Predator International 10-Ball Championship gets under way
The 10th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship kicks off today and the 96 participating players are all eager to showcase their skills in Manila, Philippines.
Reigning World 10-Ball Champion Dennis Orcollo heads the list of the world’s finest cue artist in the event, and the Philippine money-game king is rearing to avenge a heart-breaking defeat during the weekend.
Orcollo and compatriot Roberto Gomez absorbed a disappointing 10-5 defeat against China’s Li He Wen and Fu Jian Bo in the Finals of the 2010 World Cup of Pool, which was also held in front of the emphatic Filipino crowd.
“I’m determined to win the title. Although the painful defeat is still on my mind, I’ll do my best to win in front of countrymen,” Orcollo said.
Billiard Legends Efren “The Magician” Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, who is the reigning World nine-ball titlist, will also participate in the event after begging out of the last-three staging of the tournament, and the awesome-duo will definitely be two of the tournament favourites .
“I’m very happy to finally play in a singles event in front of my home fans in the Philippines,” said Reyes, who failed to defend their World Cup of Pool title after he and Bustamante was knocked out by Indonesia’s Ricky Yang and Muhammad Zulfikri, 8-6, in the Round-of-16.
“It’s not something I get a chance to do often, and even though it’s a lot of pressure, it really makes me feel good as the people support me,” the former World nine-ball and eight-ball king added.
As expected, Philippines will have the most representatives and players like 2006 World nine-ball Champion Ronnie Alcano, US Open Champion Lee Van Corteza, former World Champion Alex Pagulayan, Warren Kiamco, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey De Luna and rising star Carlo Biado will also be in the hunt for prestigious title.
However, current world number one, Mika Immonen promises to give the Filipinos a tough challenge and the pool superstar from Finland vowed to do his best in his bid of reclaiming the title he last won in 2003.
“It’s been awhile since I won this, but I feel like my game has come back to me in the last few weeks so I’m really looking forward to this event,” said the two-time World and US Open champion.
Former Women’s World 10-Ball Champion Rubilen Amit of the Philippines, and her compatriot Iris Ranola, will also be one of the main attractions this year, as the two women cue artists will try to pull of upsets against their male counterparts.
United States’ Shane Van Boening, Rodney Morris, Johnny Archer, Charlie Williams, Corey Deuel, and Oscar Dominguez are also included in the field, while Canada’s John Morra and Jason Klatt, together with Mexico’s Ernesto Dominguez will also try their luck in this year’s edition of the pool’s longest-running major event.
World Cup of Pool participants like Ralf Soquet and Oliver Ortmann of Germany, Lee Chenman and Kenny Kwok of Hong Kong, and Qatar’s Bashar Hussain and Mohd Ali Bin Ali also confirmed their participation in the event that will run until 19 September.
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