Taiwan to pool champ: Don't switch to Singapore

TAIWAN'S top cuesports official has warned pool double world champion Wu Chia-ching that there will be 'serious consequences' if the player takes up Singapore citizenship.

For starters, Wu, one of the island's most famous pool players, stands to lose NT$900,000 (S$39,600), said Mr Tu Yung-hui, president of the Taiwan Pool and Billiards Association (CTBA).

If he switches nationalities, the association wants him to return the money, which was given to him as a reward when he won the World 9-Ball Championship and the World 8-Ball Championship in 2005.

He arrived in Singapore earlier this month as a sparring partner for the Republic's national team.

Wu on RP & Taiwan now even-Steven

Filipino cue artists are finding the Taiwanese such a pain in the necks. In the recent grand finals of the 2008 Guinness 9-Ball Tour, the Taiwanese booted out the likes of Dennis Orcullo and Alex Pagulayan in the semifinals.

Current world No. 1 Dennis Orcullo, the Guanzhou leg champion, fell apart after the 13th rack to bow out of contention, beaten by Yan Ching Shun, 5-9. Pagulayan, who dominated the Singapore leg, fell 1-4 early in the game, worked his way to make it 6-8 but succumbed to 2004 World Pool champion Wu Chia Ching, 6-9.

This must have been a bitter loss for Orcullo as he vowed to make up after the stinging semis loss, he and Django Bustamante, suffered to eventual champs the US in the 2008 Party Pooker World Cup of Pool.

Yang ultimately won the grand finals, beating Wu, 11-9. With Yang’s triumph, the Philippines and Taiwan are now even-steven, 13-13, in titles won since the Guinness 9-Ball tournament started in 2003.

Orcullo and Pagulayan were in breathing fire in the quarterfinals as they routed their respective rivals. In between laying out my pages, I would peek and looked at the scores, and they were miles apart.

It was fast shaping up to be an All-Filipino finale but the Taiwanese spoiled the party. What I couldn’t understand is the sudden change in the games of Orcullo and Pagulayan - from almost perfect to mediocre. Or is billiards that unpredictable?

Orcullo and Pagulayan weren’t alone. Over at the US 9-Ball Open, Ronnie Alcano had his misfortunes as well. Alcano cruised into the finals, undefeated, and was the favorite to wrap up the crown until he lost to Finland’s Mika Immonen, 13-7.

Immonen came from the loser’s bracket, having absorbed an 11-6 beating from Alcano in the semis. On his way to the final, he beat another Filipino Warren Kiamco. The Finn more than made up for his earlier defeat by beating Alcano in the most important game, relegating Alcano to his second runner-up finish in the US Open.

All of a sudden, I’m missing the Magician. The last time I heard, Efren “Bata” Reyes has to skip the US 9-Ball Open due to health reasons. Let’s hope that he gets well soon and back in harness again.

Foreign cue artists main draw in World 10-Ball

Organizers of the World 10-Ball Championships are banking on a host of foreign cue artists to be the main draw in the week-long tournament, which will be missing the country’s top pool players.

A total of 128 players will vie for the $400,000 purse at stake, $100,000 of which goes to the champion of the tournament slated from September 29 to October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Raya Sports and Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Yen Makabenta said former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo and 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica will lead the country’s campaign against reigning World 9-Ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, former titlists Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert of Germany, Chinese-Taipei’s Wu Chia-Ching and Americans Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening.

Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jerico Banares and Mario Tolentino will also carry the Philippine colors in the tournament.

The tournament will have 128 players divided into 16 groups in the winner's-break elimination format. The top four from each group will advance into the 64-man knockout stage.

A winner-take-all match for third place will be played on October 5 while the title match between the top two cue artists begins at 5pm.

Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro will be the tournament’s guest of honor during the opening ceremony on September 29 at the PICC.

Merry Mix in Guangzhou Quarterfinals

It won't be a battle between just two countries anymore as five different nations will be represented when the quarterfinals of the penultimate leg of the Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008 take place tomorrow at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, China.

Three Taiwanese, two Filipinos, a Singaporean, a Korean and a Japanese make up the quarterfinal cast following today's group stages.

Defending Grand Final champion Jung Lin Chang of Chinese Taipei made his way back to the quarterfinals. Chang, who was unceremoniously booted out by Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines in the group stages of the Singapore leg, topped Group A after victories over China's Dang Jin Hu and Indonesia's Nurdin Abuba.

In a rematch of the Penang leg final, Chang will face countryman Hung Hsiang Wang in the next round at 12 noon tomorrow. Wang ruled Group B after beating local bet Mei Yi Fei and Hong Kong's Han Hao Xiang.

Toh Lian Han gave Singapore fans a lot to cheer about as he barged into the quarterfinals after sweeping his matches in today's group stages  The 35-year old gave Singapore a much - needed breakthrough victory as none of its players reached the quarterfinals in the previous four legs this year.

Up next for Toh's in the quarterfinals is current WPA World No. 1 Orcollo who overcame Chinese-Taipei's Chia-Ching Wu in a nail-biting match. Orcollo rallied down 2 – 5 to prevail over the 2005 WPA world champion 9 – 6 as he capitalized on a number of errors committed by Wu to top Group E. Wu suffered a dry break on the ninth rack, a scratch on the 14th rack and a uncharacteristic miss on the 9 ball in the 15th rack.

Orcollo's fellow Filipino, Alex Pagulayan, also made it past the group stages as he won Group C. Pagulayan, who claimed the Singapore leg, will square off against Satoshi Kawabata of Japan at 4:30 p.m. Kawabata was the winner in Group D.

The final quarterfinal encounter will pit Korea's Ryu Seung Woo against Chinese Taipei's Ching Shun Yang. Ryu ruled Group G while Yang won Group H.

The hometown representatives were not fortunate as the quartet of Mei, Dang, He Wen Li and Jian Bo Fu all failed to advance to the round of eight.

Only the top ten players in the Tour's Order of Merit list will qualify for the lucrative Grand Final in Jakarta next month and a qualifying spot in the WPA World Pool Championship.

ACKDO Supports QC Vs The World Grand Billiards Showdown

The QC-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown received another boost with the Association of Clubs, Karaoke and Disco Operators (ACKDO) throwing its all-out support to the much-anticipated event slated December 2 to 4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City .

With promoting Quezon City as the country’s sports tourism capital, ACKDO did not think twice in backing the project when approached by its chief proponent, City Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton.

“We are very happy to be part of this big event. Entertainment is one of the premier tourist attractions here in Quezon City, so we in the industry are giving our all-out support to this project, which in more than one way will also benefit us,” said ACKDO secretary-general Amil Yap.

ACKDO has been supporting a number of sports events, including the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP)'s Search for the New Billiards Idol series.

Also known as the “City of Stars ”, Quezon City boasts of having the biggest and liveliest entertainment spots in the country.

Already home to major television broadcasting networks, including giants ABS-CBN and GMA-7, Quezon City also houses dozens of restaurants, bars, night clubs, massage parlors, KTVs and the likes.

Pool icon Efren “Bata” Reyes banners the eight-man Team Q.C.-Philippines, which will pit prowess against a selection of topnotch cue artists from other countries in this three-day competition supported by the Quezon City Government led by Mayor Sonny Belmonte, QC Tourism Council headed by chairman Raffy Chico, and BMPAP with Solar Sports, RPN and the Philippine Star as media partners.

Besides Reyes, the other members of the Team QC Philippines are fellow former world champions Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, reigning world no.1 Dennis Orcollo, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez, Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco.

They will go up against a foreign team also led by three former world titlists in Chia-Ching Wu of Chinese-Taipei, Mika Immonen of Finland and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany. The other players of Team World are 2006 Asian Games gold medalist Satoshi Kawabata of Japan , Ching-Shun Yang of Chinese-Taipei, and Charlie William and Rodney Morris of the United States and another top European player.

They will compete for the $40,000 winner purse.

Cash-rich World 10-Ball set at PICC

Its all systems go for the 2008 World 10-Ball Championships with no less than Vice President Noli de Castro as guest of honor in the inaugural opening at the Philippine International Convention Center on Sept. 29.

De Castro will grace the opening rites at 9:30 a.m. including the ceremonial breaks, which will formally usher the group stage elimination of the competition.

A total of 128 players from all over the world representing 40 countries will be vying for the total purse of $400,000 with $100,000 going to the champion.

“This is going to be the biggest international billiards tournament in the country since I believe the World 9-Ball Championship has been postponed for next year. Mabibigat ang mga darating na players dito,” said Raya Sports president Yen Makabenta.

Makabenta mentioned the likes of reigning world 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, former titlists Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert of Germany, Chinese-Taipei’s Wu-Chia-Ching and Americans Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening as among the top picks in the tourney.

The host country will be bannered by former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo, Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang, Elmer Kalaquian, Jerico Banares and Mario Tolentino.

However, organizers are still uncertain if the country’s celebrated cue artists can join the competition.

“It would be good if everybody would take part. But if they don’t we can’t do anything about it,” added Makabenta obviously referring to big guns Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ronato Alcano and Alex Pagulayan, who comprised the breakaway group that boycotted the BSCP.

In the absence of some of the country’s bests, Makabenta said it’s just anybody’s game.

The tournament will group the players into 16, seeing action in the winner’s break elimination, with the top four from each group advancing into the 64-man knockout stage.

A winner-take-all match for third place will be played during the final day, preceding the championship game that begins at 5 p.m.

Tough task ahead for RP cue artists in Guinness 9Ball Tour

Manila, Philippines - The road to the Guinness 9-Ball Billiards Tour grand finals gets tougher for five Filipino campaigners when the tournament resumes in the final leg in Guangzhou, China from September 19 to 21 at the Garden Hotel.

The Guangzhou leg will be the toughest of the six-city Tour for the Filipinos since perennial contenders Chinese-Taipei will be fielding players composed of defending champion Chang Jung Lin, 2005 World Pool-Billiards Association titlist Wu Chia Ching, 2007 three-leg winner Yang Ching Shun and the dangerous Wang Hung Hsiang.

Chang, who topped the year’s first three legs, is already assured of the number one spot in the Tour’s Order of Merit while Yang and Wu are currently in second and third, respectively. Wang presently ranks fifth.

The Top 10 players in the overall Order of Merit after the Guangzhou leg will earn spots in the finals set in Jakarta, Indonesia from October 24 to 26.

Joven Bustamante is ranked highest among the five Filipinos at fourth in the Order of Merit while Alex Pagulayan jumped to sixth after winning the Singapore leg in July. While 2006 Doha Asian Games silver medalist Antonio Gabica placed seventh with WPA world no.1 Dennis Orcollo clinging on at 10th place.

Korea’s Ryu Seung Woo and Ibrahim Bin Amir of Malaysia rounded up the Top 10 after placing eighth and ninth respectively.

Hometown bets Fu Jian Bo and Li He Wen will make a final push for the Top 10 in the Guangzhou leg. The two are considered top contenders for a spot in the finals after occupying 11th and 12th places after four stages.

Helping Fu and Li make their final push are the hometown Chinese fans that came out in droves to support their athletes in last months Beijing Olympics.

Other players aiming for a spot in the finals are Indonesia’s Ricky Yang, Han Hao Xiang of Hong Kong, Thailand's Nitiwat Kajanasri and Sumit Talwar of India.

Players from Japan, Singapore and Vietnam are also expected to give their all in order to shore up their respective bids of earning valuable ranking points for the finals.

Hopeful of World Cup of Pool glory

Holland a have a thrilling match in the opening round of the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool as they take on neighbours Belgium on the opening night of the competition.

The event, which features 32 two-player teams from around the world, will be staged at Outland in Rotterdam from Tuesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 12.

Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen, ranked fifth and sixth respectively in Europe , are in the Holland A side and one of the favourites to win the title.

They will be backed by a large, passionate crowd as they begin their campaign against the Belgian duo of Serge Das and Noel Bruynooghe.

This pairing produced a huge shock in last years event when they defeated the highly-fancied Taiwanese team, which included former World Champion Wu Chia-ching.

Holders China , who defeated Finland 11-10 in a thrilling 2007 final, will again be represented by Li He-wen and Fu Jian-bo.

They will kick-start the event as they meet India ’s Sumit Talwar and Alok Kumar in the tournament’s opener.

Reigning World Champion Daryl Peach and European No.1 Mark Gray make up a strong looking England team, but they will have to be at their best to get past Malta ’s Tony Drago and Alex Borg.

The USA pairing of Shane Van Boening and Rodney Morris face newcomers Iceland , while the Philippines outfit of Francisco Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo play in the last first round match against Denmark . 

8-ball, 9-ball champs secure spots in world 10-ball affair

Two reigning world champions lead a stellar cast of cue artists in the World 10-ball Championships scheduled in September.

Daryl Peach of England, the current world 9-ball king, and Ralf Souquet of Germany, the world 8-ball titlist, are expected to participate in the tournament that will be held in Manila.

Joining Peach and Souquet are previous qualifiers Wu Chia-Ching of Chinese-Taipei and Antonio Gabica of the Philippines.

Wu and Gabica won the WTBC qualifying events through the Philippine Pool Tour.

Wu, a double world champion in 8-ball and 9-ball in 2005, won the Puerto Princesa Mayor’s Cup of the PPT last June in Puerto Princesa City.

Gabica, the reigning Philippine Open and Asian Games champion, won the Mandaluyong Mayor’s Cup of the PPT last May in Mandaluyong City.

Europe’s no.1 lady player Jasmin Ouschan of Austria will also see action in the top-tier event.

RP 10-ball qualifiers set in August

The Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) will stage the qualifying tournament for the September World 10-Ball Championship.

The BSCP Nationals will be played August 26 to 31 at the Rizal Billiards Hall.

The top-four finishers in the five-day tournament will get slots in the World meet. The prize money offered in the Nationals totals P400,000.

Dubbed the third BSCP National Pool Championships, the qualifiers will push through despite the hard-line stance of a rival billiards group that said it would boycott the 10-Ball Worlds.

Already assured of berths in the World 10-ball tilt are Antonio Gabica of the Philippines and Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei, who qualified after winning the Mandaluyong and the Puerto Princesa legs of the Philippine Pool Tour respectively.

Wu rules Puerto Princesa Ten Ball bash

PUERTO PRINCESA –  Count the Ten Ball championship to the growing list of crown collections of Taiwanese big shot Chia-Ching Wu.

For youthful Filipino star Jericho Banares, his time has to wait – for the moment.

The former World Pool 9-Ball and World 8-Ball titlist used his precise pocketing to engineer yet another remarkable comeback to fashion out a thrilling 11-9 triumph and rule the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup, second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour here at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum late Sunday night.

It was an uphill battle for the two young guns of billiards.

As expected, Wu had another slow start, similar to his previous tough two matches against Marlon Manalo in the last game of the eliminations and Ralf Souquet in the semis. But the 19-year-old sensation, who dominated the international billiards scene in 2005, completed another strong finish en route to nipping the reigning national junior champion.

"I had another tough time. For three straight games I had a slow start. I was fortunate at the very slim opportunity given to me and made the most out of it," said Wu, thru his interpreter Hans Lu, owner of Pool Fusion Billiards Hall in Manila.

Wu found himself trailing again in the finals. He was down, 2-6, then took the next two racks.

Banares got his turn in the 11th rack to take a 7-4 lead. From there, Wu mostly kept the up-and-coming Filipino star in his seat.

A huge six-rack run by Wu behind his solid breaking and precise pocketing had the Taiwanese taking full control of the match. The run reminded aficionados of his WPC victory in Kaoshiung, when he took five straight racks to claim the world championship. 

But Banares pounced on an error by Wu in the 18th rack to get back to contention. He ran out the table and then took the 19th rack as well.

Then came the most pivotal rack in the 20th with Banares getting a chance to salvage an equalizer and a win could give him the momentum he needed for the final blow. Banares got no shot at the blue 2 despite getting two balls on his break. Wu got a little opening after Banares flubbed a safety play, but the table layout was difficult to run out. Instead he laid a tough safety on his opponent that looked too tough to escape from.

Banares' made a spectacular bank shot on the green 6 that went in the side pocket, but that shot was nullified after he scratched the cue ball.

That was a backbreaker and Wu took care of business and finished the job.

With the victory, Wu took the first prize money of $10,000 and  a guaranteed seat in the inaugural World Ten Ball Championship in Manila in September.

Banares received $4,000 for finishing runner-up. Losing semifinalists Souquet and Manalo got $2,000.

32 players take center stage in Puerto Princesa Cup

PUERTO PRINCESA – Thirty-two tough competitors, including several double world champions, world and national youth titlists, and other veteran campaigners will take center stage today, Friday, in the opening of the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup, the second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour.

This bustling resort city, nicknamed "The City In The Forest" because of its lush vegetation, will host the three-day event to be held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum with all eyes focusing on the big guns and rising stars from Germany, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Two-time world champions Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Chia-Ching Wu and Jung-Lin Chang of Taiwan, and reigning world junior champion Ko Pin-Yi banner the field of invaders.

But they will be tested by the formidable field of Filipino players led by Antonio Gabica, winner of the first PPT leg last month, Marlon Manalo, and Jericho Banares, 2008 Philippine junior champion and a standout in the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup.

Souquet, currently the biggest money earner among billiard players this year with $106,786, has his eyes set on the $10,000 top prize in this event organized by the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines and supported by San Miguel Beer and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Hohmann, the 2003 World Pool titlist and winner of the IPT North American Open Championship, is also one of the favorites, along with Wu, the 2005 World 9- Ball and 8-Ball champion.

Thirteen pool players qualified for the Puerto Princesa leg Tuesday at the end of the elimination round. They were led by Ko Pin-Yi, power breaker Jeff de Luna and two-time national youth finalist Jordan Legaspi. The other players who advanced were Oliver Villafuerte, Wang Ming, Arturo Palma, Richard Alinsub, Jorge Dacer, Boots Augusto, Rocky Tullao, Edgar Acaba, Romeo Silvano and Raymund Faraon.

They join the 17 seeded players who earlier qualified for the main tournament by virtue of their performance in the Mandaluyong Cup and their standings in world pool rankings. They are: Souquet, Hohmann, Wu, Antonio Gabica, Marlon Manalo, Leonardo Andam, Jericho Bañares, Mario Tolentino, Leonardo Didal, Chien-Te Chung, Gerry Watson, Kenji Taguchi, Allan Soliman, Luis Saberdo, Junbert Ogang, Courtney Symons and Jung-Lin Chang.

Puerto Princesa will field two local bets – Jade Samson and Jonathan Corpuz – in the tournament. They won their spots by topping the qualifiers held in the Palawan capital.

Ko, a Physical Education student in Taipei, who started playing competitive billiards at the age of 12, beat Roland Garcia, 9-7, for his third victory in the eliminations.

De Luna, who was relegated to the loser's bracket Tuesday following his loss to Jin Hu-Dang, 6-9, vented his ire on Resty Labastida, 9-1, to make the cut.

Legaspi crushed Dang, 9-6; Wang scuttled Rocky Tullao, 9-5; Dacer whipped Labastida, 9-4; Augusto nipped Romeo Silvano, 9-7; Alinsub edged Elvis Calasang, 9-8; Villafuerte outlasted Fu Jin-Bo, 9-7; and Palma squeaked past Chu Hung-Ming, 9-8.

In the loser's bracket, Tullao tripped Rollo, 9-8; Acaba defeated Silverio Tulabing, 9-7; and Silvano ripped Raymund Faraon, 9-4.

Faraon earned the last ticket to the Puerto Cup after defeating Tulabing in the playoff finals, 9-3.

Group E: Wu Chia-Ching on Guinness 9 Ball Tour

GROUP E

Ricky Yang(INA) 9-3 Sumit Talwar(IND)
Sumit Talwar(IND) 2-9 Wu Chia-Ching(TPE)
Ricky Yang(INA) 4–9 Wu Chia-Ching(TPE)

Indonesia’s Ricky Yang started the day slow as he went behind 1-3 to India’s Sumit Talwar before getting his act together and romping to a 9-3 win. Early scare for the Indonesian star but he manages to hold off Sumit’s charge and take the game.

Sumit then came up against Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chia-Ching, and after going rack for rack to tie the game at 2-2, Wu upped the ante and charged to seven straight rack points to take the game 9-2.

Final game of the day saw two heavyweights, Ricky and Wu play off for the chance to move into the quarterfinals. Wu brought a smile back onto the faces of the Taipei crowd when he cruised into the quarterfinals by defeating Ricky Yang in the final game of day one.

Group Winner - Wu Chia-Ching

Wu-Chia Ching Wins the 40th All Japan Championships 2007!

Wu-Chia Ching, one of Taiwan’s billiards masters and the 2005 World Pool Champion, beat 1999 World Pool Champion and Filipino pool legend Efren Bata Reyes, aka The Magician, 11-6, in the quarter finals of the 40th All Japan Championships 2007 at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo prefecture, Japan.

Acknowledged as one of the greatest pool players of all time, Efren Bata Reyes was the best finisher among the Filipino pool players in the just concluded billiards competition. The Magician, who comes from the Puyat Sports stable, received JPY250,000 for his last eight standing along with 2004 World Pool Championship runner-up Pei Wei-chang, Japan’s M. Tanaka, and 2004 World Pool Champion Mika Immonen, aka The Iceman. Filipino pool players Lee Vann Corteza and Warren Kiamco, who come from the Negros Billiard Stable, both received JPY125,000 for making it to the last 16.

Wu Chia-Ching massacred Japan’s T. Kuribayashi at 11-3 in the finals to snatch the top prize of JPY2,000,000. Wu Chia-Ching is just 18 years old! And I kid you not! Some of the great pool players who were trounced by Wu Chia-Ching include the 2006 All Japan Champion Filipino Lee Vann Corteza, 11-6 (last 16); Japan’s H. Hijikata, 11-1, (last 4), and T. Kuribayashi, 11-3, (finals).

Taiwan’s Shu-Han Chang won the women's crown of the 40th All Japan Championships 2007 by beating Japan’s A. Otani, 9-5.

Taiwanese Chia-Ching Wu and Shu-Han Chang Win All Japan

Efren "Bata" Reyes, acknowledged as one of the greatest pool players of all time, bowed to eventual winner and fellow World Pool Champion Chia-Ching Wu of Taiwan, 11-6, in the quarter-final round but still wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the just concluded 40th All Japan Championships 2007 at the Hotel New Archaic Hall in Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, Japan on Sunday.

The 53-year-old Reyes, prize fighter of RP billiards patron Aristeo "Putch" Puyat of Puyat Sports didn't go home empty handed as he received JPY250,000 after making it to the last eight along with 2001 WPC winner Mika "The Iceman" Immonen of Finland, 2004 WPC runner-up Pei Wei-chang of Taiwan and M. Tanaka of Japan who also lost their quarter-final matches.

The 18-year-old Wu, who took the WPC crown in 2005 Taiwan edition stopped the giant killing ways of T. Kuribayashi of Japan, 11-3, in the finals to pocket the top prize of JPY2,000,000.

On the way to the finals, Wu trounced last year's All Japan Champion Filipino Lee Vann Corteza, 11-6 (last 16), Reyes, 11-6 (last 8), H. Hijikata of Japan, 11-1, (last 4), then toppled Kuribayashi, 11-3, (finals).

Kuribayashi, who received the runner-up prize of JPY1,000,000, defeated two-time Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Ching Shun Yang of Taiwan, 11-9 (last 16), compatriot Tanaka, 11-10 (last 8), 1996 WPC winner Ralf Souquet of Germany, 11-10 (last 4) before yielding to Wu, 11-3 (finals).

Corteza and Warren Kiamco from Negros Billiard Stable of Jonathan Sy, both received JPY125,000 for making it to the last 16. However, two other Filipino pool sharks, Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego failed to advance in the money round.

Meanwhile, Shu-Han Chang completed the Taiwanese domination after she bagged the women's crown by beating A. Otani of Japan, 9-5, in the championships round.

Chang also bested reigning Amway World Women's Champion Xiao Ting-pan of China, 9-7 in the quarter-final round then subdued Han Yu also from China, 9-6, in the semi-final round before crushing Otani, 9-5, in the finals

Taiwanese Chia Ching Wu wins Brunei 9-Ball Cup

Filipino Dennis Orcollo failed to win another major title this year after suffered a heart-breaking loss to eventual champion Chia-ching Wu of Chinese-Taipei who nailed a come-from behind 11-9 victory in their semi-finals confrontation on Saturday afternoon in the 2007 Brunei 9-Ball Invitational Cup 2007 at the Indoor Stadium in Berakas.

According to Perry Mariano, Orcollo's benefactor who is in Hongkong on Saturday and scheduled to arrive in Manila late Sunday, the 28-year-old Bislig, Surigao del Sur ace was hot at the start of the match taking a 9-4 commanding lead in the semis using a race-to-11 format.

However, Wu, the 18-year-old Taiwanese child prodigy came back and clustered seven straight racks to score an 11-9 win over Orcollo, the 2007 BCA (Billiards Congress of America) Enjoypool.com 9-Ball champion last May in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wu clinch the championship's trophy plus the top prize of US$10,000 by beating Indonesian hopeful Ricky Yang, 13-10, in the finals.

Ricky settled runner-up prize of US$5,000 in the tournament sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association for the third time with cooperation from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and sponsored by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd.

Yang was the conqueror of another Filipino entry as he defeated current double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano, 9-7, in the quarter-final matches.

It was a sweet victory for Wu who lost in the last year's Brunei edition finals to compatriot and fellow World 9-ball Champion Fong-Pang Chao, 13-8.

Alcano Bows to Chinese Taipei's Chia-Ching Wu; Corteza Still in the Hunt for Semifinals Berth

The 2007 Guinness 9Ball Tour remains to be an unsolved mystery for reigning double world champion Ronato Alcano from the Philippines as he absorbed his second loss in the Bali Grand Finals - a humbling 1 - 9 setback against Chinese Taipei's Chia-Ching Wu at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Desperately needing a win today after opening up the Bali campaign with a one win, one loss record yesterday, with Alcano winning over local bet Ricky Yang 9-7 and a 6-9 defeat to Ching-Shun Yang, the Calamba native seemed prepared and ready to take on Chinese Taipei's teenage pool wonder.

But right off the opening break, it became apparent that Wu was destined to remain unbeaten in the ten-man competition field as he opened up the match strong with a table rout in the 1st rack and a break and run-out in the 2nd. In fact, Wu was so confident with his stroke that even a stunning 5-9 corner pocket combo from Alcano in the next frame did not faze the 2005 World Pool Champion as he easily capitalized on a 9ball blunder by the "Volcano" to pad up his lead to 3-1.

Try as he might, Alcano's form simply refused to materialize as he suffered unlucky rolls off the break, leaving him no choice but to adopt a defensive game which pretty much disrupted the normally offensive rhythm of the Filipino favourite.

At the 8th rack, Wu successfully connected on an incredible 2-9 combo off the break to further humble the Filipino ace who then committed another crucial error with a side pocket scratch during his break at the 9th canto to allow his Chinese Taipei rival another easy run at the table and own an overwhelming 8-1 advantage.

This proved to be the last time Alcano got to approach the table as Wu closed the match in emphatic fashion with a rare golden break.

Although Alcano still has one match to play in his group - against India's Dharminder Lilly, the two losses on his card means that his chances to advance to the semifinal round has been compromised as only the top two players in the group get a final four ticket.

Meanwhile, Lee Vann Corteza, who also has a one win, one loss record from day 1's preliminary stages needs to win both of his matches to stand a chance to acquire a semifinal berth. The current Philippine National Champion is playing against Jakarta and Genting leg winner Jung-Lin Chang as of press time. After which he will face off versus Malaysia's Ibrahim Amir.

For more information on the Tour, please check out www.guinness9balltour.com. For the latest schedules and program information on ESPN STAR Sports, catch us on the net at www.espnstar.com.

The Guinness 9Ball Tour is sanctioned by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and organized by ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management Group (EMG). Guinness is the title sponsor for the Tour. The local sanctioning body is Persatuan Olahraga Billiar Seluruh Indonesia (POBSI). Iwan Simonis and Aramith supply the official tablecloth and official balls respectively. Brunswick Metro provides the official pool table while Predator is the official cue. The Official Venue is the Grand Hyatt Hotel. STAR Sports is the official broadcaster.

Wu remains undeafeted in day two of Grand Final

Chinese Taipei continued its strong run the Guinness 9 Ball Tour with three players qualifying for tomorrow's semi-final match at the Grand Final in Bali. The Philippines ' Lee Van Corteza completes the final four, who will play for the title of Grand Champion and the top prize of US$36,000.

Needing one more win today to confirm his place in the semis, Wu Chia-Ching continued his undefeated run with a convincing win over Ronato Alcano, nearly whitewashing the Filipino with a score of 9-1.

Right off the opening break, Wu opened up the match strong with a table rout in the first rack and a break and run-out in the second frame. In fact, Wu was unfazed by a stunning five-nine corner pocket combo from Alcano in the third frame as the 2005 World Pool Champion easily capitalized on a nine-ball blunder by the "Volcano" later in the fourth rack to increase up his lead to 3-1.

Tried as he might, Alcano never got his stroke going as he suffered unlucky rolls off the break, leaving him with little choice but to adopt a defensive approach, which disrupted the normally offensive rhythm of the Filipino favourite.

At the eighth rack, Wu successfully connected on an incredible two-nine combo off the break to humble the Filipino ace, who subsequently committed another crucial error with a side pocket scratch during his break at the ninth canto to allow his Chinese Taipei rival another easy run at the table and own an overwhelming 8-1 advantage.

This proved to be the last time Alcano approached the table as Wu closed the match in emphatic fashion with a rare golden break.

Said Wu: "I was really pleased with my performance in the preliminary round. I played an equally solid offensive and defensive game and committed few mistakes - I hope to continue this good run tomorrow!"

In his other match, the 2005 World Pool Champion defeated Indonesia's Ricky Yang 9-6 to further assert his dominance in Group A to enter the semi-final round as the competition's top seed.

Following suit, the Philippine National Champion Corteza sizzled in Day two as he won both his matches today against Chang (9-3) and Malaysia 's Ibrahim Amir (9-5) to cement his semi-final place. In danger of being eliminated due to his humbling 1-9 setback versus Chao Fong-Pang in yesterday's competition, the Filipino needed a strong performance today to bounce back and ensure a semifinal berth.

In his match against Ibrahim, Corteza was at his best as he managed to come away with the better shots despite the best efforts from the Malaysian's strategy to play a defensive game.

Knotted at four racks apiece it looked as if Ibrahim brought his A-game against the Filipino streak shooter. But an unfortunate scratch off the break for Ibrahim at eighth rack sparked a three-rack run for Corteza and the 6-4 lead. This unforced error in the middle of the contest proved to be costly for the Malaysian as this allowed Corteza to play more freely and with less pressure to showcase his true pocketing potential.

With the momentum on his side, Corteza then breezed through the match as he took the final three racks to notch the win and join the final four as the lone Filipino to represent his billiard-fanatic country. 

Said the Davao city native: "I'm very happy that I made it this far. As the lone Filipino to represent my country, I'm dedicating this tournament to them. I hope that my luck will continue for tomorrow's semi-final, and hopefully the final too.

"I got excited when I heard that Ibrahim beat Chao Fong-Pang, and subsequently missed a couple of shots. But I told myself to relax and let the match come to me. Instead of thinking too far ahead, I should just focus on playing one match at a time."

Feijen, Wu and Engert All Through At World Pool Masters

Niels Feijen produced a stunning fight back to defeat Imran Majid and move into the last eight of the 2007 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters.

Feijen, who was backed by a large home crowd at the Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee, trailed 3-0 in the early stages of the match but recovered to win 8-5.

"I started like a granny," admitted Feijen. "Imran then let me off the hook so I could've been 4-1 down. The big swing came when he missed a seven-ball and I played really well from the middle to the end.

"I have been struggling with my pace the whole week so this was a big relief for me. Let's keep it going."

Majid looked in control in the early stages as he moved around the table comfortably but the match turned at four racks all when Imran had no shot on the opening ball and pushed out. He failed to make his intentions plain to referee Michaela Tabb and resulted in ball-in-hand for Feijen, who grabbed the opportunity to take the lead for the first time at 5-4.

Looking confident, Feijen coasted through the next to increase his lead with his English opponent against it. Majid though, held himself together to run out the next but the momentum was with Feijen.

Looking a different player from his early tentative endeavours, he completed another easy run out to get to the hill at 7-5.

Feijen got to the table in the next but could do nothing with the situation and Majid was forced to play safe. The Dutchman though, took on a great table length bank on the 5 ball which proved to be a match winner as it set up the run out for a tremendous come-from-behind victory for Feijen.

In the next first round match, Taiwan’s former double World Champion Wu Chia-ching fired out a warning shot as he made light work of Canadian Tyler Edey, winning 8-1.

In the final match of the afternoon, Thomas Engert (Germany) and Malta’s Tony Drago completed their third Masters first round match and this time it was Engert, the 2004 champion, who got the better of it winning 8-4.

It was a tight match until Engert got the better of the safety exchanges to close out Drago and secure a quarter final berth.

Full Results:

Niels Feijen (Ned) 8 – 6 Imran Majid (Eng)
Wu Chia-ching (TPE) 8 – 1 Tyler Edey (CAN)
Thomas Engert (GER) 8 - 4 Tony Drago (MLT)

Pinoy Alcano Aware of Taiwanese Wu in World Pool Masters

World Champion Ronato Alcano believes Chia-ching Wu is his biggest threat in the 2007 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters. The Paranaque based Alcano reached the pinnacle of the sport in November when he defeated German Ralf Souquet in the final of the 2006 World Pool Championships. That victory elevated 34-year-old Alcano to legend status in his pool-mad home country as he became an overnight celebrity.

One of the other benefits of winning the world title has seen him be selected as one of 16 players in this year's Masters, which begins Friday at the Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee, Holland. It will be Alcano's debut in the competition and he will be aiming to maintain his good form and collect the $20,000 top prize.

Alcano, bested compatriot Dennis Orcollo in the finals of the World 8-ball in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last February to follow the foot step of Chia-ching Wu and countryman Efren "Bata" Reyes, the former double world champion (WPA 9-ball and WPA 8-ball).

He faces Italian Fabio Petroni in the opening round on Friday night and, if successful, will then meet either Nick van den Berg (Holland) or female star Jasmin Ouschan (Austria) in the quarter-finals.

However, if he reaches the semi-finals he could meet 2005 World Champion Chia-ching Wu ( Taiwan) in what would be a mouth-watering encounter.

"This is a hard tournament to win because there are a lot of good players," said Alcano.

"It is hard to say if I will be the winner as there are too many top players but I will try my best and maybe I will get lucky. I think Chia-ching Wu is a very good player and will be difficult to beat."

Alcano and Chia-ching Wu will both be getting some match practice ahead of the main tournament as they played in the Challenge the Champions last Thursday.

This knockout tournament features a number of professional players competing against local club players and will be an interesting indication of who is in form and who is not.

In other marquee matches in the first round of World Pool Masters: Naoyuki Oi of Japan vs Oliver Ortmann of Germany; Li He-wen of China vs Pat Holtz of Scotland; Imran Majid of England vs Niels Feijen of the Netherlands; Wu Chia-ching of Chinese-Taipei vs Tyler Edey of Canada and Tony Drago of Malta vs Thomas Engert of Germany.