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Orcollo Pulls a Second Great Escape

February 18th, 2015 | azhousepro | Uncategorized

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

February 17th, 2015 | azhousepro | Uncategorized

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

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)

Archive Page

Orcollo Pulls a Second Great Escape

Striding, and Stumbling, Out Of The Gates