$150,000 in World Open 9-Ball in Qatar-6/29 to 7/5

[JAM]

On AzBilliards Main Page, this just in...

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY---FILIPINO pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes will lead the assault of a strong Philippine contingent as the tough Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament gets going on June 29-July 5 at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation, Al Muntazah Road , Doha , Qatar.

Fondly called "The Magician" in the pool arena, the pride of Angeles City, Pampanga is aching to bounce back from the embarrassment he suffered in the first Senate President Manny Villar Cup in Cebu against a virtually unknown Rodrigo Geronimo, 9-1.

"I hope to perform well in Qatar World 9-Ball Open after my sub-par performance in Cebu Open ," said Reyes. " But what ever happen, I wish a Filipino can win the championship's trophy in Qatar," added Reyes, who is the first Filipino World Pool Champion in 1999.

Other notable Filipino bets competing here are Francisco "Django" Bustamante, world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco.

Former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo, 2007 Manny Pacquiao International 9-ball Open titlist Jeffrey De Luna and 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica will also see action in this event that offers $40,000 to the winner. They will take a short rest after grueling battles in the Puerto Princesa Cup, second leg of the Philippine Pool Tour before heading to Qatar.

Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto Fajardo expressed optimism on the Filipinos' chances in this tournament despite a tiring schedule they encountered.

"We have a good chance in this event," said Fajardo. "Our players are coming off from separate tournaments. These tournaments might sharpen them a bit for the Qatar tournament."

Taiwanese ace Chia-Ching Wu, who ruled the second leg of the RP Pool Tour, will also join the event along with compatriot Pin-Yi Ko, the reigning world junior champion.

A formidable cast of foreign participants from Europe and the United States will also compete. Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US are also the favorites in the tournament.

All these players are already seeded in the tournament proper of this $150,000 event.

Cebu leg champion Gandy Valle, Ramil Gallego and snooker specialist Benjie Guevarra will participate in the stage one elimination on June 27. However, if another slot opens in the main draw, the Japan-based Gallego is the top priority according to Fajardo because his superb performance in the past.

Around 96 players will see action in this event. They will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format.

By Marlon Bernardino - June 23, 2008

A 96-player field, $150,000 total purse, double-elimination format, alternate break, and a race to 9. Good luck to Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening, the two players representing USA!

I remember reading on this forum that there were slots open to any American who wanted to jump in the fray. So there were opportunities for more Americans to be on the player roster, but nobody seemed to go for it.

According to the article, Fajardo states the Filipinos have a good chance at winning this event, and he's right. There are quite a few great Filipino champions competing for sure.

If it can't be Johnny or Shane, then I'm pulling for Bustie!

I have mixed feelings about the location Qatar in general, but from reading the articles written by those who have been there, it seems to be a very pool-friendly kind of place. $150,000 total purse is quite nice and inviting to all who will be in attendance.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Bumpety Bump, as the games begin tomorrow for this $150,000 total purse event. :smile:

Looks like pool is gaining in popularity for Qatar, according to this recent article: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Di...th=June2008&file=Sports_News2008062704621.xml

...the Arab pool tournament from August 3 to 10, wherein 10 countries will be taking part, which will be contested in three categories Singles, Team and juniors.

"We have selected eight players who will be attending a 14-day camp starting from 12 July in Thailand and thereafter a four-day closed camp in Qatar in preparation for the tournament," he said.

QBSF President, Ibrahim Al Sahlawi said the association plans to host many more tournaments of such nature in the future, which will give players from Qatar the experience and confidence to take part in more international competitions.

"With top players from the world taking part in the tournament and with cooperation from Qatar Olympic Committee, the championship is assured to be a great success," he said of the nine-day event.

Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation President, Ibrahim Al Sahlawi below.

JAM

 

[vijesh]

Any idea which channel will broadcast it

 

[JoeyA]

Doug Gordon

Bumpety Bump, as the games begin tomorrow for this $150,000 total purse event. :smile:

Looks like pool is gaining in popularity for Qatar, according to this recent article: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Di...th=June2008&file=Sports_News2008062704621.xml

...the Arab pool tournament from August 3 to 10, wherein 10 countries will be taking part, which will be contested in three categories Singles, Team and juniors.

"We have selected eight players who will be attending a 14-day camp starting from 12 July in Thailand and thereafter a four-day closed camp in Qatar in preparation for the tournament," he said.

QBSF President, Ibrahim Al Sahlawi said the association plans to host many more tournaments of such nature in the future, which will give players from Qatar the experience and confidence to take part in more international competitions.

"With top players from the world taking part in the tournament and with cooperation from Qatar Olympic Committee, the championship is assured to be a great success," he said of the nine-day event.

Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation President, Ibrahim Al Sahlawi below.

JAM

Doug Gordon is there. Perhaps he will give us a report on what's going on.
JoeyA

 

[JAM]

Doug Gordon is there. Perhaps he will give us a report on what's going on.
JoeyA

Maybe he will, which would be great. He may be quite busy keeping the tournament running smoothly. Sometimes he does check in. :smile:

I was a little disappionted but not suprised to read the latest news out of Qatar this fine Sunday morning.

They spoke about the illustrious Filipinio champion, Efren Reyes, and the German powerhouse, Thorsten Hohmann.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=227151&version=1&template_id=49&parent_id=29

FILIPINO pool legend Efren 'Bata' Reyes is looking to make amends for his early exit at last week's Cebu Open when he begins his campaign tomorrow at the Qatar International Open 9-ball Pool Championship.

The tournament begins today at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) halls with a field of 96 players after the first two days of qualifying rounds, which saw 12 contestants joining the main draw.

Reyes starts his Doha bid in the second round tomorrow, taking on the winner of today's opening round match between Qatar's Abdulatef al-fawal and Mohammed Ubaid of UAE.

"I hope to perform well here after my sub-par performance in the Cebu Open," said Reyes, who wants to forget his 9-1 loss to fellow Filipino Rodrigo Geronimo in a hurry.

Reyes, who in 1999 became the first World 9-ball Champion from the Philippines, leads the formidable field of Filipino cueists, including Franciso 'Django' Bustamante, world No.1 Dennis Orcollo, Philippines national champion Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco.

Former Asian snooker champion Marlon Manalo, 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medallist Antonio Gabica and silver medallist Jeffrey de Luna are also there in the long list of Filipino contestants.

"It's a very competitive field with so many top players around, so it's going to be an exciting contest," Reyes observed, wishing for a Filipino to win the trophy even if it is not him.

But with accomplished players from Europe and other Asian countries participating, the event promises keen contests all the way to the final.
Two-time world champions Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Wu Chia-Chung, Chang Jung-Lin of Chinese Taipei and reigning world junior champion Ko Pin-Yi make up the field of hopefuls.

Souquet, currently the biggest money earner among billiard players this year with earnings in excess of $110,000, has his eyes set on the $40,000 top prize in this event.

Another German, Hohmann, the 2003 World Pool champion, is also one of the favourites, along with Wu, the winner of 2005 World 9- and 8-ball Championships.

According to the QBSF, the top 32 players in the world pool rankings will have a bye in the first round.

All contests in the group stages will be played under double elimination format with a race to nine. Four players, two each from the winners and losers' brackets, will advance to the final round of 32 which, as well as with quarter- and semi-finals, will be a race to 11 by single elimination. The final will be a race to 13.

I found it a little unusual that not one word about the American competitors, Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening, was written in this news article from Qatar, the Gulf Times. :angry:

I heard an urban legend about Archer who played overseas one time, and when he won, the tournament organizers paid him in real gold coins. When he got back home to the States, he went to cash the gold coins from overseas, and he quickly found out that the gold was not pure, wasn't worth as much as he thought. Archer was upset, as anybody would be, to learn that his tournament winnings turned out to be a much lesser amount than he had thought. I am not sure if this is a true story or not, but I did hear it through the pool grapevine.

JAM

 

[Kev]

Results/scores: http://www.qatarolympics.org/topics/index.asp?g={2973e304-c5c7-4ee4-b882-7b63fc1f2ad2}

 

[JAM]

Results/scores: http://www.qatarolympics.org/topics/index.asp?g={2973e304-c5c7-4ee4-b882-7b63fc1f2ad2}

Thank you for the link. That is very helpful to learn what's happening.

Shane and Johnny play, on Monday, the winner of some matches that are occurring today.

JAM

 

[memikey]

Anybody who wants to be able to afford a couple of beers in the (to be honest) pretty soulless bars in Doha will need to get at least second place prize money:smile:

Great attitude to sport in general in Qatar though, including pool, but their current enthusiasm for sponsoring and hosting pool events might wane a little once the full reality of just how far away they are from producing a home grown champion sinks in.

Used to visit to play rugby there twice a year and now go quite regularly for work assignments or to play what is one of the finest championship golf courses in the region. They've come a long way from being a "mini-saudi" and their continued involvement in pool can only be good.

Looking forward to the latter stages of this event with interest.

 

[JoeyA]

Anybody who wants to be able to afford a couple of beers in the (to be honest) pretty soulless bars in Doha will need to get at least second place prize money:smile:

Great attitude to sport in general in Qatar though, including pool, but their current enthusiasm for sponsoring and hosting pool events might wane a little once the full reality of just how far away they are from producing a home grown champion sinks in.

Used to visit to play rugby there twice a year and now go quite regularly for work assignments or to play what is one of the finest championship golf courses in the region. They've come a long way from being a "mini-saudi" and their continued involvement in pool can only be good.

Looking forward to the latter stages of this event with interest.

If Qatar is truly interested in producing a home grown champion, they may intensify their participation in pool.

Wouldn't that be great?

If you go please consider sending lots of reports about anything including the cost of a domestic beer.
JoeyA

 

[memikey]

I'm definitely not going to this event Joey but I was there for work related reasons about 4 weeks ago and will be there again in another few weeks for the same thing.

Except for the rugby club, basically all the bars in Doha are situated in hotels. The price of a pint of let's say a fairly standard draft lager ranges from about $8 to $12 depending upon the "star" rating of the hotel and whether the hotel outlet concerned is classed as a 'bar' or a 'night club'.

Spirits are about the same price per shot but most standard mixers like coke, seven up, orange etc come included in that price whether you actually order a mixer or not.

Ashamed to say I could probably write an idiot's guide to bar prices in most countries throughout The Middle East

 

[JAM]

Here's the latest from Doha the Gulf Times:

Philippines pool players dominated the proceedings in the Qatar International Open 9-ball Pool Championship, with as many as seven Filipino players, including Asian Games gold medalist Antonio Gabica, entering the round of 64.

In the first round match held yesterday at Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) halls, Gabica blanked his Lebanese opponent Mazen Berjaoul 9-0 to set up a meeting with Russia's Konstantian Stepanov for a place in the last 32.

Joining compatriot Gabica in the round of 64 are Jovan Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan, Ruben A Cuna, Robert Gomez, Gandy Valle and Allan Cuartero. With 11 more players given a first-round bye, Philippines boast a strong presence in the championship.

Hosts Qatar also enjoyed a relative success on the day with Ahmed al-Sada, Abdul Latef al-Fawal and Bashar Hussain all making it to the next stage. Al-Sada was in superb form as he demolished Philippines' Leonardo Andam 9-0, while al-Fawal faced a stern challenge from UAE's Mohammed Ubaid before winning 9-8. He now meets Filipino legend Elfren Reyes in the next round.

Hussain became the third Qatari to enter the next stage in the afternoon after his convincing 9-0 victory over Iraq's Ayhab Hasan.

Both the cueists from India, Alok Kumar and Dharminder Lilly, safely negotiated the opening round. Kumar overcame the challenge of Qatar's Adel Emadi 9-6 and Lilly was a 9-3 winner over China's Lui Huitao.
Following busy morning and afternoon sessions of play, the tournament was formally declared open yesterday by the QBSF president of deration Ibrahim Abdul Aziz al-Sahlawi amid a function.

Speaking on the occasion, he thanked the officials of World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) for recognising federation's efforts by entrusting them with the coveted event.

"Qatar has become one of the countries who got the honour of hosting a pool world championship. We are committed to showcase the championship in its due shape," he said.

Ian Anderson, the president of WPA, lauding the federation's painstaking efforts in putting together the event, said: "This is the first of, what we hope, many Qatar Open championships. And the way it's been presented here is the indication what's to come in the future."

"This is one of the events where points are accumulated to players' world rankings," he said.

Underlining the fact that more international players are participating in tournaments in the region, Anderson said, "the game's world governing body is considering to incorporate them into their own federations and joining WPA."

"We're coming out with a decision about this shortly," he declared.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=227269&version=1&template_id=49&parent_id=29

The WPA president is happy with the happenings in Qatar.

Interstingly, there was a player there from Iraq, but he took bad beat, 9-zip. :sorry:

Not one mention of the two lone Americans competing in the event in this article, once again.

QBSF president Ibrahim Abdul Aziz al-Sahlawi opens the Qatar International Open 9-ball Pool Championship by making a break at QBSF hall yesterday, with Ian Anderson, the WPA president, looking on.

JAM

 

[JAM]

This just in...

Shane Van Boening barely squeaked by with a 9-8 victory against Alok Kumar from Indonesia.

2008 WPC Champion Daryl Peach took a tumble, 9 to 5, against Gandy Valle of Philippines.

German WPC Champion (can't remember the year) Thomas Engert went to the infamous double hill with Filipino Ruben A. Cuna and lost.

Mika Immonen won his match, 9 to 7, against Croatian player Ivika Putnik.

Italian Stallion Fabio Petroni lost 9 to 6 versus China's Zhang Shuchun.

What a long way to travel and have to pull this player your very first round. In about 4 hours or thereabouts, Johnny Archer will be playing Alex Pagulayan. Who do you like? :grin:

JAM

 

[JAM]

There sure are a lot of goose eggs on this scoreboard, making me think some players may not have showed up, literally.

Leonardo Andam of Philippines lost to Qatar's own Ahmed Al Sada, 9 to zero. Leonardo with a goose egg?

Imran Majid gets a big fat zero against Ricky Yang of "INA."

Russian Young Gun Konstantian Stepanov gets barbecued or doesn't show up against Filipinio Antonio Gabica.

Here's a picture of a smiling Imran Majid on the right, posing with Rico Diks. :smile:

JAM

 

[memikey]

Any idea which channel will broadcast it

Don't think there are any live broadcasts planned but understand that one of Al Jazeera Sports three channels may broadcast recorded packages on so far unspecified future dates.

 

[memikey]

There sure are a lot of goose eggs on this scoreboard, making me think some players may not have showed up, literally.....


....Imran Majid gets a big fat zero against Ricky Yang of "INA."

{QUOTE]Instinct correct JAM, Imran is not in Qatar.

INA stands for Indonesia if you were wondering[/QUOTE]

Actually JAM when I posted the above I hadn't even considered the content of your other earlier post about Ashok Kumar, in fact I hadn't even noticed your minor and unimportant faux pas about India/Indonesia in that earlier post, so I wasn't referring in any way at all to that mistake nor trying to correct it. I've actually just noticed the Ashok Kumar bit for the first time now when looking back to see what mistake you think I pointed out cos I didn't remember pointing out any mistake.

The only reason I explained in my above post that INA stoof for Indonesia was because when you put it in inverted commas in your above post I thought you were perhaps in a roundabout way asking if anyone knew what INA stood for. I was simply giving you the info I thought you were looking for for, hence the way I phrased the post with a qualifier i.e. "if you were wondering".

This is not in any way important other than as an illustration of how easily and innocently some posts and the reasons behind them can be misunderstood by any of us.

 

[vijesh]

Thganks for the updates guys, and yes INA stands for Indonesia, and alok kumar is from India. Keep up the good work guys

 

[JAM]

Instinct correct JAM, Imran is not in Qatar.

INA stands for Indonesia if you were wondering

YIKES! Thanks for the correction.

I wasn't sure if INA was Indonesia or India. So IND is India and INA is Indonesia! :smile:

Johnny should be playing in an hour or so. I wonder if they have live updating on their website. I'm going to go check it out: http://www.qatarolympics.org/topics/index.asp?g={2973e304-c5c7-4ee4-b882-7b63fc1f2ad2}

BTW, it takes a little time for the website to pop up, and I have high-speed cable. So be patient if you want to see it and have DSL or dial-up.

Filipinos are kicking butt:
Marlon Manalo vs KSA Yousof Al Wadi, 9 to 1.
Jeffrey De Luna vs TPE Wang Hung Hsiung, 9 to 7

I'm sure these two didn't like having to play each other:
PHI Ramil Gallego vs PHI Joven Bustamante, 9 to 5.

Johnny Archer versus Alex Pagulayan on deck, race to 9. :smile:

JAM

 

[Roadkill]

Looks like the rules are pretty strict for this tournament. Players wishing to take a break during tv matches (most likely bathroom breaks) "shall be followed by a TV director".

 

[JAM]

Looks like the rules are pretty strict for this tournament. Players wishing to take a break during tv matches (most likely bathroom breaks) "shall be followed by a TV director".

Yikes! Those are some strange rules! :shocked2:

Johnny Archer lost to Alex Pagulayan, 9 to 2.

JAM

 

[bfdlad]

Man, Alex is tough. I am guessing due to some of these scores that it is winner breaks. Double Elimination though, Johnny will come back on the one loss side. Thanks for the info JAM. I have been looking to try and find it.