Saturday Evening at the World Pool League

Saturday Evening at the World Pool League With three further matches completed in the 2004 888.com World Pool League this evening, the picture has become a little clearer as to who will be making their way into tomorrow evening’s play-off. Francisco Bustamante is over the line and Niels Feijen looks a safe bet, but the other two spots are open. Thomas Engert, languishing in bottom spot with just two draws in four games, looks dead and buried. Steve Davis 5 – 5 Alex PagulayanSteve Davis and Alex Pagulayan edged closer to the play-offs as they played out an entertaining draw to share the spoils and move themselves onto four points each with a game to play. Historically, four points has been enough to progress but at other times six has been the requirement.In front of a packed house, Davis broke and ran the first rack to open his account and then further increased his lead as Pagulayan scratched on the break to give the Englishman ball in hand.Davis, who seems to be improving with every match, then executed a composed clearance in the next to move into a solid 3 – 0 lead.Pagulayan cleared from the break in the next to reduce the deficit and then took the sixth rack when Davis missed a long pot on the blue 2. A run out from the break by the World Champion then levelled things up at 3 – 3.It was developing into a mini epic and Davis trapped Pagulayan in a tough snooker in the next, forcing him to deliberately foul on the 9 ball in an attempt to move it away from the corner pocket. However, it wasn’t far enough as Davis potted the 2 ball and then played a tidy 4 / 9 combination to regain the lead at 4 – 3.It was Pagulayan’s turn to have a ball in hand as Davis failed to hit a cushion when presented with a snooker and he cleared to level it once again, this time at 4 – 4.There was more ball in hand action in the next as Pagulayan sent the cue ball scuttling off the table as he tried to make the 9 ball with a combination when executing a jump shot. Unfortunately for him, the 1 and 9 were situated perfectly for Davis who rolled in the combo to go 5 - 4 ahead. However, the Canadian grabbed a point at the death as he ran out the final rack to make it 5 – 5. Thomas Engert 5 – 5 Francisco BustamanteEuropean Champion Thomas Engert entered his clash with Francisco Bustamante knowing that only a win would do but following the pattern of earlier games, it ended in a draw to leave the German needing miracles on Sunday afternoon.With two points from four starts, Engert still has a mathematical chance but all results will have to work in his favour.For Bustamante, the point guaranteed a berth in the semi-finals where he will be looking to avoid a match up with countryman Alex Pagulayan.Bustamante opened the proceedings with only the third dry break of the competition but Engert was unable to capitalise on a tricky layout. Both players had chances but it was Bustamante who sealed it courtesy of some quality shot making.He took the second too as Engert’s luck once again deserted him on the break but he had a chance in the third rack as the Filipino once again failed to make a ball. He took it to reduce the deficit and won the next to level.However, Bustamante made it a tough proposition for Engert by winning the next two racks to go to 4 – 2 but Engert gamely fought back to win the next.Trailing 4 – 3, Engert pulled one out the bag as he broke and ran a difficult table to level things up but the Filipino regained the lead before Engert cleared the final rack to make it yet another draw. Rodney Morris 7 – 3 Niels Feijen In the final match of the evening session, defending champion Rodney Morris found himself in a similar position to Thomas Engert where a win was realistically all that would do and he achieved just that recording the only 7 – 3 win of the tournament to date.Morris didn’t hang about as he demolished the racks impatiently and seized any opportunity that came his way. A win tomorrow against Alex Pagulayan should see him through to the play-offs and give him a chance to defend his title.Morris started the match in fine style running from the break but Feijen returned the favour in the next. Morris finished the third rack in quick time from the break and took the next against the head as Feijen scratched off the break allowing Morris to play a 4 / 9 combo to get to 3 – 1.A break and run in the next gave Morris a reasonable cushion but Feijen won the next to get to 4 – 2. The Hawaiian wasted no time as he cleared the table in a couple of minutes to get to five racks.Feijen ran out of position in the next and had to force position but did it well to complete the run out and go to 5 – 3. Morris still wasn’t over the line, and a push out in the next with the 1 ball trapped rail side of the green 6 by the top corner pocket wasn’t what he wanted. Feijen though, gave him back the table and he trapped him in a snooker. The Dutchman escaped but Morris caught him in another which was a little too tough and the Dutchman hit the 9 ball on his way around the rails to the one. The remaining balls were laid out nicely and Morris disposed of them in clinical fashion to take both points and give himself a chance tomorrow.Afterwards he was relieved more than anything; “The balls haven’t run for me this week but today I defied the pool gods!“I played really aggressive as I felt a bit angry at the way it had gone for me. This gives me a real chance but I need to beat Alex tomorrow.”

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