Executive Billiards, manufacturer of the Delta-13 billiard ball rack, announced today that they are hosting a pool trick shots contest for novice and amateur players on YouTube.
“The Delta-13 International Amateur Trick Shot Contest” will give away over $20,000 in quality billiard accessories, including a 7' Diamond Sport pool table. Four winners will also receive airfare plus three nights stay in Las Vegas from May 11-12, 2012.

Pool Tricks Add Excitement to Home Recreation
“We are promoting artistic pool and trick shots during the four month contest to expose the home recreation market to this exciting sport. Young and old alike, who have access to a pool table, will find trick shots are a terrific activity to entertain family and friends,” says Terry Taggart, President of Executive Billiards.

The process for competing in the contest requires 4 easy steps:
1. Read the complete contest rules at www.delta-13.com.
2. Record a video of your trick shot.
3. Upload the video to YouTube.
4. Register your video on the delta-13 web site.

Trick videos will be judged and graded with a maximum point potential of 10 for each of five categories; Degree of difficulty, creativity and originality, execution, presentation, and video quality. World renowned professional trick shot artists will perform the judging. Florian “Venom” Kohler – France, Stefano “ Mr. Trick Shots” Pelinga – Italy, Paul “Professor-Q-Ball” Frankel – USA, and Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman – USA, will be using their many talents to grade the registered videos.

According to ESPN & World Masters Trick Shot Champion Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, “The Delta-13 International Amateur Trick Shot Contest should become a landmark competition for the sport of artistic pool. Players from around the world may showcase their artistic skills in 2 presentation categories, which will surely take trick shots to a new level in billiard excellence and magnetic fan appeal.”

All qualifying trick shot videos must include a Delta-13 regular or elite ball rack. The entire “Rules of Eligibility” can be found at www.delta-13.com. Winners will be announced on February 13, 2012.

Gold Sponsors who made this contest possible include :
Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, www.playbca.com, Poison Billiards, Diamond Billiards, Dr. Cue Promotions, Kamui Tips, Poolprodigystore.com, www.generationpool.com, and Tag Team Design.

Ray Martin had fans on their feet when he upset reigning World Champion Oliver Ortmann of Germany Today. Photo by Charles Eames

Hollywood could not have scripted this any better. Ray "Cool Cat" Martin, the 76-year-old BCA Hall of Famer and author of "99 Critical Shots" gave former world champ Oliver Ortmann his very first loss at the 71st World Tournament of 14.1. 

Ortmann had the lead at one point, but Martin kept the score close throughout the match. Both players engaged in several key safety exchanges, which seemed to throw the German champion off his rhythm. Martin won the bulk of these defensive exchanges using his fountain of old school knowledge.

Needing only a rack, Martin had a very difficult cut shot that would break the stack open. He made a terrific cut but the cue ball got kissed into the corner as well. Ortmann could not end the set however, and Martin was given another chance. Needing less than a rack, he faced another deep cut shot as his break shot, and made an incredible backwards cut into the side pocket and busted the rack open, but again the cue ball somehow found a pocket. Ortmann erred once more and Martin ran out what he needed for the win. The audience rose to their feet in joy!

"It feels really good. I can't play like I use to, but I'm happy I can still do it," said Martin of his historic win.

Ortmann continued to have a bad day as he ran into a red hot Sigel next. Sigel, talkative as always, managed to put together rack after rack. After many self oohs and ahhs, Sigel finished the match with a 100 ball run to shut Ortmann down 100-0. This is the first time anyone has shut down Ortmann in the World Tournament. Sigel remains undefeated and looks to be prime for the top ranking for his group.

Checkout www.worldstraightpool.com for full group results and other 14.1 news from the event

The 2011 World Tournament is proudly co-sponsored by Predator Cues, Olhausen Tables, Amsterdam Billiards, Andy Cloth, Aramith Balls, Kamui, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Sandcastle Billiards and straight pool aficionados Bill Austin of UT, Dr.Louis Pannullo, Ralph Rubin of MD.  Co-contributors Dennis Walsh, Dr.James Heller, Charles Eames, Mark Snodgrass, and Bill Marapolous.  For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.

New Brunswick, New Jersey-  Dragon Promotions is making preparations for Hurricane Irene and possible issues caused by the impending storms. Players and fans are not to worry though, the event will go on this week. The 14.1 Warm-Up Tournament originally scheduled for Amsterdam Billiard Club will be moved to Sunday August 28 with players meeting at 2pm. The main event, 71st World Tournament, will begin with a players meeting at 9am on Monday morning August 29th.  The event will stay on schedule to end on September 2.
 
Fans will still be able to watch world class straight pool action Sunday with stars such as Thorsten Hohmann, Mike Sigel, John Schmidt, Jose Parica, Johnny Archer, Alex Pagulayan, Stephan Cohen, Rodney Morris, Kunihiko Takahashi, Ralf Eckert, Mike Davis, Max Eberle, Charlie Williams,  and many more competing.
 
Everyone is welcome to come Sunday and mix it up with top 14.1 stars like Niels Feijen!
 
All fans and players of any skill level can join in the Warm-Up for $75 and get a rare opportunity to play in the main arena of The World Tournament. The Olhausen Tables with Andy Cloth and Aramith Balls will be new so come out and experience the feeling of world class 14.1 action with the pros at The Hyatt Regency!
 
Both tournaments are sponsored by Dr. Michael Fedak and Amsterdam Billiard Club. Predator Is the Official Cue of the events.
 
"It's really unfortunate timing for this storm to hit on our big day with the pros, but stuff happens. We apologize to the fans and players but are happy to still support both events in New Jersey," explained Greg Hunt of Amsterdam Billiards. New York City and much of New Jersey Has mandatory evacuation and major roads are being closed down, along with all mass transit. Despite this, Greg Hunt, of Amsterdam Billiards and from Dr. Michael Fedak will add $3000 into the  Warm-Up one day event.
The bottom line: The best straight pool action will still be ongoing all week and everyday!
 Sandcastle Billiards will be inviting all the pros and fans over for a night of fun Saturday August 27th. Located only 5 minutes away from the Hyatt Regency, for a mere $20 gets you in to play pool free all night. Starting Sunday through Friday just bring your Official Program Book of the World Tournament of 14.1 and you will get the same special all week!

Three time World 14.1 Champion Ray "Cool Cat" Martin and 14.1 Continuous inventor Jerome Keogh (left) will be the very first inductees into the Straight Pool Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place August 31, 2011 at 5 p.m. at a dinner banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel during the 71st World Tournament of 14.1. Keogh will be inducted posthumously while Martin will be there live to accept his award and speak. Even better, Martin will participate in the World Tournament as a competitor at age 76.

"Its a great honor to be inducted. It’s nice that people still alive will be inducted as well in the future. That's really the way it should be. Get them in before they die! Let them enjoy it!" said Martin (right). Ray won the World Tournament in 1971, 1974, and 1978. Martin also won numerous 9-Ball titles, is a BCA Hall of Fame inductee and the author of the famed 99 Critical Shots instructional pool book.

"There were many factors on why we decided to start this inaugural Straight Pool Hall of Fame. We wanted to honor not only obvious choices, but to remember great players that are still alive and remind them that they are not forgotten,” said Charlie Williams, Founder of Dragon Promotions. “They are living treasures of the sport. Also, we wanted to recognize those who may not receive recognition elsewhere, but were huge parts of 14.1 history."

Jerome Keogh invented 14.1 in 1910. Previous to that, players would break the balls open but sometimes nothing went in, which many felt was too big a luck factor. Keogh decided the game should be played with the final ball remaining out. Thus 14 balls plus 1, which became known as 14.1. The very first World 14.1 Tournament was held in 1911 and won by Alfredo DeOro. Keogh had prior to that won multiple World Championships, but despite inventing the game that changed the sport, he would never win the World 14.1 title. Today, a hundred years later, the Straight Pool Hall of Fame honors him fittingly as the founder of the game.

"Over the last six years, the fans, players, and sponsors have really made us feel like the caretakers of straight pool. I'm not a pool player, but I've learned to really come to enjoy and respect this elegant game. We want to continue keeping this game alive and make it prosper. Honoring the people who did it before us is a big part of that," explains Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

Guest speakers at the dinner banquet on August 31 will include former World Champions and veteran peers of Ray's; Allen Hopkins, Mike Sigel, and Earl Herring. The 14.1 Hall of Fame events will also include video presentations by NYCGrind.com's Jerry Tarantola and funded by Dr. Louis Pannullo. Charlie Williams will MC the evening's festivities.

The 2011 World Tournament is proudly co-sponsored by Olhausen Tables, Amsterdam Billiards, Inside Pool Magazine, Andy Cloth, Aramith Balls, Kamui, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Sandcastle Billiards and straight pool aficionados Bill Austin of UT, Dr.Louis Pannullo of NY, Ralph Rubin of MD. Co-contributors include Dennis Walsh, Dr.James Heller, Charles Eames, Mark Snodgrass, and Bill Marapolous. For more information on player registration, sponsorship, or if you would like to submit a comment, please email worldstraightpoolchampionships@gmail.com or contact Dragon Promotions at 1-407-782-4978.

At right, Ralf Souquet

Broomfield, CO, Aug. 12, 2011 — Versatility and longevity are the common threads that bind 2011 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame inductees Ralf Souquet and Danny DiLiberto, who earned election into pool’s hallowed halls in voting conducted by the United States Billiard Media Association. Souquet, 42, and DiLiberto, 76, will be formally inducted into Greatest Player wing of the BCA Hall of Fame on Oct. 20 during ceremonies at the Chesapeake Marriott in Chesapeake, VA.

Souquet, born in Eschweiler, Germany, has been a dominant player in Europe for more than 25 years, having won more than 40 German titles and 34 European Championship medals. But his record is nearly as impressive in top U.S. and international events. “The Kaiser,” as Souquet is known, boasts world titles in both 9-ball (1996) and 8-ball (2004), a gold medal in 9-ball at the 2009 World Games, and is a four-time winner of the World Pool Masters. On American soil, Souquet owns a BCA U.S. Open 14.1 Championship crown (2000), a U.S. Open 9-Ball title (2002), a pair of BCA Open 9-Ball Championship titles, and has won the Derby City 9-ball crown three times.

“This is great news!” said Souquet, who had finished second in Hall of Fame voting to Francisco Bustamante in 2010. “It’s a great honor. When you talk about the greatest players, like Archer and Strickland and Varner, they’re all in the Hall of Fame. Being mentioned in the same list with those names is a great achievement.”

Souquet becomes the seventh foreign-born player inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame. “I’m also proud to be the first European male player in the Hall of Fame,” Souquet added. “I think it’s probably harder for a foreign player to be voted in, but it’s nice that the American pool community believes that my overall game and approach to the sport has been positive. I must have done something right.”

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Danny DiLiberto chose billiards ahead of boxing, bowling and baseball, all sports at which the multi-talented athlete excelled. In fact, DiLiberto boxed professionally and was undefeated as a professional fighter. Under the tutelage of famed trainer Angelo Dundee, and boxing under the name Danny Toriani, DiLiberto posted a 14-0-2 record, with 12 knockouts in the late ’50s, until his oft-injured hands forced him to retire from the ring.

Boxing’s loss was billiards’ gain, as the colorful DiLiberto spent nearly 30 years near the top of the game. DiLiberto won numerous national-class tournaments in the ’60s, but was at his peak in the 1970s when 14.1 was the game of champions in the pool world. After falling in the title match of the prestigious BCA U.S. Open 14.1 championship in both 1968 (to Joe Balsis) and 1972 (to Steve Mizerak), DiLiberto won the straight pool division at the 1972 Johnston City World All-Around Championships. DiLiberto then went on to defeat 9-ball division champ Billy Incardona and one-pocket division winner Larry “Boston Shorty” Johnson in a three-man playoff to earn the Johnston City All-Around crown.
DiLiberto’s versatility at the table shown through in the ’80s when he defeated Nick Varner in the title match to win the 1981 BCA National 8-Ball Championship, then won the ’83 World One-Pocket title and the 1984 Classic Cup 9-Ball crown, giving him a major national title in the four major pool disciplines.

“I’m really choked up,” DiLiberto said after being informed of the honor. “I really thought the Hall of Fame would wait until I was dead to vote for me. It’s truly an honor. This makes my day, my month, my year!”

Voting was conducted by the USBMA Hall of Fame Board, which consists of USBMA members, elected At-Large members and living members of the BCA Hall of Fame. Induction in the Greatest Players category is awarded to the player named on the most ballots. A second player is elected if both players are named on more than 70 percent of the ballots. Souquet was named on 65 percent of the ballots. Karen Corr received votes on 56 percent of the ballots. No other eligible player was named on more than 25 percent of the ballots.

To be eligible for consideration in the Greatest Player category, a player a) must be 40 years old by Jan. 1 of the year of their induction; b) must have a professional playing career of at least 10 years; and c) must have recorded significant achievements in U.S.-based events.

DiLiberto is the first player elected to the Greatest Player wing of the BCA Hall of Fame through recommendation of the Veterans Committee. The Veterans Committee, a committee elected by the USBMA, reviews the resumes of mid-20th century players unlikely to win election against contemporary stars, and players who failed to be elected through the general Greatest Players elections prior to turning 60 years of age. A player recommended by the Veterans Committee to the Hall of Fame Board must receive a simple majority of “Yes” votes from the board for election.

The junior field, over 100 strong!

Over 100 students have traveled from 26 states, all eyeing the title that will stay with the winner for a lifetime. Many participants are familiar with the venue since this is the second year in a row the Junior Nationals are being held at Northern Illinois University’s Huskies Den.
Players began by enjoying an evening of entertainment by the World famous Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee.  Ms. Lee took on challengers and spent most of the evening signing Black Widow cue balls and posters that she generously donated to every player in the event.  To top off the evening, an adult/child tournament run by volunteers Tammy and Mel Leonard far exceeded the team participation from last year, and jumped from 32 teams to 63 teams!

Tournament play suspended at 6pm for the banquet. Over 240 guests enjoyed an evening of good food and entertainment.  BEF Executive Director Laura Smith opened by recognizing special guests in the audience that included sponsor Ivan Lee of Simonis Cloth, Christian Riddle of NIU, Tom ”Dr. Cue” & Marty Rossman and BEF board member Roy Pastor.  A full course meal was followed by speaker “The Black Widow” sharing her personal struggles with scoliosis throughout her life and career, to teach the kids the importance of perseverance in gaining what you want in life. Next up was the wonderful performance of a local youth theater group, “The Dreamers.” Following this, the “Academic All American” awards were presented to an impressive 39 Junior National participants who were honored for achieving at least a 3.5 grade point average in the previous school year.  Random prizes were given throughout the evening and the banquet came to an end with the viewing of a video presentation.  Several top WPBA pros sent encouraging messages to the participants and photos from the previous year played to music. Thanks go out to Kyle Smith for putting this video together.

Following the banquet, players watched Dr. Cue dazzle the onlookers in a trick shot show that repeat viewers are never tired of watching. Dr. Cue’s Trick Shot event will allow players to try their hand at winning the title of “Junior National Artistic Pool Champion.” 

Play continues through Sunday... stay tuned for results!

Story and Photo by Ted Lerner

(Doha, Qatar)—With a super cool demeanor and a red hot stroke, Yukio Akagariyama of Japan won the 2011 World 9-ball Championship, defeating the Philippines Ronnie Alcano in a tense and scintillating finals match on Friday night, 13-11.

Akagariyama won the title with a brilliant display of pressure packed 9-ball before a cheering partisan crowd of close to 1500 people, most of them Filipinos, at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

The victory capped what has been a tremendous recent surge for the 36 year old. Back in May Akagariyama made it to the semi-finals of the World 10-ball Championship in Manila. Then in early June, he placed 5th at the China Open in Shanghai.
In Doha Akagariyama played solid and steady all week. But he also had moments when mistakes crept into his game, especially late in matches during the knockout stages, when the pressure became too much to bear. But always the 36 year old from Nagano quietly sucked it up, and got right back down to business and made it across the finish line.

The match had just about everything fans of championship 9-ball could ask for. The lead and the momentum swung both ways on several occasions, and the outcome was in doubt right up until the last ball dropped; both players made jaw dropping shots and strung racks together while showing absolute mastery of the table.

Alcano, who had just come off a definitive semi-finals win over compatriot Dennis Orcullo earlier, won the lag and immediately broke and ran for the first point of the match. Akagariyama, who advanced by beating England’s Mark Gray 11-10 in a thrilling semi final, tied it in the next rack after Alcano bobbled the 5-ball in the corner pocket.

In rack 3 Alcano fouled leaving Akagariyama a tempting 1-9 combination that rattled in the jaws of the pocket. With the 9 still sitting in the corner, Alcano  sent the crowd into fits when he caromed off the one ball, and sent the cue down table, back up off of two rails and into the 9 which fell in for the win. From there the pair stepped their games up a gear, as Akagariyama broke and ran, and then Alcano fired back with one of his own to go up 3-2. They split the next two racks with each converting one clutch pot after the next.  At 4-4 the match was already shaping up to be a high quality battle of attrition.

Akagariyama grabbed his first lead in rack 9, and stamped his class on the match.  Alcano left the 2 ball in the jaws, and the Japanese continued with his concise and steady shooting to move up by 1. In the next rack Alcano tried to jump but left the 2 ball open. Again, Akagariyama coolly picked off the balls and now led 6-4.??Alcano got one back in the subsequent frame with a break and run. But Akagariyama countered yet again with one of his own to move up 7-5. The 36 year old from Nagano was clearly focused like a laser, while potting balls with deadly accuracy and a fine rhythm. He was going to be very tough to beat on this night. It was more of the same  in the next rack as Alcano missed a makeable two ball and the Japanese methodically began to shoot for what seemed like a sure 3 rack lead.  But just as he was about to put a stranglehold on the momentum and the match, Akagariyam left himself poor position on the 9 ball and the cue ball scratched after the winning ball fell.

With the crowd cheering wildly, the scratch seemed to have the makings of a pivotal turning point but Akagariyama was obviously in the zone this night, and broke and ran the next frame with some sensational shooting. In the next rack he continued his measured assault, winning a safety battle then running the table after banking in the 1 ball to go up 9-6.  

Alcano knew it was now or never and cleared off an errant safety to get one back. He then executed a marvelous full table jump on the 1 with position on the 2, a shot that had the crowd going wild. With the run out he was now down by 1, 9-8 and the crowd started sensing the momentum swinging back to their boy. When Akagariyama missed a makeable 6 ball in the next rack, Alcano convinced them it was so, running the table to tie the match at 9.

Alcano continued his fine run in the next frame when he broke and confidently started potting the remaining balls. But suddenly he was stopped in his tracks when a full table 8 ball bobbled in the jaws. As the crowd gasped in horror, Akagariyama stopped the bleeding and regained the lead, 10-9.
Next Akagariyama  made a gutsy  shot on the 1, leaving perfect position on the 2 ball, and a path to a 2 shot lead. But just when it appeared he had grabbed back the momentum, Alcano pulled the same extraordinary shot in the subsequent game and moved one down at 11-10. Alcano won a safety battle in the next rack, and then ran the balls to tie the match at 11-11.

The World 9-ball title was now a race to two and Alcano had the upper hand as he had won the lag and would be breaking for the hill. But with an open table, Alcano missed a very makeable 2 in the side pocket. The former two time world champion couldn’t believe what hit him and neither could the fans. Akagariyama stepped in and executed some tough shots to make it to the hill. ??With one rack to go for the world title, Akagariyama couldn’t have asked for a better break and opening layout. As he had all night, he calmly and methodically ran out to take the World 9-ball championship without any further drama. ??

Afterwards, the low key new champion attributed the biggest victory of his 20 year career to his consistent training regime which, he said, led to self belief that he could ride out the inevitable rough patches and win the big prize. “I wouldn’t say I played perfect this week,” Akagariyama said through an interpreter. “I had some misses. But I had confidence. I’ve been playing well in the past few months. After the World 10-ball and the China Open I went back home and I trained hard, on my game and physical training. I had too much confidence.”

Alcano was left to rue what might have been. He knew he had come close to winning his third world title but realized that at this level, you can’t expect to cash the big ticket when you make elementary mistakes. “I missed four easy shots,” a clearly dejected Alcano said afterwards. “How can I win if I miss four shots? Maybe it was the pressure.”

Akagariyama collected $36,000 for the victory, while Alcano received $18,000.

Story and Photo by Ted Lerner
(Doha, Qatar) --It’s an all Asian final in Doha, Qatar as the Philippines Ronnie Alcano and Japan’s Yukio Akagariyama will face off for the 2011 World 9-ball Championship. The race to 13, alternate break match will begin at 7pm local time in Doha (GMT + 3 hours).

Earlier in front of a capacity crowd of over 1500 people at the Al Sadd Sports Club, Alcano defeated fellow Filipino Dennis Orcullo 11-9.  Akagariyama barely got by England’s Mark Gray in a nail biter, 11-10.  Playing on the TV table, Alcano jumped out to a 2-0 and stayed in front the entire match. He consistently made balls on the break and left himself shots. Orcullo, on the other hand couldn’t seem to find the same magic that he showed yesterday when he played Daryl Peach in the quarterfinals, and regularly found himself having to play safe after the break shot.

Displaying deadly accuracy, Alcano pushed the scoreline up to 8-4. After he moved to the hill at 10-6, Orcullo had one last fight back and closed the match to 10-9. Nothing was certain in the next rack as the two engaged in a safety battle. Orcullo left an opening for Alcano, who took advantage and cleared for the win.
Alcano seems to have found that smooth, deadly rhythm that he used back in 2006 to win the World 9-ball Championship in Manila. His hot streak continued then when he won the World 8-ball title a few months later in Fujairah, UAE.

Since then, Alcano has struggled to find his game. He finally kicked things into gear earlier this month in Shanghai when he reached the quarterfinals of the China Open. Alcano also said that he recently became a free agent, meaning he no longer has a manager back in Manila. He revealed that he is now being backed with financial support by none other than boxing great Manny Pacquiao, who helps Alcano with travel expenses.
“Manny is very  good,” Alcano said after his win over Orcullo. “All I need is just a little bit of Manny’s good fortune and I can win the World Championship. I just have to  win one more match.”

The other semi-final was a much closer match. Early on Gray just couldn’t seem to get any rolls off the break, while Akagariyma did and continued his low key but effective approach to the game and moved up by a 6-2 score line.
At 8-3 it looked like it would just be the Japanese’ day but then the Englishman kicked his game into gear. Gray got a few racks back and then the heat started affecting Akagariyama.  The match was tied at 8 when Gray had a clear run out but found bad position on the 8-ball. He potted it but then had to bank  the 9 and missed it.

“That was the turning point right there,” Gray said afterward. “If I get that 9, I’m up 9-8 and I can win it.” Gray wasn’t done yet, though. He was down 10-8 and then came back to tie. Then, breaking for the win and  a spot in the finals, the unthinkable happened. He scratched on the break, but only by a half of a millimeter of a roll on the cue. Akagariyama had an open table and calmly picked off the colors for the biggest win of his career.
The 36 year old Japanese has recently seen his stock rising on the world stage. At the World 10-ball championship in May in Manila he reached the semifinals.  He reached the quarterfinals in Shanghai earlier this month at the China Open.

The winner of the World 9-ball Championship receives $36,000 while the runner up receives. $18,000. For full results visit www.wpa-pool.com and stay tuned for finals coverage!

Story and Photo by Ted Lerner: After what has to be one of the most memorable and exciting days in the history of championship pool, the Philippines Dennis Orcullo and Ronnie Alcano, England’s Mark Gray, and Japan’s Yukio Akakariyama all  made it  into the semi-finals of the World 9-ball Championship in Doha, Qatar. One semi-final will be an all-Filipino affair between former World 9-ball Champion Alcano, and the world’s current number one ranked player, Orcullo (pictured).  The other semi-final will feature Gray vs. Akakarayima. Both race to 11, alternate break matches will begin  at 3pm local time Friday, July 1(GMT +3). The race to 13 alternate break final will begin later at 7pm.

It would be hard to imagine that the last matches of this year’s World 9-ball Championship could produce any more drama than has already occurred but the way things went Thursday evening, anything must be possible. Two of the race to 11 matches  went to a sudden death decider. Another one went to the 20th rack.

There was one contest out of the four that produced almost no drama. Going in, the matchup between Orcullo and England’s Daryl Peach promised fireworks as both players were playing superb pool. But once the contest got underway, it quickly became apparent that Orcullo is in another class this year.
Orcullo raced out to a 5-0 lead and from there it was all but over. Orcullo had figured out the diamond and was making two and three balls on every breakout, and leaving himself an open shot on the 1 ball.  On the rare occasion that he missed, he would leave himself safe. Peach simply had no answer and he got routed by the man playing the best pool in the tournament, 11-2.  “He played brilliant,” Peach conceded afterwards.

Orcullo, the current World 8-ball champion, is seriously ready to cash in on Friday and someone is going to have to play their all time best to beat him. ??“I’m hungry to win this tournament,” Orcullo said after waylaying Peach. “I have a lot of experience and I know how to focus. I always want to play good in any tournament but this one is big.”

It was just about when Orcullo went off to relax that the other matches in the Al Sadd began to sizzle. On the far table Gray had jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the USA’s Shane Van Boening. The American had just come off an all time classic 11-10 thriller against England’s Darren Appleton and looked a bit flat. But then Van Boening stormed back to take a 5-4 lead. Gray struck back and, under pressure, played phenomenal pool to move up 8-5. Gray continued to play super smooth and pushed the score to 10 – 6. Then Van Boening kicked it into another gear.

After Gray fouled, Van Boening nailed a combination for the rack. The American broke and ran the next rack to make it 10-9. Gray had the break in the 20th game but failed to get three balls past the head string. Van Boening, who seemed to have stolen the momentum, had  the clear path to a tie and got down  with the bridge for a fairly elementary cut on the 9-ball.  To his horror, he missed the shot.

The two fought and agonized over that 9 ball for over 15 minutes until an errant safe by Van Boening gave Gray an open shot, which he potted for the win. “I didn’t expect to be in the semi-finals,” Gray said afterward, as a devastated Van Boening slumped in  his match chair for 30 minutes.  “But I’m thinking I can win it. I usually play good on the big stage. And my confidence is really high right now. Who knows?”

Results from the Quarterfinals:
Dennis Orcullo (PHL) 11 - 2 Daryl Peach (GBR)?
Ronnie Alcano (PHL) 11 -10 Toru Kuribayashi (JPN)?
Yukio Akakariyama (JPN) 11 - 10. Vicenc io Tanio (PHL) ?
Mark Gray (GBR) 11 – 9 Shane Van Boening (USA) 

Story and Photos by Ted Lerner

(Doha, Qatar)--Antonio Gabica (pictured) has often been viewed by pool fans as an extremely talented player who tends to wilt when it comes to big time pressure situations.  But to the man known as “Ga Ga” to his fellow Filipinos, that moniker now sits forever at the bottom of the nearest trash can at the Al Sadd Sports Club.  

Gabica stepped up in the biggest way possible under massive pressure this afternoon and defeated former World Champion Mika Immonen 11-10 in a dramatic finish in the round of 64 at the 2011 World 9-ball Championship in Doha, Qatar. Gabica now advances to the final 32 tomorrow in Doha while Immonen, one of the games premiere players,  has been eliminated. ??Gabica,  who now works in Qatar as a coach for the national team, had been in control throughout, first going up 4-1, then 8-5, then 10-6. He looked cool and comfortable, while Immonen continually stewed at every bad roll and the boisterous Filipino crowd that cheered his every mistake.

Then, on his way to an emphatic victory, Gabica scratched after pocketing the two ball. The consummate battler, Immonen stepped up and finally got into the match, tying it at 10-10, after making a clutch full table jump shot in the 20th frame.
Gabica broke in the sudden death last rack, and the two proceeded to engage in a prolonged safety battle that lasted for over 20 nerve rattling minutes.  The Filipino then sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy with two of the biggest shots of his career. He first pocketed the one ball with a rail first kick, then banked the two ball in cross table. With the fans going gaga,  “Ga Ga” had the path to the finish line and the 11-10 victory. ??“That’s too much pressure,” Gabica said afterward. “I’m just lucky to win.”

As expected on the first day of the single elimination knockout stage at the World 9-Ball Championship, the heavy pressure and dramatic finishes weren’t confined to one table. England’s Mark Gray found himself on the verge of elimination after being down 10-6 to Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Po Cheng, who has twice been runner up in this event. But the 37 year old Brit toughed it out and managed to tie up the score at 10-10. In the final rack, Gray went offensive on the 4 ball when he could have very easily played safe. The gamble paid off with a hair raising double kiss shot. Gray then had an opening and ran for the finish line and a hard fought 11-10 win.

Chris Melling trounced Hwang Yong of Korea in a match that took just 45 minutes. While the teenager Hwang may have been in a bit over his head, the bottom line is that Melling has been the best player in the world for the last month. And he hasn’t skipped one single beat here in Doha. “I’m playing unbelievable right now,” Melling said after his match. “I’m breaking good. I’m controlling the cue, getting a shot on the one ball. I’ve missed three balls in this tournament so far. Someone is going to have to play very good to beat me. I’m not trying to be cocky, but you have to have confidence to win this thing. And I’m very confident right now. I’m definitely here to win it.”

USA's Shane Van Boening advanced with a comeback win over Russia’s Konstantin Stepanov. Van Boening rallied from a 6-2 deficit and took control of the match late and won 11-8. Van Boening now faces Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin, who easily beat the Philippines Joven Alba 11-5.

One of the biggest surprises of the day was the relatively easy victory for Japan’s Lo Li Wen  over former world champion Thorsten Hohmann. After starting out with a 4-1 lead, Hohmann simply fell apart, while Lo, who’s playing in his first ever world championship, from said he only missed one ball the entire match.  Lo, who’s from Taiwan but lives in Yokohama Japan with his Japanese wife, won going away, 11-7

While every single one of the over 500 fans inside the Al Sadd Sports Club was focused on the TV table, and a match between  their hero, Efren Reyes of the Philippines, and unknown Filipino Marlon Caneda, England’s Daryl Peach quietly put on one of the strongest performances of the tournament so far. And in the process, the 2007 World 9-ball champion announced to all that he came to Doha with every intention to reclaim the prize that was once his.

Interestingly Peach faced the very man whom he defeated in Manila in ’07 to win  pool’s most prestigious title, the Philippines’ Roberto Gomez. On any other day, this intriguing matchup would have screamed marquee, but with Reyes and Francisco Bustamante also playing, most in the crowd barely noticed.

Too bad because Peach (pictured) was simply sensational. After Gomez got out to a 2-1 lead, Peach literally steamrolled the Filipino, quickly piling on the racks to make the score 6-2 in the race to 11, alternate break match. Everything the Englishman did was as it should be—good breaking, solid potting, confident safeties--and soon he was up 9-3. By the time it ended at 11-4, Gomez walked away with his tail between his legs, while Peach was jacked to the gills.

The evening session produced mixed results for the Filipinos out on the floor. The crowd of overseas Filipino fans had shown up in mass to hopefully see Reyes perform his legendary magic. But the 28 year old  Caneda stole the show by thoroughly dominating the legend and, at same time, making Reyes look every bit his 57 years.  Caneda raced out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Reyes at times looked uncomfortable, while Caneda  was the picture of cool.  Caneda, who works in Saudi Arabia as a pool coach, was never challenged, and won 11-5. “He’s the people’s champ but I can’t think about that,” Caneda said afterward.  “I just focused on the table. Maybe he’s not in the best condition. He told me afterwards that he was having a problem with his eyes.”

On another table defending champion Francisco Bustamante looked strong in his match against Germany’s Sascha Andrei-Tege, winning 11-3.  Bustamante will now play Indonesia’s Riyan Setiawan, who defeated Spain’s Carlo Cabello, 11-8.

Stephan Cohen of France took out the Philippines Raymund Farun in a tough battle, 11-9. Cohen now faces Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi, who looked good in an 11-8 victory over  England’s Karl Boyes.

India’s Raj Hundal, who lives in London, was engaged in a back and forth match with Japan’s Tomoo Takano for nearly two hours.  The entire match was tight with Takano keeping a slight edge throughout until the Hitman tied it at 10 with two straight. In a precarious sudden death rack the pair engaged in a nervy safety battle.  Raj found an opening on  a risky full table 2-9 combination. He took the shot on and it paid off for a spot in the final 32.

“I dug deep and played some good safes,” Hundal said. “That saved me. I’ve been doing this for a while and I know how it goes. There’s a lot of talent out there so you just gotta bring your heart. Don’t worry, the Hitman’s going to bring his heart.” Hundal will play the Philippines Ronnie Alcano in the round of 32, who defeated Canada’s Chris Orme, 11-7.

The USA’s Hunter Lombardo made it two for two for the American side as he defeated 18 year old Austrian Mario He, 11-9. Lombardo will next face Toru Kuribayashi of Japan who took down World 10-ball Champion Huidji See of the Netherlands, 11-8. See’s loss made it a miserable day for the Dutch team as all three players were eliminated from the tournament.

 Three rounds will be played on Thursday at the Al Sadd Sports Club and the field will be reduced to 4 at the end of the day’s play. The round of 32 begins at 10am local time(GMT + 3 hours).

For full elimination brackets and scoring visit www.wpa-pool.com.