Taiwanese and Three Pinoys on Way to Philippines World Pool Championship

Taiwanese and Three Pinoys on Way to Philippines World Pool ChampionshipWith intensive competition underway at Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, the first four billiard players have emerged from the 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship Qualifying Event to take their spots in the starting line up of 128 players.With more than 120 players competing in separate morning and afternoon events, the standard was extremely high and there were three top local talents who won through as well as another dangerous Taiwanese dark horse.
All will convene at the Philippines International Convention Center in Manila this Saturday November 4, as 128 players ready themselves for nine days of action and a lion’s share of the $400,000 purse.Roberto Gomez, a 26 old from the same stable as Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano, was the first to cross the line as he beat Oi Naoyuki of Japan, a qualifier in Kaohsiung last year, by 9-6. Gomez takes his position in Group 22 where he will line up alongside the likes of Corey Deuel (USA) and Masaki Tanaka of Japan.The Qualifier 2 final was an all-Taiwanese affair as Nien Rong-chih got the better of Chien Chin-ju by a 9-4 scoreline. Nien will start out in Group 25, a tough collection headed by top Dutchman Alex Lely and former US Open Champ Gabe Owen.Sunday’s first champion was Pinoy veteran Eduardo Villanueva. A feared money-player of long-standing, Villanueva took care of another Japanese Hisash Kusano by 9-2 and he now goes into Group 30 to compete against the likes of Fabio Petroni and Charlie ‘The Korean Dragon’ Williams.The final spot from day two went to the excellent Lee Van Corteza. ‘Van Van’ has appeared in previous World Pool Championships – in ’02 and ’03 in Cardiff and two years ago in Taipei.Corteza had a smooth passage has he comfortably beat America’s Max Eberle 9-2 to cement his spot. He joins Group 9 and should be quietly confident of making progress against Thomas Engert, Philipp Stojanovic and Stuart Lawler. Play continues through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with eight further spots to be determined.

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