Skowerski(POL) 9 – 8 Petri Makkonen(FIN)
Jeffrey Ignacio(PHL) 9 – 7 Francis Crevier(CAN) 

Group 3
MD Alim(BAN) 9 – 8 Bruno Muratore(ITA) 
Omar Al Shaheen(KUW) 9 – 5 Darren Appleton(GBR)

Group 4
Daryl Peach(GBR) 9 – 7 Antonio Gabica(PHL)
Roberto Gomez(PHL) 9 – 3 Francisco Sanchez(ESP)

Group 5
Artem Koshovoj(UKR)9 – 8 Luong Chi Dong(VIE)
Yang Ching Shun(TPE)  9 – 6 John Morra(CAN)  

Group 6
Jeffrey De Luna(PHL) 9 – 1 Naoyuki Oi(JPN) 
Ali M Saeed Hamzaa(ERI) 9 -7 Wang Can(CHN)

Group 7
Irsal Nasution(INA) 9 – 5 Imran Majid(GBR) 
Dennis Orcollo(PHL)9 – 7 Christian Goetmann(GER) 

Group 8
Abdul Rahman Al Amar(KSA) 9 – 8 Konard Juszczyszym(POL)  
Jayson Shaw(GBR) 9 – 7 Justin Campbell(AUS) 

Group 9
Niels Feijen(NED) 9 – 3 Shaun Wilke(USA)   
Satoshi Kawabata(JPE) 9- 7 Jalal Yousef(VEN)

Group 10
Ali Maghsoud(IRN) 9 – 7 Hiroshi Takenaka(JPN)  
Mieszko Fortunski(POL) 9 – 5 Ruben Bautista(MEX)

Group 11
Wojciech Szewczyk(POL) 9 – 5 Skyler Woodward(USA) 
Ralf Souquet(GER)  9 – 7 Oliver Ortmann(GER)

Group 12
Muhammad Bewi(INA) 9 – 4 Nick Van Den Berg(NED) 
Carlo Biado(PHL) 9 – 8  Hayato Hijikata(JPN)

Group 13
Oscar Dominguez(USA) 9 – 6 Ali Al Obaidli(QAT)  
Mateusz Sniegocki(POL) 9 – 5 Ryu Ceung Woo(KOR)

Group 14
Yukio Akagariyama(JPN) 9 – 1 Marco Teutscher(NED)  
Shane Van Boening(USA) 9 – 3 Francisco Felicilda(QAT-PHL)

Group 15
Salah Eldeen Al Remawi(UAE)   9 – 5 Rogelio Selleca Sotero(PHL) 
Chang Yu Lung(TPE)  9 – 3 Abdulla Al Shemmari(KSA)

Group 16
Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE) 9 – 3 Joshua Filler(GER)  
Ahmed Mohammad Salah(JOR)  9 – 5 Bashar Hussain(QAT)

Fit, Fresh And Fabulous

Nikos Ekonomopoulus, photo by Bo Bader

Greece's Nikos Ekonomopoulus plays perfect pool to book his place with 31 others in the knockout rounds at the World 9-ball Championship.

 

(Doha, Qatar)–Misery and joy danced a sultry tango  today at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha on Day 2 of the 2016 WPA World 9-ball Championship, as 32 players headed for the exits, while another 32 players booked their place in the final 64 knockout stage.

 

As on Day 1, all 128 players saw action, but unlike the opening rounds, much more was at stake.  All 32 losers-side matches in the group stage were do-or-die.  All 32 winners-side matches offered the victor a massive sigh of relief, and a day off as they await the start of the single elimination knockout stage which begins on Tuesday.

 

For the 64 players remaining in this year’s World 9-ball Championship, that means Monday is the dreaded Judgement Day, when every roll of the ball could spell the difference between a career defining run at glory, or a career sullying walk into the lonely Qatari desert, head in hand, never wanting to show your face in public again. Yes, pool at this level can deliver the ultimate prize and the ultimate shame, and all at the same time. It’s why fans around the world love world championship 9-ball.

 

The day started early at 10am inside the icy cold Al Arabi Sports Club with the losers side matches.  A second loss meant an instant out, while a win meant one more chance at qualifying. You could sense the tension straight away as nobody, especially the top players, wanted to go 2 and out in a world championship.

 

Easily the biggest shock of the tournament so far came when former World 9-ball Champion and Hall of Famer Mika Immonen quickly got the big boot. Surprisingly the always ready for prime time Finn couldn’t get himself into the thick of the action this year. Today he fell behind early to Poland’s Mieszko Fortunski and never contended, getting blown out, 9-4. 
 

Day 1 had been a terrible day for the USA, but Shaun Wilke, Skylar Woodward and Shane Van Boening kept hope alive for the American side with impressive wins. Van Boening in particular looked the goods as he broke magnificently in his 9-2 drubbing of Argentina's Ariel Castro. Fans will recall it was Van Boening’s sensational break shot last year that saw him storm into the finals. 

 

2007 World 9-ball Championship Daryl Peach bounced back from a big collapse on day 1 and played perfect in a 9-5 win over Singapore’s Alyosius Yapp, who had made a run to the quarterfinals last year.  Interestingly Peach will play a Judgement Day match against the Philippines Roberto Gomez, the very man he beat in Manila in 2007 to win the world title.
 

Other notable names who survived to play another day include Germany’s Ralf Souquet, China’s Wang Can, the Philippines Carlo Biado, Poland’s Karol Skowerski and Japan’s Naoyuki Oi.

 

The winners side matches in the afternoon presented some brilliant face offs that would be worthy of a semis and even a finals any day of the week. Defending Champion Ko Pin Yi once again looked completely impervious as he took down Austria’s Mario He, 9-5. 

 

China’s Zhou Long and Canada’s John Morra squared off in a battle of young rising stars. Morra has been one of pool’s rising bright lights in the last two years and even made it to the quarterfinals last year in Doha with a sensational run.  But Zhou made a case for his superb skills today, playing what could be the match of the tournament so far, as he beat the Canadian handily, 9-2.

 

Perhaps the biggest matchup on the winners’ side took place between Greece’s Nikos Ekonomopoulus and Great Britain’s Jayson Shaw. Ekonomopoulus has been one of Europe’s best players over the last three years. Shaw recently won two straight events in Europe and currently leads the points race for the European Mosconi Cup squad.

 

Today, however, belonged to the Greek as he played absolutely perfect pool and beat the determined Scotsman, 9-5. Afterward, Ekonomopoulus attributed his stellar play to the fact that he has recently put aside his usual high life living and taken up a training regime. 
 

“I played a perfect set,” the friendly Greek said. “The last two months I made a good workout program for myself. I go to the gym every day, I practice pool for two hours, and I eat good. So I feel better.  It’s the first time in my life I have made a program like that so I feel really comfortable at the table.”  

 

Fans and future opponents should pay attention as Ekonomopolous new focus on fitness is clearly paying off. He’s reached the final in the last Euro Tour event, made two finals in other recent open European tournaments, and won an event in Cyprus. And now he’s in the Final 64 in Doha.

 

Also deserving a good look are the Russians, as veterans Konstantin Stepanov and Ruslan Chinakov barged into the Final 64 undefeated.  It should be noted that both Stepanov and Chinakov have spent the last year under the tutelage of coach Johan Ruysink, the Dutch pool coaching guru who led the European Mosconi Cup team to victory seven times.

 

Several big names failed to qualify today as 2012 World 9-ball Champion Darren Appleton and the Philippines Dennis Orcollo both went down to defeat.  Appleton couldn’t fend off the spirited play of Taiwan’s tiny Chu Hong Ming—nicknamed “Peter Pan”—losing 9-7. Orcollo faced fellow Filipino in veteran Ramil Gallego. Orcollo couldn’t get a groove and got swept aside, 9-4. Both players will be back for another go on Judgement Day.

 

The Philippines will be well represented in the knockout stages as along with Gallego, Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Alex Pagulayan(Can-Phl) and young gun Johann Chua all advanced.

 

Former world champion Wu Jiaqing(formerly Wu Chia Ching) once again looked superb and moved on. Already seven Chinese players, including Liu Haitao and Li Hewen, have made it through to the final 64.

 

Other notable players qualifying include two time World 9-ball Champion Thorsten Hohmann, Austria’s Albin Ouschan, Great Britain’s Karl Boyes, and Chang Jung Lin of Taiwan.

 

Play in the final day of the group stages begins tomorrow at 10am(GMT +3). 

 

**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from July 30-August 4, 2016. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $40,000. The runner up will receive $20,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.

 

The players will be competing on Wiraka DYNASTY  Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Tournament  Pro cup TV Pool Balls featuring the new Duramith Technology.

 

The 2016 World 9-ball Championship is being hosted by The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), and is sanctioned by the The World Pool Billiard Association, the governing body of the sport of pool.

 

The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 

 

Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolbilliardassociation/

 

The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa

 

DAY 2 RESULTS, GROUP STAGE, LOSERS SIDE
Winners get one more chance
Losers are out of the tournament

Group 1
Mazen Berjuai(LEB) 9 – 3 Mohamed C. Elraousti(ALG) 
Waleed Majid(QAT) 9 – 7 Shahbaz Adil Khan(IND)

Group 2
Karol Skowerski(POL) 9 – 5 Lo Ho Sum(HKG)
Francis Crevier(CAN) 9 – 2  Abdul Aziz Alawadhi(QAT)

Group 3
Bruno Muratore(ITA) 9 – 5 Henrique  Corriea (POR)
Omar Al Shaheen(KUW) 9 – 4 Marcus Chamat(SWE)

Group 4
Daryl Peach(GBR) 9 – 5 Aloysius Yapp(SIN) 
Roberto Gomez(PHL) 9 – 2 Mohannad Al Ghumayz(KSA)

Group 5
Artem Koshovoj(UKR) 9 – 8 Aoki Ryoji(JPN) 
Mohammad Al Kashawi(KUW) 9 – 5 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)   

Group 6
Naoyuki Oi(JPN) 9 – 2 Mohammed Saeed(QAT)
Wang Can(CHN) 9 – 7 Armin Mahmoudi(IRN)

Group 7
Imran Majid(GBR)9 -2  Abdullah Mohd Karmastaji(UAE)
Christian Goetmann(GER) 9  – 6 Ali Abdulhadi Almeri(QAT)

Group 8
Konard Juszczyszym(POL) 9 – 5 Karar Abdulwahed(IRQ)
Justin Campbell(AUS) 9 – 2 Robert Hart(USA)

Group 9
Shaun Wilke(USA) 9 – 1 Andrew Kong Bu Hong(HKG) 
Satoshi Kawabata(JPE) 9 – 6 Abdul Latif Al Fawal(QAT)

Group 10
Hiroshi Takenaka(JPN) 9 – 3 Nadim Okbani(ALG)
Mieszko Fortunski(POL) 9 – 4 Mika Immonen(FIN)

Group 11
Skyler Woodward(USA) 9 – 3 Omran Salem(UAE)  
Ralf Souquet(GER) 9 – 4 Sayeem Hossain(BAN)

Group 12
Nick Van Den Berg(NED) 9 – 7 Abdulla Yousif(KUW)
Carlo Biado(PHL) 9 – 1 Fahad Khalaf Al Jassas(BAH

Group 13
Ali Al Obaidli(QAT) 9 – 7 Manual Chau(PER)
Mateusz Sniegocki(POL) 9 – 7 Toru Kuribayashi(JPN)

Group 14
Marco Teutscher(NED) 9 – 1 Mohammed Berjaui(LEB)
Shane Van Boening(USA) 9 – 2 Ariel Castro(ARG)

Group 15
Salah Eldeen Al Remawi(UAE) 9 – 6 Hunter Lombardo(USA)
Chang Yu Lung(TPE) 9 – 2 Do Hoang Quan(VIE)

Group 16
Joshua Filler(GER) 9 – 0 Abder Rehman Mebarki(ALG)
Ahmed Mohammad Salah(JOR) 9 – 6 Himanshu Jain(IND)

 

Winners side matches
Winners advance to the Final 64, Losers get one more chance 

Group 1
Ko Pin Yi(TPE)  9 – 5 Mario He(AUT)   
Thorsten Hohmann(GER) 9 – 7  Jeong Young Hwa(KOR)   

Group 2
Chang Jun Lin(TPE)  9 – 7 Jeffrey Ignacio(PHL)  
Johan Chua(PHL)  9 – 4 Petri Makkonen(FIN)  

Group 3
Chu Hong Ming(TPE) 9 – 7 Darren Appleton(GBR)        
Ruslan Chinakov(RUS)   9 – 4 MD Almin(BAN)

Group 4
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz(ESP) 9 – 6  Cristopher Tevez(PER)   
Albin Ouschan(AUT)  9 – 8 Antonio Gabica(QAT-PHL)   

Group 5
Zhou Long(CHN)   9 – 2 John Morra(CAN)   
Alex Pagulayan(CAN) 9 – 4 Luong Chi Dong(VIE)   

Group 6
Karl Boyes(GBR)   9 – 3Hamzaa M Saeed Ali(ERI)  
Toh Lian Han(SIN)   9 – 5 Jeffrey De Luna(PHL)   

Group 7
Ramil Gallego(PHL)  9 – 4 Dennis Orcollo(PHL)   
David Alcaide(ESP)  9 – 8 Irsal Nasution(INA)

Group 8
Nikos Ekonomopoulos(GRE)  9 – 5  Jayson Shaw(GBR) 
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 9 – 8 Abdul Rahman Al Amar(KSA)     

Group 9
Lui Haitao(CHN) 9 – 1 Jalal Yousef(VEN)   
Alexander Kazakis(GRE) 9 – 6 Niels Feijen(NED)      

Group 10
Chu Bing Jie(CHN) 9- 1  Ruben Bautista(MEX)   
Hsieh Chia Chen(TPE)  9 – 5 Ali Maghsoud(IRN)   

Group 11
Waren Kiamco(PHL)  9 – 7 Oliver Ortmann(GER)   
Wu Kun Lin(TPE) 9 – 3 Wojciech Szewczyk(POL)  

Group 12
Francisco Pizaarro Diaz(ESP) 9 – 3 Hayato Hijikata(JPE)   
Roman Hybler(CZE)  9 – 6 Muhammad Bewi Simenjuntak(INA)  

Group 13
Wu Jiaqing(CHN) 9 – 5  Ryu Ceung Woo(KOR)   
Dennis Grabe(EST)  9 – 4 Oscar Dominguez(USA)    

Group 14
Li Hewen(CHN)  9 – 4 Francisco Olita Felicilda(QAT-PHL)   
Li Wen Lo(TPE)  9 – 5 Yukio Akagariyama(JPN)   

Group 15
Lee Vann Corteza(PHL) 9 – 7 Abdulla Al Shemmari(KSA)   
Konstantin Stepanov(RUS) 9 – 6 Rogelio Belleca Sotero Jr(PHL)

Group 16
Dang Jin Hu(CHN)  9 – 3 Bashar Hussaiin(QAT)  
Han Hao Xiang(CHN)  9 – 3 Cheng Yu Husan(TPE)   

The Middle East Rises On The World Stage

Abdul Rahman Al Amar (Photos courtesy of Bo Bader)

(Doha, Qatar)–The moments before the first rack on the first day of the World 9-ball Championship are never easy, even for the best of players. The tables and conditions are new and untested. Players know they only have to win two race-to-9matches to qualify for the final 64, but things in pool can easily go array as you may come out flat, or the balls might conspire against you. Even the top players realize that just because you haven’t heard of the guy you’re paired against, it doesn’t mean you’re going to waltz into the money rounds.
 
Indeed while 15 of the WPA’s top 20 players won their opening matches on day 1 in Doha, several big names suffered setbacks, suddenly finding themselves on the one loss side of their groups, and one more loss from unceremoniously exiting  pool’s biggest stage.
 
After 8 hours of pool at its highest level at the Al Arabi sports club, several things stand out loud and clear. The sport of pool has never seen this many highly skilled players from so many different countries.  This fact, combined with the new rule this year of racking the balls with the 9-ball on the spot instead of the 1-ball, thereby toughening up the opening break shot, means that the 2016 World 9-ball championship will surely see the world crown contested at the highest level we have ever witnessed.
 
All 128 players saw action in the double elimination group stages today and, as usual,  it seems the Taiwanese are ready to contend yet again. Defending champion Ko Pin Yi had a layup of a match to get things started as he cruised to a 9-1 win over Algeria’s Mohamed Elraousti. As the day progressed, the Taiwanese kept notching up impressive wins, going 8 out of 10; Chang Jun Lin, Chu Hong Ming, Ko Ping Chung (Pin Yi’s younger brother), Hsieh Chia Chen, Li Wen Lo, Wu Kun Lin and Cheng Yu Husan all saw victory. Only Chang Yu Lung and veteran Yang Chin Shun lost.
 
Many people believe that a European will be standing in the winner’s circle next Thursday  because the Europeans have been playing with the 9-ball on the spot on the Euro tour for years, and already understand this breaks shot’s unique complexities. One player in particular with good odds is 2014 World 9-ball Champion Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, who didn’t face a difficult task as he waltzed past Qatar’s Abdul Latif Al Fawal, 9-3. It’s rumored that the Dutchman has put in 1000’s of hours perfecting the break shot and has even unlocked a certain secret about its configuration.
 
Other notable Europeans notching victories today include two time World 9-ball Champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Greece’s Nikos Ekonomopoulos,  Austria’s Albin Ouscan, and 2012 World 9-ball champion Darren Appleton.
 
[photo id=45144|align=right]Fans looking for a relatively new European face to break through should pay attention to Britain’s Jayson Shaw. The Scotsman recently topped two very strong fields in Europe and is currently leading the points race for the European Mosconi Cup team.  This is a young player who is clearly on the rise and anxious to make some waves.
 
“My game is about as good as it’s ever been,” Shaw said after besting Iraq’s Karar Abdulwahed, 9-3. “I’m not putting any pressure on myself. There’s some seriously good players here so I’m just taking it one match at a time and trying to enjoy this atmosphere. My goal is to get into the final 16 and from there, anything can happen.”
 
It was a solid day for Spain as David Alcaide, Francisco Pizaarro Diaz, and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz all won. Ruis squeaked by last year’s surprise quarterfinalist from Singapore, Aloysius Yapp.
 
The day proved downright miserable for the USA, as 5 out of six Americans in the field went down to defeat.  Last year’s runner up, Shane Van Boening drew a very difficult opponent in 2011 World 9-ball champion Yukio Akagariyama of Japan. The match was close halfway, but Akagariyama, who earned entry into the tournament by winning a qualifier, pulled away to win, 9-5. Only Oscar Dominguez saved the day for the USA, but barely as he squeaked by Poland’s Mateusz Sniegocki, 9-8.
 
As usual the Philippines has one of the largest contingents in the tournament and can be expected to go deep. Dennis Orcollo, Lee Vann Corteza, Johann Chua, Jeffrey Ignacio, Ramil Gallego, Alex Pagulayan(representing Canada), and Jeffrey De Luna were some notable Pinoys who notched wins today. World number 6 Carlo Biado lost to Czech’s Roman Hybler, 9-5.
 
China’s powerhouse lineup performed solidly today. Former world 9-ball champion Wu Jiaqing, world number 3 Lui Haitao,  Li Hewen, Dang Jinghu and three others saw victory.
 
One of the early revelations of this year’s world championship is just how far players from the Middle East have truly come in competitive 9-ball.  In years past Middle Eastern players were just entering these big events for the experience. Now it is clear they are truly on a world class level and will soon start contending and even winning big events. And they are coming from some very surprising places.
 
Nobody thought Iran’s Ali Maghsoud had much of a chance against Hall of Famer and multi world champion Mika Immonen, especially being down 8-5 in the race to 9. But the 27 year old from the Iranian city of Kermanshah buckled down, held his nerve and stormed back to win by a thread, 9-8. 
 
“When I was down 8-5, I just knew I was going to come back,” Maghsoud, who owns his own pool club in Iran, said afterward. “He’s a world champion but I was very positive.”
 
[photo id=45143|align=right]Saudi Arabia showed they are a rising pool nation today as Abdul Rahman Al Amar beat American Justin Campbell 9-7, while Abdulla Al Shemmari took down the USA’s Hunter Lombardo, 9-5.  Eritrean Hamzaa M Saeed Ali, who was born and raised in Saudi and still lives there also won, defeating Japan’s Naoyuki Oi, 9-8.
 
The 27 year old Al Almar is clearly knocking on the door to success. Last year he defeated the Philippines Johann Chua in the group stages and made it to the final 64. The former snooker player informed us that pool is actually backed by the government in Saudi and that there are currently over 14,000 registered pool players in the Kingdom.  Yes, you read that right; Saudi Arabia is one of pool’s hot spots.
 
Even Bangladesh rode the winning wave today as MD Alim handily defeated Swedish veteran Marcus Chamat, 9-4.
 
The group stages at the 2016 World 9-ball Championship continue on Saturday at the Al Arabi Sports beginning at 10am local time(GMT +3.)  All 128 players will again see action on Day 2, with 32 players advancing into the final 64 Knockout rounds, and another 32 players heading for the exits.
 
**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from July 30-August 4, 2016. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $40,000. The runner up will receive $20,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.
 
The players will be competing on Wiraka DYNASTY  Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Tournament  Pro cup TV Pool Balls featuring the new Duramith Technology.
 
The 2016 World 9-ball Championship is being hosted by The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), and is sanctioned by the The World Pool Billiard Association, the governing body of the sport of pool.
 
The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolbilliardassociation/
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
 
 
DAY 1 RESULTS , GROUP STAGES, DOUBLE ELIMINATION
Winners need 1 more win to advance to the Final 64.
Losers still have to win 2 games to advance
 
Group 1
Ko Pin Yi (TPE)  9 – 1 Mohamed C. Elraousti (ALG)
Mario He (AUT) 9 – 5 Mazen Berjuai (LEB)
Thorsten Hohmann (GER) 9 – 4 Shahbaz Adil Khan (IND)
Jeong Young Hwa (KOR) 9 – 5 Waleed Majid (QAT)
 
Group 2
Chang Jun Lin (TPE)9 – 5 Lo Ho Sum (HKG)
Jeffrey Ignacio (PHL) 9 – 4 Karol Slowerski (POL)
Petri Makkonen (FIN) 9 – 0 Abdul Aziz Alawadhi (QAT)
Johan Chua (PHL) 9 – 8 Francis Crevier (CAN)
 
Group 3
Darren Appleton (GBR) 9 – 4 Bruno Muratore (ITA)
Chu Hong Ming (TPE) 9 – 2  Henrique  Corriea (POR)
MD Almin (BAN) 9 – 4 Marcus Chamat (SWE) 
Ruslan Chinakov (RUS) 9 – 4 Omar Al Shaheen (KUW)
 
Group 4
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (ESP) 9 – 8 Aloysius Yapp (SIN) 
Cristopher Tevez (PER) 9 – 6 Daryl Peach (GBR) 
Antonio Gabica (QAT-PHL) 9 -7  Mohannad Al Ghumayz (KSA)
Albin Ouschan (AUT) 9 – 6 Roberto Gomez (PHL)
 
Group 5
John Morra (CAN) 9 – 5 Artem Koshovoj (UKR)
Zhou Long (CHN)  9 – 2 Aoki Ryoji (JPN)
Alex Pagulayan (CAN) 9 – 5  Mohammad Al Kashawi (KUW)
Luong Chi Dong (VIE) 9 – 8 Yang Ching Shun (TPE)
 
Group 6
Karl Boyes (GBR) 9 – 5 Mohammed Saeed (QAT)
Hamzaa M Saeed Ali (ERI) 9 – 8 Naoyuki Oi (JPN) 
Toh Lian Han (SIN) 9 – 6 Armin Mahmoudi (IRN)
Jeffrey De Luna (PHL) 9 – 6 Wang Can (CHN)
 
Group 7
Dennis Orcollo (PHL) 9 – 5 Abdullah Mohd Karmastaji (UAE)
Ramil Gallego (PHL) 9 – 6 Imran Majid (GBR) 
Irsal Nasution (INA) 9 – 2 (Ali Abdulhadi Almeri (QAT)
David Alcaide (ESP) 9 – 4 Christian Goetmann (GER)
 
Group 8
Nikos Ekonomopoulos (GRE) 9 – 4 Konard Juszczyszym (POL)
Jayson Shaw (GBR) 9 – 3 Karar Abdulwahed (IRQ)
Abdul Rahman Al Amar (KSA) 9 – 7 Justin Campbell (AUS) 
Ko Ping Chung (TPE) 9 – 1 Robert Hart (USA)
 
Group 9
Lui Haitao (CHN) 9 – 6 Andrew Kong Bu Hong (HKG)
Jalal Yousef (VEN) 9 – 6 Shaun Wilke (USA)
Niels Feijen (NED) 9 – 3 Abdul Latif Al Fawal (QAT)
Alexander Kazakis (GRE)  9 – 7 Satoshi Kawabata (JPE)
 
Group 10
Chu Bing Jie (CHN) 9 – 3 Nadim Okbani (ALG)
Ruben Bautista (MEX) 9 – 5 Hiroshi Takenaka (JPN)
Hsieh Chia Chen (TPE) 9 – 7 Mieszko Fortunski (POL)
Ali Maghsoud (IRN) 9 – 8 Mika Immonen (FIN)
 
Group 11
Waren Kiamco (PHL) 9 – 5 Omran Salem (UAE)
Oliver Ortmann (GER) 9 – 5 Skyler Woodward (USA)
Wojciech Szewczyk (POL) 9 – 2  Sayeem Hossain (BAN)
Wu Kun Lin (TPE) 9 – 6 Ralf Souquet (GER)
 
Group 12
Hayato Hijikata (JPE) 9 – 7 Nick Van Den Berg (NED)
Francisco Pizaarro Diaz (ESP) 9 – 7 Abdulla Yousif (KUW)
Muhammad Bewi Simenjuntak (INA) 9 – 8 Fahad Khalaf Al Jassas (BAH)
Roman Hybler (CZE) 9 – 6 Carlo Biado (PHL)
 
Group 13
Wu Jiaqing (CHN) 9 – 3 Ali Al Obaidli (QAT)
Ryu Ceung Woo (KOR) 9 – 8 Manual Chau (PER) 
Oscar Dominguez (USA) 9 – 8  Mateusz Sniegocki (POL)
Dennis Grabe (EST) 9 – 2 Toru Kuribayashi (JPN)
 
Group 14
Li Hewen (CHN) 9 – 4 Mohammed Berjaui (LEB)
Francisco Olita Felicilda (QAT-PHL) 9 – 7 Marco Teutscher (NED)
Li Wen Lo (TPE) 9 – 3 Ariel Castro (ARG)
Yukio Akagariyama (JPN) 9 – 5 Shane Van Boening (USA)
 
Group 15
Lee Vann Corteza (PHL) 9 – 5 Salah Eldeen Al Remawi (UAE)
Abdulla Al Shemmari (KSA) 9 – 4 Hunter Lombardo (USA)
Rogelio Belleca Sotero Jr (PHL) 9 – 6 Do Hoang Quan (VIE)
Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) 9 – 8 Chang Yu Lung (TPE)
 
Group 16
Bashar Hussaiin (QAT) 9 – 6 Abder Rehman Mebarki( ALG)
Dang Jin Hu (CHN) 9 – 8 Joshua Filler (GER)
Han Hao Xiang (CHN) 9 – 8 Ahmed Mohammad Salah (JOR)
Cheng Yu Husan (TPE) 9 – 3  Himanshu Jain (IND)

Pool’s Best Get Ready To Run The Gauntlet

Carlo Biado (Photo courtesy of Richard Walker)

With the field at the 2015 World 9-ball Championship now down to the final 32, it's clear that the sprint to the finish line is anyone's game.

 

(Doha, Qatar)– So you want to be the champion of the world? Well good because now comes the hard part.

 
After a day of weeding out the pretenders from the contenders at the Al Arabi Sports Club, and with the field having been halved from 64 to 32 players, the 2015 World 9-ball Championship is now headed for what will surely be a dramatic climax over the next two days. Thursday promises to offer up enough drama, nerves and memorable pool to last many years as anyone who has designs on 9-ball’s biggest prize will be put through the meat grinder, with the field being whittled down to just four players at the end of the day’s play.
 
The group of 32 remaining players offers pool fans a fascinating combination of champions, veterans, potential rising stars and a few newcomers all ready to do battle. Many had to pass stern tests in their round of 64 match ups today, with some players being taken to the very limit before barely getting over the finish line.
 
It would be difficult to say that there were any shocking results in any of today’s 32 matches. That’s because the lesson from this year’s World 9-ball Championship is that the talent level in professional pool has risen dramatically from all corners of the globe. Perhaps never before in pool history has there been so many top level players competing all at once. This has produced a parity that makes predicting winners extremely difficult.
 
Nowhere was this more clear than in an early match featuring one of the tournament’s favorites, Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi. Ko, the current World 10-ball champion and a marvelous talent, found himself down 4-1 early to James Campbell from Australia. Australia? Yeah you read that right. The land down under hasn’t produced word beaters in a long time but the young Aussie looked cool as ice as he stayed even through the halfway point. Ko, however, had too much class and won 11-7, but not before taking a few solid hits.
 
Ko already knows to prepare himself for some major blows in his round of 32 match on Thursday. There he’ll face the man he barely beat in the finals of the World 10-ball championship in February, the Philippines Carlo Biado. Biado absolutely wiped the floor of the Al Arabi clean with fellow Filipino Lee Vann Corteza today. This matchup between two of the sport’s best young talents is about as good as pool can produce. Whoever wins between Ko and Biado could very well go all the way.
 
England’s Mark Gray is starting to feel that he too could have designs on the big prize, especially after making a great escape today against the legendary German Ralf Souquet. Gray trailed the entire match, but hung around and at 9-7 down he won three straight racks to move to the hill. Souquet countered to tie but Gray broke and ran for a very satisfying victory.
 
Afterward Gray seemed downright ebullient and for good reason. He knows his rock solid snooker-trained stroke can hold up as good as anyone’s under the immense pressure of championship pool. And since becoming a father last year, his new found positive attitude at the table has been a key to  his stock rising once again.
 
“I’m not renowned for my stickability,” Gray said referring to his once shaky resiliency. “Sometimes I can get down on myself. But since I became a family man a couple of years ago, I realized that there’s more important things than pool. I just try to enjoy pool a lot more now. Ever since my little girl Sofia was born a couple of years ago, things seem to have happened for me on the pool table. I seem to be a lot more relaxed at the table, I hold myself together. And I seem to get rewarded for it.”
 
Gray will have all he can handle in his next match against one of pool’s fastest rising talents, John Morra. The Canadian pounded the UAE’s Omran Salem, 11-2.
 
Several other veterans produced fine victories in the early sessions today. Finland’s Mika Immonen, the 2001 World 9-ball Champion and a member of the Hall of Fame, continued his impressive form with an 11-2 win over Singapore’s Goh ChinTeck. The Philippines’ Warren Kiamco outlasted countryman Raymund Faraon 11—7. And Wu Jia Qing, who won the World 9-ball title exactly 10 years ago at the age of 16 years old, crushed Indonesia’s Irsan Nasution, 11-3. Wu will now feature in a hardcore match against world number 1, Albin Ouschan of Austria, who outlasted Japan’s Satoshi Kawabata, 11-8.
 
Today’s matches also showcased some terrific young talents, and fans will now get a chance to see them matchup.
 
Russia’s Ruslan Chinakov has been turning heads of late, and his 11-5 drubbing of the Philippines’ Antonio Gabica had fans singing the 23 year old’s praises. Since he appeared on the scene six years ago, Chinakov’s been known as a pool prodigy who didn’t like to practice much and didn’t have a head for pressure situations. But the Russian has recently redoubled his efforts in pool, even hiring renowned Dutch coach Johan Ruysink to help bring his game to championship level.
 
“I’m trying to get my game back to when I was 17 or 18 years old,” Chinakov said. “That’s when I played my best pool. This year has been good so far. Johan has helped me by telling  me to keep my mind clear. It seems to be working.”
 
Chinakov will get a chance to test his new found confidence when he trades blows with Chinese rising star Wang Can, who took down Japan’s Tohru Kuribayashi, 11-7.  
 
Singapore’s Aloisius Yapp and the Philippines Jeffrey Ignacio are two youngsters who have shown serious promise and will face off in the final 32. Yapp outlasted Japan’s Naoyuki Oi 11-9, while Ignacio routed Canada’s Jason Klatt, 11-5.
 
For the first time in many years the USA sees three players in the final 32. Shane Van Boening easily defeated Poland’s Tomasz Kaplan, 11-3. Hunter Lombardo surprised Poland’s Mateusz Sniegocki, 11-10. And Mike Dechaine escaped at the wire, beating Tawain’s Cheng Yu Hsuan, 11-10.
 
While Americans rightfully focus on the great Van Boening as their potential savior in 9-ball, Dechaine has exhibited all the tools so far this week to create serious waves. The 28 year old played a brilliant match today and his confidence level seems to be soaring.
 
“I’m playing great right now and I feel good,” Dechaine said after his high qualify match with Cheng. “I’ve got good concentration, focus, I’m breathing good. I’m not that nervous…yet. I think I’m playing rotation pool as good as anybody right now. I’m not going to put any pressure on myself. I’m not going to expect anything.”
 
England’s Darren Appleton had an easy time in his match against Mexico’s Reuben Bautista, winning 11-3. Appleton will now have a showdown with Greece’s Nick Ekonomopoulos, who outlasted Norway’s Matey Ullah, 11-7. Another Greek, Alexander Kazakis, pulled off his biggest win to date with a nervy 11-10 comeback victory over Taiwanese veteran and two time former world champion Fong Pang Chao.  
 
Taiwan’s former world number 1 Chang Yu Lung looked like a monster with his 11-4 win over the Netherland’s Marc Bijsterbosch.  Another Taiwanese, 19 year old Ko Pin Chung, who is the younger brother of Ko Pin Yi, looked positively brilliant with an 11-5 drubbing of Austria’s Mario He. The younger Ko will now be tested by the 2011 World 9-ball Champion, Yukio Akagariyama.
 
Spain brings two solid players in the final 32. Davide Alcaide came back to defeat Tawainese veteran Yang Ching Shun. Francisco Diaz Pizarro, the current European 9-ball champion, barely beat China’s very formidable Dang Jing Hu, 11-10.
 
Qatar’s last remaining hope never stood a chance, as debutante Mishel Turkey fell to the Philippines’ Dennis Orcollo, 11-1.
 
The field will be reduced to four players by the end of play on Thursday. The semi-finals and finals will be played on Friday.
 
**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from September 7-18, 2015. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner up will receive $15,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.
 
The players will be competing on Wiraka New Model Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Super Pro TV Balls.
 
The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), which is once again hosting and organizing the World 9-ball Championship, will be providing free live streaming of the entire tournament, in cooperation with Kozoom. Fans can watch the action live on the QBSF website at, http://live.qbsf.qa/. With all 14 tables streamed live, fans can select which table they want to watch and switch between tables at their convenience.
 
Complete up to date brackets can be found here: http://competition.kozoom.com/en/home/qatar/
 
The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa 
 
Results Final 64
 
Warren Kiamco(PHL) 11 – 9 Raymund Faraon(PHL)
Jalal Yousef(VEN) 11 – 10 Zhou Long(CHN)
Carlo Biado(PHL) 11 – 5 Lee Vann Corteza(PHL)
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 – 7 Justin Campbell(AUS) 
Mika Immonen(FIN) 11 – 3 Goh ChinTeck(SIN)
Wu Kun Lin(TPE) 11 – 9 Ryu Seang Woo(KOR) 
John Morra(CAN) 11 – 2 Omran Salem(UAE)
Mark Gray(GBR) 11 – 10 Ralf Souquet(GER)
 
Aloisius Yapp(SIN) 11 – 9 Naoyuki Oi(JPN) 
 
Jeffrey Ignacio(PHL) 11 – 5 Jason Klatt(CAN)
Lui Haitao(CHN) 11 – 10 Imran Majid(GBR) 
Alexander Kazakis(GRE) 11 – 10 Chao Fong Pang(TPE)
Ruslan Chinakov(RUS) 11 – 5 Antonio Gabica(PHL) 
Wang Can(CHN) 11 – 7 Tohru Kuribayashi(JPN)
Albin Ouschan(AUT) 11 – 8 Satoshi Kawabata(JPN) 
Wu Jia Qing(CHN) 11 – 3 Irsan Nasution(INA)
 
Ko Pin Chung(TPE) 11 – 5 Mario He(AUT)
Yukio Akagariyama(JPN) 11 – 5 Johann Chua(PHL) 
Denis Grabe(EST) 11 – 7 Li Hewen(CHN) 
Mike Dechaine(USA) 11 – 10 Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE)
David Alcaide(ESP) 11 – 8 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)
Toh Lian Han(SIN) 11 – 8 Abdulrahman Al Amar(KSA)
 Liu Ching Chieh(TPE) 11 – 5 Andreas Gerwen(SWE)
Wojciech Szewczyk(POL) 11 – 8 Marco Teutscher(NED)
 
Chang Yu Lung(TPE) 11 – 4 Marc Bijsterbosch(NED)
Oliver Medenilla(PHL) 11 – 4 Karol Skowerski(POL) 
Shane Van Boening(USA) 11 – 3 Tomasz Kaplan(POL)
Francisco Diaz Pizarro(ESP) 11 -10 Dang Jin Hu(CHN) 
Hunter Lombardo(USA) 11 – 10 Mateusz Sniegocki(POL) 
Dennis Orcollo(PHL) 11 – 1 Mishel Turkey(QAT)
Darren Appleton(GBR) 11 – 3 Ruben Bautista(MEX)
Nick Ekonomopoulos(GRE) 11 – 7 Matey Ullah(NOR)

It’s Knockouts For the New Guys

Al Amar, Photo courtesy Richard Walker, WPA

Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al Amar leads a crop of surprising players who have booked their spots in the Final 64 of the World 9-ball Championship.

 

(Doha, Qatar)–If the results of Day 3 at the 2015 World 9-ball Championship are any indication, change in the sport of pool is most definitely in the air.

 

Today’s three sessions were given over to all winners’ side matches in the 16 groups with 32 spots available in the coveted single elimination round of 64, which begins on Wednesday.  Losers in Monday’s matches knew they’d be given another chance to advance on Tuesday so the brutal pressure of judgement day, where every match is do-or-die, wasn’t quite as bad. Still, five former World 9-ball champions and the current defending champion all had chances to advance today. All lost and will have to come back again for one final go on Tuesday.

 

It was an excellent day for the Philippines, which sent five players through, as well as China and Taiwan, which each saw four of their players advance to the knockout rounds.

 

With the absence this year of legends Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, Filipino overseas workers in Qatar haven’t turned out in quite the numbers that they have in the past to watch their fellow countrymen do battle. Still, Filipino fans are starting to warm up to the superb talents that are clearly ready to take their own place on the big stage.

 

Dennis Orcollo has won tournaments around the globe, and is a threat to win any event he enters. Orcollo faced a stingy opponent in Hosain Sayeem from Bangladesh, but overcame several errors to cruise, 9-6. Carlo Biado, another highly touted Filipino, has been knocking on the door of big time success for two years now. Biado looked impressive in his 9 – 5 win over Italy’s Daniele Corrieri

 

Two young guns from the Philippines who aren’t that well known to local Pinoys, but very well could be in the coming days, are Jeffrey Ingacio and Raymond Faraon. Both youngsters possess scary-good games and they showed it today as they advanced with solid wins.

 

Easily the most popular Filipino at the moment in Qatar is veteran Antonio Gabica. The superbly talented Gabica moved to Qatar several years ago and works as a coach for the Qatar national pool team.  Two years ago Gabica electrified both local Filipinos and Qataris when he made an incredible march to the finals, only to fall short to eventual championThorsten Hohmann. Gabica won his second straight match today to advance to the Final 64.

 

It’s been ten years since China’s Wu Jia Qing, then  known as Wu Chia Ching and playing for Taiwan, stunned the pool world by winning the World 9-ball Championship at just 16 years old. Wu grabbed a spot in the final 64 today, easily defeating one of the Philippines best unknown players, Oliver Medenilla, 9-2.

 

Joining Wu in the Final 64 is one of China’s most promising young talents, Wang Can, who defeated the Netherlands’ Marc Bijsterbosch, 9 -4. Dang Jin Hu and Lee Hei Wen, two other members of the China’s government funded national pool team, advanced to the knockout stage with victories.

 

Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi, the current World 10-ball champion, is one of the top five favorites to win the World 9-ball Championship this year. Ko advanced today with his second straight win, beating Norway’s  Matey Ullah, 9-6.

 

As good as the 26 year old Ko is, his younger brother, 19 year old Ko Ping Chung, has talent that is simply off the charts. The rail thin and baby faced Ping Chung seems to go hardly noticed in the arena and his unfortunate opponents tend to pay the price for thinking he can barely hold a cue. The younger Ko booked his spot in the Final 64 today with an easy win over Peru’s Christopher Teves, 9 -2.

 

Also making it to the Final 64 for Taiwan was last year’s semi-finalist and former world number one, Chang Yu Lung, and Wu Kun Lin.

 

Part of the fun of this year’s World 9-ball Championship has been witnessing the rise of some great new talents from unlikely places who are ready to make a name for themselves. Greece’s Alexander Kazakis jumped out to a 4-0 lead over defending champion Niels Feijen only to see the Dutch great claw back into the match and take it to down to a one rack decider.  But the 24 year old Greek held his nerve to stave off Feijen’s fight back, and book his spot in the knockout rounds.

 

“I’m feeling great,” a clearly pumped Kazakis said after his win. “In the game of pool anything can happen. Even the underdog can win, especially in alternate break, just a race to 9.  So it’s nice. I’m lucky for now. This win really helps my confidence. We’ll see what happens from here.”

 

Venezuela’s Jalal Yousef has been around the pro ranks for nearly a decade but his match today against two time World 9-ball champion Thorsten Hohmann was probably the biggest of his career. Yousef prepared himself for war and after jumping out to a sizeable lead on the German, that’s exactly what he got as the match went straight to the cliff and a one rack decider. Yousef held on for the career best victory.

 

“He wasn’t too lucky,” Yousef said afterwards. “ I caught the chance and I played my game and thanks to God I won. We are talking about Thorsten Hohmann. When you beat this guy in a tough match like that and you are playing your A game, that is the kind of match that gives you a lot confidence moving forward.”

 

Mexico will see its first player in over a decade in the Final 64 as Rueben Bautista held off Poland’s Radislaw Babica in a 9-8 thriller to advance. This is the 26 year old Mexico City native’s first World 9-ball Championship but the youngster is not short of experience. He’s been traveling the world for the last two years, including spending two months in the Philippines, honing his game.   

 

One of the biggest surprises of the day came from a country not normally associated with producing world class pool talents. Abdulrahman Al Amar, a 27 year old from Saudi Arabia, played a brilliant match against the Philippines and world number 12 Johan Chua. Al Amar, who is ranked number one in Saudi, and third in the Middle East, battled toe to toe with the Filipino and outfoxed Chua at the end to win 9-7. It’s only the second time ever that a player from Saudi Arabia has advanced to the Final 64.  

 

“I played very good today,” Al Amar said. But I was really nervous. For one month I was practicing very hard. My goal was to get a good finish in the tournament so I’m very happy to qualify for the final 64.  From here I will do my best. Just one game at a time.”

 

For the first time in many years, the USA will have two players in the knockout rounds. Mike Dechaine, playing in his first World 9-ball Championship, took down former world champion Daryl Peach, 9-5. Shane Van Boening also won going away, beating Great Britain’s Richard Jones by the same score.

 

“My break is working really well,” Van Boening said afterward. ”I need to work on a few shots to be more comfortable. I need to go practice more.

 

“This is the only tournament on my belt that I haven’t won yet. I’ve pretty much won every tournament there is to win, except this.   It would mean a lot to me. If I win the World 9-ball then I can just say to myself, ‘mission accomplished.’”

 

Several former champions made it through as Mika Immonen continued to impress with a 9-5 win over Germany’s Oliver Ortmann. Japan’s Yukio Akagariyama looked good in his 9-6 win over Taiwan’s  Yang Ching Shun.

 

Team Poland looks to make a bit of a splash this year as three Polish players advanced. Wojciech Szewczyks, Mateusz Sniegocki, and Karol Skowerski, will all continue on into the money rounds.

 

Also advancing today were England’s Mark Gray, Canada’s John Morra, Spain’s David Alcaide and Japanese Kawabata Satoshi and Naoyuki Oi.

 

Play continues on Tuesday with the final round of the group stages. All matches will be do or die as players vie for the last 32 spots in the single elimination round of 64, which begins on Wednesday. The semi-finals and finals will be held on Friday September 18th.

 

**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from September 7-18, 2015. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner up will receive $15,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.

 

The players will be competing on Wiraka New Model Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Super Pro TV Balls.

 

The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), which is once again hosting and organizing the World 9-ball Championship, will be providing free live streaming of the entire tournament, in cooperation with Kozoom. Fans can watch the action live on the QBSF website at, http://live.qbsf.qa/. With all 14 tables streamed live, fans can select which table they want to watch and switch between tables at their convenience.

 

Complete up to date brackets can be found here: http://competition.kozoom.com/en/home/qatar/

 

The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 

 

Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship

 

The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa 

 

RESULTS

All winners advance to the Final 64
Losers get one more chance on Tuesday

Group 1
Kawabata Satoshi(JPN)  9 – 8 Albin  Ouschan(AUT)  
Wu Kun Lin(TPE)  9 – 4 Bashar Hussain(QAT)  

Group 2
Wang Can(CHN) 9 – 4 Marc Bijsterbosch(NED)  
Bautista Ruben(MEX)   9 – 8  Radoslaw Babica(POL)  

Group 3
Li Hewen(CHN)   9 – 2 Justin Campbell(AUS)  
Yukio Akagariyama (JPN)   9 – 6 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)  

Group 4
Raymund Faraon(PHL ) 9 – 4 Pordel Mohammadali(IRI) 
Nik Ekonomopoulos(GRE)  9 – 6 Zhou Long(CHN)  

Group 5
Wojciech Szewczyk(POL)  9 – 5 Warren Kiamco(PHL)  
Wu Jia Qing(CHN)  9-  2 Oliver Medenilla(PHL)  

Group 6
Mateusz Sniegocki(POL) 9 – 1 Ralf Souquet(GER)     
Abdulrahman Al Amar(KSA)  9 – 7 Johann Gonzales Chua(PHL)  

Group 7
Naoyuki Oi(JPN) 9 – 2  Tom Teriault(CAN)  
Liu Ching Chieh(TPE)  9 – 4 Ruslan Chinakov(RUS)    

Group 8
Mike DeChaine(USA)  9 – 5 Daryl Peach(GBR) 
Carlo Biado(PHL) 9 – 5  Daniele Corrieri(ITA)  

Group 9
Ko Pin Yi(TPE)  9 – 6 Matey Ullah(NOR)  
Mika Immonen(FIN)  9 – 5 Oliver Ortmann(GER)  

Group 10
Ko Pin Chung(TPE)  9 – 3 Christopher Teves(PER)   
Shane Van Boening(SVB) 9 – 5  Richard Jones(GBR)  

Group 11
John Morra(CAN) 9 – 4 Toh Lian Han(SIN)  
David Alcaide(ESP)  9 – 6 Hesam S.A. Abdulaziz(EGY)  

Group 12
Dan Jin Hu(CHN)  9 – 4 Tomasz Kaplan(POL)  
Alexander Kazakis(GRE)  9 – 8 Niels Feijen(NED)  

Group 13
Dennis Orcollo(PHL) 9 – 6  Hosain Sayeem(BAN)     
Jalal Al Saris(VEN) 9 – 8 Thorsten Hohmann(GER)       

Group 14
Imran Majid(GBR) 9 – 6 Lo Ho Sum(HKG)  
Karol Skowerski(POL) 9 – 8 Chao Fong Pang(TPE)    

Group 15
Chang Yu Lung(TPE)  9 – 3 Matt Edwards(NZL)  
Jeffrey Ignacio(PHI)  9 – 6 Jason Klatt(CAN)  

Group 16
Antonio Gabica(PHL) 9 – 7 Sinha Fahim(BAN)  
Mark Gray(GBR) 9 – 7  Aloisius Yapp(SIN)  

From Singapore, With Serious Talent

Aloisius Yapp (Photo courtesy of Richard Walker)

Singapore's Aloysius Yapp arrives on pool's biggest stage with a dominating win over England's Darren Appleton on day 2 at the World 9-ball Championship.

 

(Doha, Qatar)– Each year at the World 9-ball Championship seems to bring pool fans a revelation, a new talent who makes his mark on the scene with such aplomb and style that you just know that big time success is surely in this young man’s future. This year in Doha it only took until the beginning of day 2 for one such player to arrive.

 
Singapore’s 19 year old Aloysius Yapp has been on the international scene for about a handful of years, but was never really noted for much more than an interesting sounding name.  Then late in 2014 the teenager pulled off his biggest success to date; capturing the WPA World Junior 9-ball Championship in Shanghai. 
 
Still, while winning the junior world title is quite the accomplishment, it’s a whole different ball game playing and winning against the big boys.  But today at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Yapp showed he truly has the goods to be a serious star on the world pool scene.  Paired against World number 2 Darren Appleton in a race to 9, first round match in group play, Yapp put on a memorable performance, taking everything the multi-titled world champion could give and dishing out a beating of his own, winning the match going away, 9 – 5.
 
Rest assured this result was not a fluke, or the result of Appleton having an off day. The English great actually played a near flawless match. But he was up against an opponent who had an answer for everything thrown at him. On top of terrific shot making, Yapp also showed an ice cold demeanor and confidence that belied his years. The Singaporean led from the start and turned the screws on Appleton seemingly at will. When it was over, Appleton suddenly found himself one loss away from a shock exit, while Yapp was basking in the tournament’s biggest upset.
 
Afterwards, Yapp revealed how he had gone from a relative unknown to a player clearly on the rise.  He has been playing pool since he was 9 years old. For the last five years he’s been a member of the Singaporean national pool team, a program funded by the government of the prosperous island state. In the last year his game started to seriously improve as he has traveled and played pool extensively overseas, including several events in China and even joining a Euro Tour event in Portugal. 
 
The experiences have not just helped Yapp’s game but his mental skills as well. Responding to a question about how he could possibly be so cool when playing against a monster like Appleton in the year’s biggest tournament, Yapp revealed a mindset that seemed downright alien to his baby faced looks.
 
“It was a good match,” Yapp said. “We both played well. I think there was only one mistake during the whole match. I didn’t think I was going to win and I didn’t think I was going to lose. I just went in with an empty mind, and just played my game and tried to do my best.
 
“I wasn’t nervous when I found out I was playing Appleton. I was actually quite excited. I wanted to draw him a long time ago. I looked forward to playing with him. All I told myself was ‘just be calm and do your best. Don’t think about winning and don’t think about losing. Just think about what’s on the table, and you’ll handle it from there.’
 
“I feel I can play and beat anybody in this event. In 9-ball the ball is round, anything can happen. Everyone stands an equal chance to win the world title.”
 
Appleton, who would later rebound with a solid losers side win to stay in the tournament, was genuinely impressed by Yapp’s ability.
 
“He played really well,” Appleton said. :I was never in the match. If he plays the rest of the way like he did against me he can win the tournament. But the problem is he is very young and inexperienced. He’s well capable of the getting into the quarters. You can see when he’s playing that he doesn’t fear anyone, he just plays the game which is the right thing to do.
 
“He’s a good player, he’s got a good future. Obviously the deeper he goes in the tournament, it adds more pressure. He’s a long shot but he if got to the quarterfinal then it wouldn’t surprise me. We all know the potential he’s got.”
 
Day 2 at the 2015 World 9-ball Championship saw the completion of all first round matches in the double elimination group stages, followed by second round matches on the one loss side of each group. By the end of the day, 32 players had been given their walking papers from the event.
 
The Philippines Dennis Orcollo looked very strong against Spain’s capable Francisco Diaz Pizarro, winning easily, 9-4. Two time world 9-ball champion Thorsten Hohmann also found victory with an easy 9-3 win over Jordan’s Nizar Mosbah Tamimi.
 
Taiwan’s Fong Pang Chao, who has also won this event twice, the first time 22 years ago, has clearly rolled back the years. Chao came to Doha without a spot and won one of the brutal qualifiers to gain entry into the main event. Today in his first match Chao manhandled China’s top player, Liu Haitao, 9 – 5.
 
The Philippines Antonio Gabica, who lives in Qatar and coaches the Qatar national pool team, always seems to perform well in this event, and today he showed he is going to be a stingy opponent as he easily beat one of the Middle East’s best players, Kuwait’s Omar Alsheen, 9 – 3.  One of the Philippines rising young players, Jeffry Ignacio, who gained entry into the event by winning a qualifier, looked solid today, in a 9-7 win over Sweden’s Andreas Gerwen.
 
Other players winning their first round matches today were Taiwan’s Chang Yu Lung, England’s Mark Gray, Canada’s Jason Klatt, Poland’s Karol Skowerski, Englan’s Imran Majid, and New Zealand’s Matt Edwards.
 
With all matches on the losers side do or die, the tension began to rise, but most of the name players pulled through to give themselves one more chance to make the Final 64 single elimination stage. Japan’s Kuribayashi Tohru, Qatar’s Waleed Majid, the Philippines Lee Vann Corteza, Tawain’s Chang Jun Lin, the Netherland’s Nick Van Den Berg, England’s Karl Boyes, China’s Liu Haitao and Kuwait’s Al Shaheen all won their second matches to stay alive.
 
The World 9-ball Championship of course, is not all about the name players. Each year the talent level from all corners of the globe becomes deeper and better. This year’s field includes players from non-traditional 9-ball locales such as Bangladesh, the Maldives, Iran, Peru, Egypt and even one player from Palestine, a first for this championship.
 
Play continues at the Al Arabi Sports Club on Monday with three sessions, all with winners’ side matches in group play. Winners of these matches will qualify for the Final 64 single elimination knockout stage, while the losers will get one more chance to qualify on Tuesday.  
 
**The 2015 WPA World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from September 7-18, 2015. The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner up will receive $15,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.
 
The players will be competing on Wiraka New Model Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Super Pro TV Balls.
 
The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), which is once again hosting and organizing the World 9-ball Championship, will be providing free live streaming of the entire tournament, in cooperation with Kozoom. Fans can watch the action live on the QBSF website at, http://live.qbsf.qa/. With all 14 tables streamed live, fans can select which table they want to watch and switch between tables at their convenience.
 
Complete up to date brackets can be found here: http://competition.kozoom.com/en/home/qatar/
 
The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
 
 
RESULTS DAY 2
 
1st Round Matches
 
Group 13
Dennis Orcollo(PHL) 9 – 4 Francisco Diaz-Pizarro(ESP)
Hosain Sayeem(BAN) 9 – 7 Fahad Al Hejeli(KSA)   
Thorsten Hohmann(GER) 9 – 3 Nizar Mosbah Tamimi(JOR)
Jalal Al Saris(VEN) 9 – 7 Goh Chin Teck(SIN)   
 
Group 14
Lo Ho Sum(HKG) 9 – 5 Karl Boyes(GBR)   
Imran Majid(GBR) 9 – 4. Sameer Al Madhi(BRN)
Chao Fong Pang(TPE) 9 – 5 Liu Haitao(CHN)   
Karol Skowerski(POL) 9 – 4  Meshal Al Murdhi(KUW)
 
Group 15
Chang Yu Lung(TPE) 9 – 4 Sundeep  Gulati(IND)
Matt Edwards(NZL) 9- 8 Petri Makkonen(FIN)
Jason Klatt(CAN) 9 – 4 Ali Hussein Ali(IRQ)
Jeffrey Ignacio(PHI) 9 – 7 Andreas Gerwen(SWE)
 
Group 16
Antonio Gabica(PHL) 9 – 3 Omar Alshaheen(KUW)
Sinha Fahim(BAN) 9 – 3 Bader Al Hamdan(KSA)
Aloysius Yapp(SIN) 9 – 5 Darren Appleton(GBR) 
Mark Gray(GBR) 9 – 1 Mohamed S.A. Elmola(EGY)
 
LOSERS SIDE MATCHES
 
Group 1
Hunter Lombardo(USA) 9 – 5 Khaled A.M. Farag(EGY) 
Irsan Afrinneza Nasution(INA) 9 – 5 Konstantin Stepanov(RUS)        
 
Group 2
Kuribayashi Tohru(JPN) 9 – 8 Mohd Al Bin Ali(QAT)
Abdullah Al Yousef(KUW) 9 – 6 Bader Al Awadhi(KUW)
 
Group 3
Roman Hybler(GER) 9 – 7 Rasekhi Medhi(IRI)
Waleed Majid(QAT)9 – 5 Sanchez-Ruiz Franscisco(ESP)
 
Group 4
Mohammad Saeed(QAT)9 – 3 Francois Ellis(RSA)
Marco Teutscher(NED) ) 9 – 0 Mohamed Shareef(MDV)
 
 
 
Group 5
Vegar Kristiansen(NOR) 9 – 7  Jeong Young Hwa(KOR)
Shannon Ducharme(CAN) 9 – 8 Mohanna Obaidly(QAT)
 
Group 6
Chang Jun Ling(TPE) 9 – 4 Mohammad Sharif(PAL)
Ali Obaidly(QAT) 9 – 3 Hichem Benaissa(ALG)
 
Group 7
Nick Van Den Berg(NED) 9 – 3 Abdultif Fawal(QAT)
Lee Van Corteza(PHL) 9 – 7 Mohamed Al Hosani(UAE)
 
Group 8
Muhammad Bewi Simanjuntak(INA)  9 – 5 Alejandro Carvajal(CHI)
Mishel Turkey(QAT) 9 – 5 Fahad Khalaf(BRN)
 
Group 9
Denis Grabe(EST) 9 – 4 Rajandran Nair(RSA)
Zhu Xi He(CHN) 9 – 8 Amir Rota(QAT-PH)
 
Group 10
Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE) 9 – 6  Marcus Chamat(SWE)
Omran Salem(UAE) 9 – 8  Hassan Shafraz(MDV)
 
Group 11
Mario He(AUT)9 – 6 Mazen Berjaoui(LEB)
Chu Bing Jie(CHN)9  – 6 Khalid Yousuf Esbttam(UAE)
 
Group 12
Ryu Seang Woo(KOR)9 – 2 Hamzaa M. Saeed Ali(ERI)
Francisco Felicilda(QAT-PH)9 – 7 Mohammad Berjaoui(LEB)
 
Group 13
Francisco Diaz-Pizarro(ESP) 9 – 3 Fahad Al Hejeli(KSA)   
Goh Chin Teck(SIN)  9 – 5 Nizar Mosbah Tamimi(JOR)
 
Group 14
Karl Boyes(GBR) 9 – 2 Sameer Al Madhi(BRN)
Liu Haitao(CHN) 9- 2 Meshal Al Murdhi(KUW)
 
Group 15
Petri Makkonen(FIN) 9 -8 Sundeep  Gulati(IND) 
Andreas Gerwen(SWE) 9 – 4 Ali Hussein Ali(IRQ)
 
Group 16
Omar Alshaheen(KUW)9 – 4 Bader Al Hamdan(KSA)
Darren Appleton(GBR) 9- 3 Mohamed S.A. Elmola(EGY)

Orcollo Pulls a Second Great Escape

Dennis Orcollo (Photo courtesy of Dong Secuya/philboxing.com)

The Philippines Dennis Orcollo wins his second straight 9-8 match in as many days to advance to the knockout stage of the 2015 World 10-ball Championship in General Santos City.
 
Filipino pool players have a standard answer when asked by the media, “How did you play?” Even if they just played the greatest round of pool in the history of the sport, the comeback will invariably be a humble, “I’m just lucky.” 
 
World number 7 Dennis Orcollo is definitely not being humble today as he profusely thanks the pool gods for the good fortune he’s been the beneficiary of here in General Santos City in the southern Philippines. For the second straight day Orcollo pulled a great escape from what looked like sure defeat, winning 9-8 yet again, and  advancing to the single elimination round of 64 at the 2015 World 10-ball Championship.  
 
Playing against Pampanga’s Roland Garcia, Orcollo looked to be cruising into the knockout stages with an 8-5 lead in the race to 9 alternate break match. Garcia, though, stormed back and had only five balls left on the table for the win when, inexplicably, he touched and moved the 8-ball with his hand while lining up a shot on the five ball. Orcollo leapt out of his chair, said a quick thank you to his Lord, and cleared the colors for the win.
 
“I’m really lucky today,” Orcollo said afterwards and this time you knew he meant it. “I didn’t think I would even get back to the table. I still can’t believe I won that match.”
 
31 other players are feeling as relieved as Orcollo as they also booked their spots in the final 64 which begins on Wednesday evening. For another 32 players, however, the dream of world pool glory crashed and burned as they each suffered their second defeat in as many days, which meant they were eliminated from the event.
 
The field for the final 64 will be filled after the first three sessions tomorrow in what promises to be a day of drama and nerves.  Judgement Day in championship pool often makes otherwise reasonable men lose their minds, as the prospect of possibly being in contention for a world title suddenly dawns on them.
 
Many of those who have already qualified don’t seem to be in any danger of losing their cool any time soon. World number 1 Chang Yu Lung of Taiwan continued to fly under the radar today with another superb performance, beating Finland’s Petri Makkonen, 9-5, to advance. I say “under the radar” because Chang, with his stoic and emotionless demeanor, attracts little to no attention. If you watch him closely, however, he plays fearless pool and that quiet confidence will surely carry him far in this event.
 
Canada's Jason KlattWith a third of the field of 128 players, the Philippines was a lock to dominate the  final 64 and several notable names have looked exceptionally good so far. Jeff De Luna has given up just one rack in two matches and he could very well find himself the number one seed in the knockout rounds. Other Filipinos advancing today with fine performances were Francisco Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan, Lee Vann Corteza, Warren Kiamco, Roberto Gomez, Elmer Haya, Antonio Gabica, Raymund Faraon, and Carlo Biado.
 
When boxing legend and hometown boy Manny Pacquaio brought the World 10-ball to General Santos, one of his aims was to give the legions of lesser known Filipino pool players the chance to shine and this is exaclty what is taking place at the SM Mall. Several of the younger and not so well known Filipino players also advanced today and it’s clear that several will be establishing their credentials here this week. One of those looking to make a name for himself is Roland Dela Cruz, a relatively unknown Filipino who took down two-time World 9-ball Champion Thorsten Hohmann on the losers’ side. Hohmann’s early exit represented the biggest upset so far in this year’s event.
 
England’s Darren Appleton came up against two young Filipino players today.  Appleton, the 2008 World 10-ball champion, has spent enough time this country to know that top notch pool talent is waiting every corner in every city in the Philippines. To take anyone lightly is akin to pointing a gun at your own head. After handily defeating Angelo Ariola 9-2, the Englishman found himself in a tight tussle with Ruben Cuna. Appleton had to fight to the finish to advance to the Final 64 with a well-earned 9-7 win.
 
Afterwards, Appleton revealed he knows not to take any of the Filipinos lightly and in fact, he employed a strategy to thwart any chance of an upset.
 
“He’s a good young Filipino player,” Appleton said of Cuna. “My experience got me through that one. I played two Filipinos today and my game plan was to not show any emotion, not show any weakness to them. Because obviously they are very young and they’re not used to tournament play. They are not used to playing big names so I think that helps in the end because he missed a couple of balls that he wouldn’t miss in the pool room. I wanted to make him work for it.”
 
Also winning their second match and advancing to the knockout round were Germany’s Ralf Souquet, Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin, Fu Che Wei and Ko Ping Chun, Canada’s Jason Klatt and John Morra, and Estonia’s Denis Grabe.
 
The group stages will finish up on Wednesday over the first three sessions. The round of 64 in the single elimination stage begins in two evening sessions Wednesday, and continues Thursday morning over  one session.
 
The semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday.
 
The winner of the 2015 World 10-ball Championship will receive $40,000, while the runner up will receive $20,000
 
**The 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship takes place at the SM Mall in General Santos City, Philippines   from February 15-21 and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool. 
 
 
 
The WPA will be on hand in General Santos throughout this year’s World 10-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com.  
 
 Results Day 2
 
Group 13
Romero Silvano(PHI) 9 -0 Mark Rodriguez(PHI)(Silvano wins by default, Rodriguez no-show)  
 
Group 14
Oliver Villafuerte(PHI) 9 – 4 Mario He(AUT) 
Jerico Banares(PHI) 9 – 5 Marcus Chamat(SWE)
Jeffrey De Luna(PHI) 9- 0 Imran Majid(GBR)
Asis Tadique(PHI) 9 – 6 Johann Chua(PHI)
 
Group 15
Mika Immonen(FIN) 9 – 6 Jeffrey Calonge(PHI)
Stuart Pettman(GBR) 9 – 8 Liu Ri Teng(TPE) 
Emil Martinez(PHI) 9 – 5 Stephan Doiron(CAN)
Leonardo Didal(PHI) 9 – 8 Ko Pin Yi(TPE)
 
Group 16
Ricky Yang(INA) 9 – 0 Jeong Young Hwa(KOR) 
Jonas Magpantay(PHI) 9 – 6 Erik Hjorleifson(CAN)
Ruben Cuna(PHI) 9 – 4 Ricky Zerna(PHI) 
Darren Appleton(GBR) 9 – 2 Angelo Ariola(PHI)
 
Results Winners side matches. Winner qualifies for Final 64. Loser gets one more chance.
 
Group 1
Chang, Yu Lung(TPE) 9 – 6  Petri Makkonen(FIN)    
Piotr Kudlik (POL)  9 – 1 Pahdahsung Shognosh(CAN)  
 
Group 2
Raymund Faraon(PHI) Liu Chien Chieh(TPE 
Anton Raga(PHI) 9 –  5 Wang Can(CHN)  
 
Group 3
Mieszko Fortunski(POL) 9  – 5 Waleed Majid(QAT)  
John Morra(CAN) 9 – 5 Wu Kun Lin(TPE)  
 
Group 4
Lee Van Cortez(PHI) 9 – 5 John Rebong(PHI)  
Antonio Gabica(PHI) 9 – 8 Karol Skowerski(POL)  
 
Group 5
Jerico Bonus(PHI) 9 – 7 Marco Teutscher(NED)  
Ruben Bautista(MEX) 9 – 6 Ramil Gallego(PHI)  
 
Group 6
Ralf Souquet(GER) 9 – 3 Baseth Mapandi(PHI)  
Chang Jung Lin(TPE) 9 – 7  William Millares(PHI)  
 
Group 7
Radoslaw Babica(POL) 9 – 7 Michael Turkowski(POL)
Jason Klatt(CAN) 9 – 4 Ryu Seung Woo(KOR)  
 
Group 8
James Aranaz(PHI) 9 – 8 Ruslan Chinakhov(RUS)   
Dennis Orcollo(PHI) 9 – 8 Roland Garcia(PHI)
 
Group 9
Francisco Bustamante(PHI) 9- 3 Ivica Putnik(CRO)   
Alex Pagulayan(CAN) 9 – 1 Elvis Calasang(PHI)  
 
Group 10
Fu Che Wei(TPE) 9- 5 Karl Boyes(GBR)   
Warren Kiamco(PHI) 9 – 3 Jani Seikkinin(FIN)  
 
Group 11
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 9 – 8 Richard Alinsub(PHI)  
Elmer Haya(PHI) 9 – 3 Manuel Gama(POR)  
 
Group 12
Alex Kazakis(GRE) 9 – 5 Hsu Jui An(TPE)   
Roberto Gomez(PHI) 9 – 6 Sahroni(INA)
 
Group 13
Carlo Biado(PHI) 9- 4 Ryan Maglassang(PHI)
Denis Grabe(EST) 9- 5Romero Silvano(PHI)
 
Group 14
Oliver Viliafuerte(PHI) 9 – 5Jerico Banares(PHI) 
Jeffrey de Luna(PHI) 9 – 1 Asis Tadique(PHI)
 
Group 15
Stuart Pettman(GBR) 9 – 5 Mika Immonen(FIN)  
Emil Martinez(PHI) 9- 2 Leonardo Didal(PHI)
 
Group 16
 Jonas Magpantay(PHI) 9 – 1  Ricky Yang(INA)
Darren Appleton(GBR) 9 – 7  Ruben Cuna(PHI)
 
 
Results Losers Side Matches. Losers are out, winners get one more chance to qualify.
 
Group 1
David Alcaide David(ESP) 9 – 4 Augusto Boots(PHI)  
Aloysius Yapp(SIN) 9 – 6  Cristian Gariando (PHI)
 
Group 2
 Kamal Chawla(IND) 9 – 7 Ibrahim Amir(MAS)  
David Renemar(PHI)  9 – 8 Antonio Lining(PHI)  
 
Group 3
Demosthenes Pulpul(PHI)  9 – 4 Jordan Legaspi(PHI) 
Jundel Mazon(PHI)   9 – 8 Hsu Kai Lun(TPE) 
 
Group 4
Muhammad Zulfikri(INA) 9 – 7 Maritn Daigle(CAN)
Lui Haitao(CHN) 9 – 1 Raj Hundal(GBR)
 
Group 5
Nick Ekonomopoulos(GRE) 9 – 6 Mateusz Sniegocki(POL)
Sundeep Gulati(IND) 9 – 4 Vincent Goh(AUS)
 
Group 6
Patrick Gonzales(PHI) 9 – 6 Ham Wonsik(KOR) 
Val Pauay(PHI) 9 – 7 Benjie Gueuarra(PHI)
 
Group 7
Sean Nark Malayan(PHI) 9 – 7 Hunter Lombardo(USA)
Thomasz Kaplan(POL) 9 – 2 Toh Lian Han(SIN)
 
Group 8
Rodney Morris(USA) 9 – 8 Irsa Nasution(INA)
Oliver Medenilla(PHI) 9 – 3 Babken Melkonyan(ROM)
 
Group 9
Albin Ouschan(AUT) 9 – 8 Chen Hsin Ting(TPE)
Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE) 9 – 1 Kwon Hojun(KOR)
 
Group 10
Ronnie Alcano(PHI) 9 – 6 Dante Razalan(PHI)
Raymart Comomt(PHI) 9 – 1 Behzad Zareifrad(IRI)
 
Group 11
Marc Bijsterbosch(NED) 9 – 6 Daryl Peach(GBR) 
Muhammad Bewi(INA) 9 – 7 Romel Sultan(PHI)
 
Group 12
Yang Ching Shun(TPE) 9- 4 Daniele Corrieri(ITA) 
Roland Dela Cruz(PHI) 9 – 6 Thorsten Hohmann(GER)
 
Group 13
Ryan Maglassang(PHI) 9 – 5  Romero Silvano(PHI)
Konstantine Stepanov(RUS) 9 -5 Mark Mendoza(PHI)
 
Group 14
Marcus Chamat(SWE) 9 – 5 Mario He(AUT) 
Johann Chua(PHI)  9 – 3 Imran Majid(GBR)
 
Group 15
Jeffrey Calonge(PHI) 8 -9 Liu Ri Teng(GBR)
Ko Pin Yi(TPE)  9 – 0 Stephan Doiron(CAN)
 
Group 16
Erik Hjorleifson(CAN) 9 – 5 Jeong Young Hwa(KOR) 
Ricky Zerna(PHI) 9 – 4 Angelo Ariola(PHI)

 

Striding, and Stumbling, Out Of The Gates

Waleed Majid of Qatar

Day 1 at the 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship in General Santos City sees some favorites cruise while others struggle to find their form.

 

One thing that is a constant in any world championship in the sport of pool is good old pressure. But as the 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball championship kicked off on Tuesday in the Philippines southernmost city of General Santos, it was not the usual nerve rattling pressure that makes grown men cry and brings back the fans time and again that was on display. It was, rather, that nagging pressure to get out of the gates quickly, to find that championship spark that can carry you to glory later in the week.

 
“There’s two kind of pressure in these events,” said an obviously relieved Karl Boyes after he took down former world 9-ball champion Ronnie Alcano of the Philippines 9-7 in their first match of the group stages. “The first pressure is trying to get through the group stages, to just get those two wins and get into the single elimination. There’s nothing worse in this game than going out in a world championship in the group stages. All of us feel that the tournament doesn’t really begin until the single elimination stage. Then, if you can then make it to the final 16, that’s when you look around and realize you’ve got a chance to win the world title.”
 
Indeed with 51 matches in the books after a long Day 1, nobody amongst the 128 players from nearly two dozen countries is touching the subject of winning the crown. For the next two days, it’s all about winning the required two matches, getting out of your group and securing a spot in the money rounds, the Final 64, which begins Thursday night. It’s a pressure to perform, and, especially for the top players, to not embarrass themselves.
 
There was a host of terrific matches inside the SM City Atrium today with many  contests featuring top names squaring off against each other, adding that extra element of drama and gravity to the proceedings. Plenty of matches went all the way to the wire, leaving one player greatly relieved and the other suddenly staring at elimination.
 
In a match featuring two up and coming quality players, Canada’s John Morra found himself down to 8-5 in a race to 9 to the Philippines Jundel Mazon. But just when Mazon thought he had the match won, he slipped and allowed the Canadian a lifeline. Morra turned the tables on the Filipino and sent him to the losers’ side of the group with a brilliant comeback.
 
“He made a few mistakes when he was up 8-5,” Morra said.  “I just started putting pressure on him and I could see he was feeling it. I played really well at the end.”
 
The Philippines Dennis Orcollo is surely one of the favorites here this week, but he struggled against fellow Filipino Oliver Medenilla. Down most of the match, Orcollo discovered his groove just in time to win a squeaker, 9-8.
 
“I didn’t feel that good today and I didn’t break that well,” said Orcollo, the world number 7. “There’s always pressure in the first match because you don’t know the tables and how to break. But I finally figured out the break. That’s the key to winning this tournament is the break shot. If I can break good, I’ve got a chance. And I know how to deal with the pressure in the knockout stages.”
 
The Philippines veteran Warren Kiamco is coming off a massive victory in the US at the Derby City 9-ball and could surely find himself in the winner’s circle here this week. But young Filipino upstart Raymart Comomt proved yet again that the talent pool in the Philippines runs as deep as Sarangani Bay here in Gen San. Comomt took Kiamco to the limit before falling to his elder at the finish line, 9-8.
 
Two-time World 9-ball Champion Thorsten Hohmann has found lots of success in the Philippines but he’ll have to bear down over the next two days, as he fell in a nail biter to Indonesia’s Sharoni, 9-8. China’s talented young star Wang Can had his hands full with Philippine veteran Antonio Lining, winning a tight match, 9-8.
 
One player who seems to play pressure free these days is World number 1 Chang Yu Lung of Taiwan. He opened the day in a quality matchup against Spain’s David Alcaide. Smooth and steady as always, Chang cruised to a 9-6 victory and looks set to go far this week.
 
Perhaps the finest performance of the day was put in by the Philippines’ Antonio Gabica. The Qatar based Gabica, who two years ago took runner up in the World 9-ball Championship in Qatar, stomped on world number 11 Lui Haitao of China, 9-3.
 
Another Qatar player, Waleed Majid, currently ranked number 12 in the world, continued  his fine tournament form as he defeated the Philippines Jordan Legaspi 9-6. Majid is the highest ever ranked player out of the Middle East and his dedication to the sport is paying big dividends.
 
Other notable winners today include Filipinos Francisco Bustamante, Lee Vann Corteza, Alex Pagulayan, Carlo Biado, Roberto Gomez and Raymund Faraon.  Germany’s Ralf Souquet and Taiwan’s young Ko Ping Chun also notched victories.
 
The Netherlands big stars, including World number 2 Niels Feijen, Nick Van Den Berg, and 2011 World 10-ball Champion Huidji See are not entered in this year’s event but a rising Dutch player clearly wants some of that limelight.  Marco Teutscher defeated world number 8, and Mosconi Cup star Nikos Ekonomopoulos, 9-5.
 
Play in the group stages continues on Day 2 of the World 10-ball Championship. The field of 128 will be cut in half by late on Day 3 on Wednesday when the final 64, single elimination stage of the tournament begins. The semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday.
 
 The winner of the 2015 World 10-ball Championship will receive $40,000, while the runner up will receive $20,000
 
**The 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship takes place at the SM Mall in General Santos City, Philippines   from February 15-21 and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool. The entire event is sponsored by Manny Pacquiao. 
 
To view the brackets please CLICK HERE
 
The WPA will be on hand in General Santos throughout this year’s World 10-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com.  
 
RESULTS DAY 1
Winners need one more win to advance to the Final 64. Losers go to the losers side of the double elimination bracket for another chance.
 
Group 1
Chang, Yu Lung(TPE) 9 – 6 David Alcaide David(ESP) 
Petri Makkonen(FIN) 9 – 7 Augusto Boots(PHI)  
Pahdahsung Shognosh(CAN) 9 – 8 Cristian Gariando (PHI)
Piotr Kudlik (POL) 9 – 8 Aloysius Yapp(SIN)
 
Group 2
Raymund Faraon(PHI) 9 – 4 Kamal Chawla(IND)
Liu Chien Chieh(TPE) 9 – 2 Ibrahim Amir(MAS) vs. 
Anton Raga(PHI) 9 – 3 David Renemar(PHI) 
Wang Can(CHN) 9 – 8 Antonio Lining(PHI)  
 
Group 3
Waleed Majid(QAT) 9 – 6 Jordan Legaspi(PHI)
Mieszko Fortunski(POL) 9- 5 Demosthenes Pulpul(PHI)  
Wu Kun Lin(TPE) 9 – 8 Hsu Kai Lun(TPE)  
John Morra(CAN) 9 -8  Jundel Mazon(PHI)  
 
Group 4
Lee Van Cortez(PHI) 9 – 2 Muhammad Zulfikri(INA)
John Rebong(PHI) 9 – 7 Maritn Daigle(CAN)
Karol Skowerski(POL) 9 – 7  Raj Hundal(GBR)
Antonio Gabica(PHI) 9 – 3 Lui Haitao(CHN)
 
Group 5
Marco Teutscher(NED) 9 – 5 Nick Ekonomopoulos(GRE) 
Jerico Bonus(PHI) 9 – 8 Mateusz Sniegocki(POL)
Ruben Bautista(MEX) 9 – 4 Sundeep Gulati(IND)
Ramil Gallego(PHI) 9 – 2 Vincent Goh(AUS)
 
Group 6
Ralf Souquet(GER) 9 – 6  Ham Wonsik(KOR)
Baseth Mapandi(PHI) 9 – 6  Patrick Gonzales(PHI)
William Millares(PHI) 9 – 6 Val Pauay(PHI)
Chang Jung Lin(TPE) 9 – 7  Benjie Gueuarra(PHI)
 
Group 7
Radoslaw Babica(POL) 9 – 6 Hunter Lombardo(USA)
Michael Turkowski(POL) 9 – 6 Sean Nark Malayan(PHI  
Ryu Seung Woo(KOR) 9 – 5 Thomasz Kaplan(POL)
Jason Klatt(CAN) 9 – 6 Toh Lian Han(SIN)
 
Group 8
James Aranaz(PHI) 9 – 6 Rodney Morris(USA) 
Ruslan Chinakhov(RUS) 9 – 4 Irsa Nasution(INA)
Roland Garcia(PHI) 9 – 7 Babken Melkonyan(ROM)
Dennis Orcollo(PHI) 9 – 8 Oliver Medenilla(PHI)
 
Group 9
Ivica Putnik(CRO) 9 – 7 Albin Ouschan(AUT) 
Francisco Bustamante(PHI) 9- 2 Chen Hsin Ting(TPE)
Elvis Calasang(PHI) 9- 5 Kwon Hojun(KOR)
Alex Pagulayan(CAN) 9 – 3Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE)
 
Group 10
Karl Boyes(GBR) 9 – 7 Ronnie Alcano(PHI)
Fu Che Wei(TPE) 9- 8 Dante Razalan(PHI)
Jani Seikkinin(FIN) 9 – 5 Behzad Zareifrad(IRI)
Warren Kiamco(PHI) 9 – 8 Raymart Comomt(PHI)
 
Group 11
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 9 – 6 Daryl Peach(GBR) 
Richard Alinsub(PHI) 9 – 6 Marc Bijsterbosch(NED)
Manuel Gama(POR) 9 – 3 Jomel Sultan(PHI)
Elmer Haya(PHI) 9 – 7 Muhammad Bewi(INA)
 
Group 12
Alex Kazakis(GRE) 9 – 6 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)
Hsu Jui An(TPE) 9 – 4 Daniele Corrieri(ITA) 
Roberto Gomez(PHI) 9 – 3 Roland Dela Cruz(PHI)
Sahroni(INA) 9 – 8 Thorsten Hohmann(GER)
 
Group 13
Carlo Biado(PHI) 9- 4 Ryan Maglassang(PHI)
Mark Rodriguez(PHI)  Romero Silvano(PHI)
Denis Grabe(EST) 9 – 6 Mark Mendoza(PHI)
Michael Feliciano(PHI) 9 – 7 Konstantine Stepanov(RUS)

Rise Of The Upstarts – World 9-Ball Final Sixty Four

Photo Courtesy of Richard Walker

Pool’s next generation of superstars took a giant leap towards claiming their place in the sun today, producing a slew of shocking and unexpected results as the field at the 2014 World 9-ball Championship was cut in half from 64 players down to 32.
 
It was an extraordinary day given over to unknown upstarts, newcomers, fearless young guns, and a few wily but unheralded veterans, all of  whom seemed to collectively state to pool’s elite that it was time for some new and different names to grab the headlines for a change.
 
So how bad was it for pool’s biggest names?  Well, here’s a statistic that could come straight from the crime blotter; five former world 9-ball champions, and the defending champion Thorsten Hohmann all went down to defeat. Heavy favorites like the Philippines’ Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza also were sent home.
 
The remaining field still comprises two former world champions, and plenty of pool’s top ranked players. And when they set off tomorrow with all these fresh faces in the mix, the results are likely to remembered for some time to come. That’s because Thursday’s breakneck schedule will see the remaining 32 players whittled down to just four by the end of the day. The semi-finals and finals will them be contested on Friday.
 
The tone of the day was set early in the first session by Qatar’s very own Waleed Majid. On paper the 26 year old Qatari had no chance against world number four Lee Vann Corteza, who was tapped by some to win this world title. Majid had never before even gone beyond the group stages.
 
Majid, though, played like he was the one pegged for greatness. Smooth, confident, fearless, the Qatari played near flawless 9-ball, putting the Filipino on the ropes early and keeping him there until the very end and taking an impressive 11-6 victory. It’s the first time a Qatari pool player has ever reached the round of 32 in the World Championship.
 
While drinking in the hugs, kisses and accolades of his fellow countrymen, Majid revealed that playing the world’s best players doesn’t scare him, but rather it motivates him to play beyond his own capabilities
 
Marc Teutscher of the Netherlands“During the match I always just look at the table,” Majid said. “I don’t look at my opponent. But before the match if I see I’m playing a world class player, then that really helps me concentrate and play better.
 
“I felt good in practice before the World 9-ball Championship. I want to do good because I want to help pool in Qatar. I will give everything to help Qatar because Qatar supports me.”
 
Majid said that before the tournament, he actually had the fervent desire to meet 2012 World 9-ball champion Darren Appleton, a wish which will now come true in the round of 32 on Thursday in front of what promises to be a very one-side home town crowd.
 
“Before the tournament I was actually hoping to play Darren Appleton. I want to test my skills. I’m ready to play him. I will  try my best and hopefully I can win and bring a big honor to Qatar and Qatar Billiard Federation.”
 
Appleton would present a very formidable obstacle to even the most seasoned veteran as he is clearly playing at the top of his extraordinary game. The Brit found himself up against fellow Englishman and good friend Daryl Peach in a match of two former champions. Appleton got off to a quick start and never looked back and cruised to an easier than expected 11-3 win. 
 
Appleton said not only was he feeling confident about his game, but he was feeling very relaxed and comfortable in the Al Saad Sports Club. It was in this very building two years ago where Appleton had his greatest triumph, winning the World 9 ball Championship in a thriller against China’s Li He Wen.
 
“I feel at home here in the Al Saad because this is where I won the World 9-ball Championship in 2012. Last year they had the tournament in another venue so in a way I feel like I’m defending my title. I have a lot of fond memories here. And I’d like to create a few more in the next few days.”
 
The Philippines Dennis Orcollo was expected to create a major memory this year, but the Filipino star ran into a streaking Naoyuki Oi of Japan. Oi, who reached the semis here two years ago, has a marvelous game when he gets his engine cranked and today he played in full gear from the beginning. Orcollo fell  behind big early and never recovered, as Oi held him off for an 11-8 win.
 
Two more Filipinos fell by the wayside early to two of the tournaments impressive young guns. China’s Wang Can certainly seems headed for big things and today he continued his imposing play as he won a stingy victory over the Philippines Warren Kiamco, 11-8. Austria’s young Mario He appears to be coming into his own and looked solid in outlasting former world champ Alex Pagulayan 11-9.
 
While Filipino fans were in shock at the early exit of many of their big names, several others, including a few newer players, stepped into the void to grab the limelight. Last year’s semi-finalist Carlo Biado played strong today, as did Johann Chua who continued to look brilliant with a dominating performance over Italy’s Daniele Corrieri, 11-4. Raymond Faraon and Elmer D. Haya, two relative unknowns who toil as overseas workers teaching pool in the Middle East also advanced with solid wins.
 
Canada’s Jason Klatt has been on the scene for a few years but he has never looked better than in the last few days.. The 28 year from Selkirk, Canada, and who now lives in Bloomington, Illinois, manhandled the Philippines Jeffrey De Luna, 11-6. Klatt’s spent much of the last two years on the road in the US, playing tournaments, money games and practicing his craft. Much of this travel has been with his good friend, Darren Appleton. Klatt says the lessons learned from hanging around with a talent like Appleton are starting to sink in.
 
“Just being around a guy  of his caliber rubs off,” Klatt said. “He was always telling me, ‘You’ve just got to believe in yourself.’ And I think I’m starting to see the results now.”
 
Later in the day Shane Van Boening kept the USA’s hopes alive with a hard fought win over Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin. Former world champion Wu Jiaqing, now playing for China, finally showed his world class form with a drubbing of Taiwan’s Lo Li Wen, 11-4.  Taiwan’s young Hsu Kai Lun and China Open champion Chiang Yu Lung also moved on.
 
Some the day’s best fireworks were saved for the last session of the day. The Czech Republic’s Roman Hybler has been on the scene for over ten years but hadn’t made much noise in about that much time. Today the 37 year old Hybler roared back into the pool spotlight with an impressive outing against former world champ Mika Immonen, winning 11-7.
 
“When I woke up today and went to the practice hall I felt good, I felt I had a chance today,” Hybler said.  “If I can Mika, I can beat anyone.”
 
China’s Li He Wen, last year’s runner up Antonio Gabica, and Austria’s Albin Ouschan all put in solid efforts today to advance. The Philippines veteran Ramil Gallego, who lives in Japan, took hall of famer Ralf Souquet to the brink and squeaked by at the wire, 11-10, sending the German great home earlier than anyone expected.
 
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire day happened at about the same time on the other side of the arena. Dutch newcomer Marc Teutscher was hanging around defending champion Thorsten Hohmann for much of their tense match. But absolutely nobody could imagine the 22 year old, playing in his very first world championship, could overtake the great German. But Teutscher kept battling away and after trailing for most of the match, finally took a late lead and held off  Hohmann with some amazing pressure shots to pull off a shock win, 11-9.
 
Teutscher’s win was the perfect ending to an amazing day in pool.  With  many of the sport’s biggest names sent packing, and the appearance of many new names, young sharp shooters, and grizzled veterans rising to the fore, the next two days are sure to see some unusual and exciting turn of events as pool crowns a new world champion.
 
The round of 32 begins Thursday at 11am Doha time, GMT +3.
 
**The 2014 World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from June 16-27. The winner of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner up will receive $15,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.
 
The players will be competing on Wiraka New Model Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Super Pro TV Balls.
 
The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation, which is once again hosting and organizing the World 9-ball Championship, will be providing free live streaming of the entire tournament on its website, http://live.qbsf.qa/.   
 
To  view the brackets  please visit this link: http://www.qbsf.qa/en/downloads/2014/2014_W9BC_Final_round_format.pdf
 
The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com. Fans can also visit the website of the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation at;  www.qbsf.qa 
 
*The 2014 World 9-ball Championship will be held in Doha, Qatar from June 16-27,2014 and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of the sport of pocket billiards. 128 players from across the globe will compete for the most prestigious prize in Men’s Pool. The 2014  World 9-ball Championship is a WPA ranking event.
 
 
 
Results Final 64
 
1st Session
 
Wang Can(CHN) 11 – 9 Warren Kiamco(PHL)
Raymond Faraon(PHL) 11 – 5 Liu Cheng Chieh(TPE) 
Elmer D. Haya(PHL) 11 – 4 Francisco Felicilda(PHL)
Hijikata Hayato(JPN) 11 – 8 Tanaka Masaaki(JPN)
Waleed Majed(QAT) 11 – 6 Lee Van Corteza(PHL)   
Darren Appleton(GBR) 11 – 3 Daryl Peach(GBR)
Konstantin Stepanov(RUS) 11 – 8 Andreas Gerwin(SWE)  
Johann Chua(PHL) 11 – 4 Daniele Corrieri(ITA)
 
2nd Session
Mario He(AUT) 11 – 9  Alex Pagulayan(CAN)
Jeong Young Hwa(KOR) 11 – 9 Jayson Shaw(GBR)  
Radoslaw Babica(POL) 11 – 3 Manuel Gama(POR)
Neils Feijen(NED) 11 – 4 Salaheldeen Al Rimawi(UAE)
Carlo Biado(PHL) 11 – 6 Meiszko Fortunski(POL)
Jason Klatt(CAN) 11 -6 Jeffrey De Luna(PHL)  
Naoyuki Oi(JPN) 11 – 8 Dennis Orcollo(PHL)  
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 – 3 Sundeep Galati(IND)
 
Hsu Kai Lun(TPE) 11 – 6 Fu Che Wei(TPE)   
Wu Jiaqing(CHN) 11 – 4 Lo Li Wen(TPE)
Stephan Cohen(FRA) 11 – 5  Huidji  See(NED)
Chang Yu Lung(TPE)    11 – 9 Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE)   
Shane Van Boening(USA) 11 – 9 Chang Jung Lin(TPE)
Dang Jing Hu(CHN) 11 – 6 Karl Boyes(GBR)   
Tohru Kuribayashi (JPN) 11 -9  Alexander Kazakis(GRE)
Nick Ekonomopoulos(GRE) 11 – 5 Fabio Petroni(ITA)
 
4th Session
Antonio G.bica(PHL) 11 – 7  Medhi Rasekhi(IRI)
Ryu Seung Woo(KOR) 11 – 9 Bruno Muratore(ITA)  
Roman Hybler(CZE) 11 – 7 Mika Immonen(FIN)   
Albin Ouschan(AUT) 11 – 5 Oliver Ortmann(GER)   
Li He Wen(CHN) 11 – 7 Dimitri Jungo(SUI)
Marc Teutscher(NED) 11 – 9 Thorsten Hohmann(GER)
Nick Van Den Berg(NED) 11 – 8 Aloysius Yapp(SIN)
Ramiel Gallego(PHL) 11 – 10 Ralf Souquet(GER) 

 

Experience Carries The Opening Day

Dennis Orcollo (Photo courtesy of Richard Walker)

Long time followers of the WPA World 9-ball Championship know that the event is always full of surprises. The upstarts, the unknowns, the unexpected seem to make a splash in each and every edition of pool’s crowning glory.
 
As this slowly building drama begins to rise towards a guaranteed thunderous climax six days from now, fans already know the upsets and shocks are going to start mounting. But while the newbies and nobody’s of pool will definitely make their noise, even more true is that good old fashioned sporting standards like experience, possessing a history of winning and performing under crushing pressure are generally going to carry the day.
 
As day one of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship commenced in this fabulously wealthy desert kingdom this most valuable of athletic tenants carried the storyline in one of the day’s better matches. The Philippines’ Dennis Orcollo would be among any betting man or woman’s top contenders out of the field of 128 players entered here in Doha. But in his first match in the group stage he drew a very difficult opponent in Canada’s Jason Klatt.
 
Down 6-4, then 8-6 in the race to 9 match, and clearly struggling to find his normally sensational groove, Orcollo was staring at the prospect of a long and arduous road back to reach the final 64. But then, in that manner that champions always put forth, the Filipino star managed to claw back and claim a very hard fought and nervy victory, 9-8. Afterward, Orcollo admitted he was slow to get a feel for the brand new Wiraka table. But he also admitted he’s been around long enough to know what to do when things don’t go your way.
 
“I felt uncomfortable with the table,” Orcollo said.  “I struggled but I didn’t give up. You know  I have a lot of experience. And I know that with pressure comes negative thoughts.  It’s going to happen in pool. There’s nothing you can do about it. I just try to calm down and stay focused, stay positive and that’s what I did today.”
 
With the gritty win Orcollo moves to  the winner side of his group bracket and now only needs to win one more match to advance to the money rounds. What could have been a disaster has, because of experience, turned into a battle hardening test that will clearly serve the Filipino well moving forward. It also should serve as a lesson for fans looking for an upstart to wreak havoc on the field. Yes, that’s a real  possibility in this often wild and crazy sport that is loaded with new and burgeoning talent. But pool, like everything else, generally doesn’t operate outside the laws of the universe. Put a simpler way, the crème generally rises to the top.
 
There was plenty of tasty crème rising to the top in the 48 matches at the Al Saad Sports Club on Day 1 as most of the favorites claimed victory in the first day of group play.  Defending champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany kicked things off with a 9-2 drubbing of India’s overmatched Sumit Talwar.  His opponent in last year’s final, the Philippines Antonio Gabica, didn’t have near as easy a draw, as he found himself locked in battle with two time runner up Kuo Po Cheng of Taiwan.
 
The USA's Shane Van BoeningMuch like he did last year during his historic run to the finals, Gabica hung around for three fourths of the match, only to pull away at the end for a 9-5 win. Gabica, who’s lived in Qatar for five years and helps coach the Qatar national pool team,  admitted afterward that he wasn’t thinking about last year’s finals debacle when nerves and pressure got the better of him and he blew a 6-4 lead to Hohmann. Gabica said this year he was feeling a different kind of pressure; the one that comes from just trying to put food on the family table.
 
“That’s too much pressure out there,” the friendly Gabica said after the match. “You know at this stage of the tournament if you lose, you don’t get prize money. That’s why I don’t think about last year. I just think about getting to the final 64. I want to get the prize money.”
 
One player who fans would love to see make a dash to glory is the USA’s Shane Van Boening. The three time and reigning US Open champion has the pedigree to win here in Doha. But Van Boening never seems to perform that well outside the borders of America.
 
Today Van Boening defeated Eritrea’s very talented Hamzaa M. Saeed Ali, 9-5. After his match, the American opened up about the reasons he feels why he hasn’t yet cracked the winners circle outside of the US borders.
 
 “If it’s winner breaks, then I have a chance,” Van Boening said. “I won three US Opens and they were winner breaks. I’m a rhythm player. I like to run out and then keep playing. I don’t like to give my opponent a chance. I like to put a guy in his chair for a while. With the alternate break format I have a hard time getting in rhythm. “
 
 The Philippines Hall of Famer Efren Reyes clearly couldn’t get in any rhythm today. Several hundred Filipino overseas workers showed up to cheer on their hero but came away disappointed as “Bata” never got in the match as he lost handily to Korea’s Jeong Young Hwa, 9-5.
 
Other favorites winning  solidly today included former champions Mika Immonen of Finland, Germany’s Ralf Souquet, and Wu Jiaqing of China. Also notching solid performances were Greece’s Nick Ekonomopoulos, Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, the Philippines Carlo Biado, and  England’s Karl Boyes.
 
A few dark horses made some noise during today’s four sessions and fans should definitely keep an eye on these upstarts who could wreak havoc in the coming days. China’s Wang Can is perhaps the best of this lot and he looked brilliant today in a 9-2 drubbing of the USA’s Brandon Shuff. Austria’s Mario He seems to have it together at just the right time, as he beat recent China Open winner Chang Yu Lung, 9-7. Ko Ping Chung, the younger brother of Taiwan star Ko Pin Yi, eked out a 9-8 win over Poland’s Karol Skowerski.
 
Waleed Majed of QatarThe Philippines Warren Kiamco is one of those players who could sneak up on the field in the later rounds. Today the veteran Kiamco carved out a solid 9-7 win over France’s Stephen Cohen. Singapore’s young Aloysius Yapp can’t realistically win this event, but he could stir the pot. Today the boyish Yapp defeated Mohamed Elassal of Egypt 9-5.
 
Great Britain’s Jasyon Shaw has certainly logged in a few miles in the past few years and is due to make some noise in a big event. He clearly brings the right attitude into the arena, and it’s something others might want to try and copy. That is, if they have the nerve to under all this pressure.
 
“You’ve gotta take your chances out here,” Shaw said after defeating Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin, 9-6.  “If you don’t take chances, you might as well pack up your cue and go home.”
 
The group stages continue on Day 2 at the Al Saad on Sunday.  All the losers will square off on Day 2 with 32 players being shown the exits by the end of the day’s play. The first session begins at 12 noon local time.(GMT +3)
 
**The 2014 World 9-ball Championship takes place at the Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar from June 16-27. The winner of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner up will receive $15,000. The total prize fund is $200,000.
 
The players will be competing on Wiraka New Model Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Super Pro TV Balls.
 
The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation, which is once again hosting and organizing the World 9-ball Championship, will be providing free live streaming of the entire tournament on its website, http://live.qbsf.qa/.   
 
The view the complete brackets for the Group Stages, please CLICK HERE
 
The WPA will be on hand in Doha throughout this year’s World 9-ball Championship providing up to the minute information, live scoring, photographs and in depth articles with insights and analysis from WPA Press Officer Ted Lerner. 
 
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
 
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
 
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com. Fans can also visit the website of the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation at;  www.qbsf.qa 
 
*The 2014 World 9-ball Championship will be held in Doha, Qatar from June 16-27,2014 and is sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of the sport of pocket billiards. 128 players from across the globe will compete for the most prestigious prize in Men’s Pool. The 2014  World 9-ball Championship is a WPA ranking event.
 
 
RESULTS FROM DAY 1
Winners need one more win to advance to the Final 64. Losers move to the losers side of their group bracket. All groups are double elimination.
 
Group 1
Thorsten Hohmann (GER) 9 – 3 Sumit Talwar (IND)
Tanaka Masaaki(JPN)  9 – 4 Mohamed Al Hosani(UAE)
Marco Teutscher(NED) 9 – 6 Mohd Al Bin Ali(QAT)  
Cheng Yu Hsuan(TPE) 9 – 5 Erik Hjorleifson(CAN)
 
Group 2
Jalas Yousef(VEN) 9- 5 John Morra(CAN)
Tohru Kuribayashi(JPN) 9- 7 Scott Cooney(GBR)
Hsu Kai Lun(TPE) 9 – 5  Hasan Hwaida Idan(IRQ)
Dang Jing Hu(CHN) 9- 2 Dimitri Jungo(SUI)
 
Group 3
Shane Van Boening(USA) 9 – 5 Hamzaa M. Saeed Ali(ERI)
Daniele Corrieri(ITA) 9 – 5 Alexander Kazakis(GRE) 
Fu Chei Wei(TPE) 9 – 4 Ahmad Taufiq(BRU)
Abdul Rahman Al Ammar(KSA) 9 – 5 Melkonyan Babken(ROU)
 
Group 4
Nick Van Den Berg(NED) 9 – 7  Ramil Gallego(PHL)
Mehdi Rasekhi(IRI)9 – 4 Mishel Turkey(QAT)
Antonio G.bica(PHL-QAT) 9 – 5 Kuo Po Cheng(TPE) 
Michel Bartol(CRO) 9 – 3 Fahim Sinha(BAN)
 
Group 5 
Mika Immonen(FIN) 9 –  5 Liu Hai Tao(CHN)
Ryu Seung Woo(KOR) 9 – 6 Yukio Akagariyama (JPN) 
Fabio Petroni(ITA) 9 – 5 Hunter Lombardo(USA)
Waleed Majed(QAT) 9 – 2 Detlef Grzella(RSA)
 
Group 6
Ralf Souquet(GER) 9 – 1 Frailin Guanipa(VEN)
Abdulla Al Yusef(KUW) 9-3 Mohammed Hamouda(EGY)
Niels Feijen(NED) 9 – 4 Eric Lee(HKG)
Warren Kiamco(PHL) 9 – 7 Stephan Cohen(FRA)
 
Group 7
Dennis Orcollo(PHL) 9 – 8 Jason Klatt(CAN)
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 9 – 8 Karol Skowerski(POL)
Jayson Shaw(GBR) 9 – 6 Chang Jung Lin(TPE)
Ivo Aarts(NED) 9 – 5 Abdulla Mohammad(UAE)
 
Group 8
Roman Hybler(CZE) 9 – 5 Daryl Peach(GBR) 
Hijikata Hayato(JPN) 9 – 6 Vilmos Foldes(HUN) 
Carlo Biado(PHL) 9 – 3 Nour Wasfi Al Jarrah(JOR)
Tom Storm(SWE) 9 – 8 Glen Coutts(NZL)
 
Group 9
Karl Boyes(GBR) 9 – 4 Sayeem Hossain(BAN)
Bruno Muratore(ITA) 9 – 8 Maj Al Azmi(KUW)
Jeong Young Hwa(KOR) 9 – 5 Efren Reyes(PHL) 
Raymund Faraon(PHL) 9 – 8 Denis Grabe(EST)
 
Group 10
Wu Jiaqing(CHN) 9 – 7 Stefan Sprangers(NED)
Elvis Calasang(PHL) 9 – 3 Marzen Berjaoui(LEB)
Mieszko Fortunski(POL) 9 – 5 Albin Ouschan(AUT) 
Konstantin Stepanov(RUS) Alejandro Carvajal(CHI)
 
Group 11
Wang Can(CHN) 9 – 2 Brandon Shuff(USA)
Aloysius Yapp(SIN) 9 – 5 Mohamed Elassal(EGY)
Huidji See(NED) 9  – 3 Jurgen Jenisy(AUT)
Andreas Gerwen(SWE) 9 – 4 Mohammadali Pordel(IRI)
 
Group 12
Mario He(AUT) 9 – 7 Chang Yu Lung(TPE) 
Ali Obaidly(QAT) 9 – 4 Mohammad Ali Berjaoui(LEB)
Nick Economopoulos(GRE) 9 – 3 Christian Aguirre(ECU)
Nguyen Anh Tuan(VIE) 9 – 6 Francisco Felicilda(PHL)