World Pool Champion Heads League Line-up

World Pool Champion Heads League Line-upPagulayan Set for Warsaw Debut MATCHROOM SPORT are pleased to announce that the reigning World Pool Champion, Alex Pagulayan of Canada will be making his 888.com World Pool League debut when the event takes place from the 22nd – 24th October at the N.O.T. Building in central Warsaw.The 26 year-old Filipino / Canadian will be fighting it out for the US$20,000 top prize alongside five other world renowned cue men including last year’s winner Rodney Morris of the USA.Pagulayan landed the 2004 World Championship in Taipei, Taiwan last July going one better than 2003 when he lost in the final. Also in the line up are Philippines pool legend Francisco Bustamante, World Pool League veteran Steve Davis (England) and current European 9-ball champion, Germany’s Thomas Engert.
The final spot was awarded to Holland’s Niels Feijen following a some solid performances throughout the year, culminating in a high finish at the recent US Open.Matchroom Sport will be making 18 x one hour programmes of the League and even though there is no Polish TV coverage, the success of the event in Warsaw over the years means that it was a natural choice to stage the event. The format is simple with each player playing the others once with two points for a win and one for a 5 – 5 draw. At the end of the league section, the top four players will contest the race-to-8-racks semi-finals and that will be followed by the final.Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn, “We have changed the prize money structure this year with more of the $50,000 prize fund going to the winner and less to the players who come at the bottom of the league.“We are all looking forward to coming to Warsaw once again. The crowds we generate at this event are quite superb and I know the players enjoy playing in such a wonderful atmosphere.“There are a couple of new players this year and I am sure that Alex Pagulayan will go will make a tremendous impact in the tournament.“Anyone of the six players can win this event and the Matchroom team are once again very excited at the prospect of coming over to Warsaw. “ 2004 888.com World Pool League – Format • This year the 888.com World Pool League consists of six players who play each other once, making a total of 15 matches in the group stages.• Each match is played over 10 racks. All racks to be played with alternate breaks.• Two points will be awarded for each match won and one point for a 5 - 5 draw.• At the completion of the League section, the four players will advance into the play-offs and the bottom two will be eliminated from the event.• In the event of two players finishing on the same number of points the player scoring the most racks overall will take the higher position. If there is still a tie, then the result of their respective match will determine the position.• In the semi-finals, the player who finishes top of the group will face the player who finishes fourth and the player who finishes second will meet the player who finishes third. The matches will be a race to 8 racks, winner breaks.• The two semi-final winners then compete to decide the 2004 888.com World Pool League Champion in a race to 8, winner break match. • Dates - October 22 – 24, 2004Day 1 14.00 3 matches 19.30 3 matchesDay 2 14.00 3 matches 19.30 3 matchesDay 3 14.00 3 matches 19.30 2 semi final matches and the final• Venue - N.O.T. Building, Czackiego 3 - 5, Warsaw• TV - 18 matches (18 x 1 hour programmes) - 15 League matches Top 4 Play-Offs - 2 x Semi Finals & 1 Final 2004 888.com World Pool League - The Players Rodney Morris U S A Francisco Bustamante Philippines Thomas Engert Germany Alex Pagulayan Canada Steve Davis England Niels Feijen Holland The 2004 888.com World Pool League - The Matches Date Time Match -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fri Oct 22 2.00 pm Thomas Engert v Alex Pagulayan Niels Feijen v Steve DavisRodney Morris v Francisco Bustamante Fri Oct 22 7.30 pm Niels Feijen v Alex PagulayanSteve Davis v Francisco BustamanteThomas Engert v Rodney Morris-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sat Oct 23 2.00 pm Steve Davis v Rodney MorrisFrancisco Bustamante v Alex Pagulayan Niels Feijen v Thomas Engert Sat Oct 23 7.30 pm Steve Davis v Alex PagulayanThomas Engert v Francisco BustamanteNiels Feijen v Rodney Morris-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun Oct 24 2.00 pm Niels Feijen v Francisco Bustamante Steve Davis v Thomas EngertRodney Morris v Alex Pagulayan Sun Oct 24 7.30 pm Play-Offs - Semi Final 1 Play-Offs - Semi Final 2 Play-Offs - Final Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news from the World Pool League.

Pool Balls and Billiard Balls at LOW PRICES!!!

About the Author:
Inside Pool Magazine publishes billiard news. Definitive Synergy creates pool and billiard management software.