Guinness 9 ball tour

Lee Van Corteza wins over Orcullo 13 to 11

Wow, what a game!!! We witnessed some spectacular shots and both players had their shining moments in a match that lasted almost 3 hours.

Even though Corteza won, Dennis does not have anything to be ashamed of. I love the way both players performed under extreme pressure. Corteza has proven once again that he is the real deal. On the other hand, when most players would have given up after their opponents won 9 straight games in an alternate break format in a race to 11, I admired the way Dennis was able to keep his composure and managed to almost win the game.

Wu has had the easiest route to a possible finals berth in this tournament. The Filipinos had to knock each other out.
 
Chang 2:0 Corteza

Chang on fire now.
He's playing brilliantly and his break was amazing, probably the strongest in the whole tournament.

Earlier, Chang beat Wu 11:9
Wu self-destructed to go for the 4-9 combo in the last rack.
Wu is a very good player, but his over-confidence often proves costly for him.
 
it really looked like the 4 ball had 2/3 of a pocket to go into, i watched chang play last night too and he's gotta be one of the top safety players in the
world
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Open the Tour!

Watching the Guiness Tour live on the internet is awesome. What would be more awesome is if they opened it up to all players from around the world.

No one is barred from US Tournaments. No one is barred from the Eurotour. ( at least I don't think so.)

I don't really like the fact that Guiness makes the players wear uniforms so it's hard to tell them apart. And it looks as if they aren't allowed to wear sponsors logos on the front. Just a low key one on the sleeve.

It's like they are robbing the players of their individuality.

I hate that even now the players are just assets to be toyed with at will by the promoter.

But the Asians have a functioning tour being broadcast live with a major sponsor.

So, open it up and get some international flavor.

Or are the Asians afraid to let the rest of the world in?
 
Johnson said:
it really looked like the 4 ball had 2/3 of a pocket to go into, i watched chang play last night too and he's gotta be one of the top safety players in the
world
Click to expand...

If the cue ball had been better positioned, the angle would've been even bigger.
It's ridiculous to take such a huge chance when your opponent is on the hill.

Some think the result was an upset, but for those who follow Taiwanese games, it's not. Chang is Taiwan's uprising star. He's been playing very well over the months but Wu's not.

Now Chang's leading 6:2.
 
Chang 7:4 Corteza

Corteza was on course to cutting the deficit to 6:5 when his clothing made contact with a ball.
A foul call and Chang promptly made it 7:4.
 
Chang 10:5 Corteza

VanVan had his no.999 dry break.
Chang made a fantastic bank on the 2 and cleaned the table.
Now he's on the hill and on the break.
 
Chang wins

Chang out-safetied Corteza again, then hit a long-range super draw, followed by a 5-9 combo.
What a performance!
 
Corteza couldn't buy a ball on the break could he? Solid stuff from Chang though.

And I love those Guinness ads!!
 
chilli66 said:
Corteza couldn't buy a ball on the break could he? Solid stuff from Chang though.

And I love those Guinness ads!!
Click to expand...

The Guiness ads rocked. The Guiness girls in the arena rocked. Asking the spectators who they like - that rocked!

The dude in gold with pool balls painted on him walking around like a robot with a ray gun????????? That was just weird.

Wu and Cortezza have got to be hating their breaks right now.
 
Chang Jung-Lin has also ever eliminated Bustamante and Kiamco in 2005 WPC. And I think another talented teenager player Wu Yu-Lun (3 times world junior champions) will also show in the Kaohsiung leg.

Date of Birth：1985.05.02
Career : college student
Height/Weight: 180/634
WPC Record: 2005 - L16, ), 2006 - L64

2007 Taiwan pro champion (April)
2005 Taiwan semi-pro year Champion
2005 National Game 9-ball champion
2001、2003 WPA World 9-Ball Championships Junior's division - Runner-up (Foldes was the 2003 Champion)
2002 WPA World 9-Ball Championships Junior's division - 5 th
20061106Chang.jpg
 
20061106Chang.jpg




I like Chang's style, very deliberate and methodical. He also knows how to use
his extensions well.
 
John Barton said:
Watching the Guiness Tour live on the internet is awesome. What would be more awesome is if they opened it up to all players from around the world.

No one is barred from US Tournaments. No one is barred from the Eurotour. ( at least I don't think so.)

I don't really like the fact that Guiness makes the players wear uniforms so it's hard to tell them apart. And it looks as if they aren't allowed to wear sponsors logos on the front. Just a low key one on the sleeve.

It's like they are robbing the players of their individuality.

I hate that even now the players are just assets to be toyed with at will by the promoter.

But the Asians have a functioning tour being broadcast live with a major sponsor.

So, open it up and get some international flavor.

Or are the Asians afraid to let the rest of the world in?
Click to expand...

I never really understood the logic of an All-Asian invitational tournament of 24 players to begin with. It is not even a true tour open to anyone to join, slots are controlled by the APBU and the national associations. I find it a travesty that they're giving away 10 spots to the WPC through this tour.

I agree with open competition, but the Guiness tour is just a nudge for the region to give pool exposure in a sports market dominated by Football (soccer to heathen Americans :p ).

Besides, there's always this option for any non-Asian pro in Asia who wants to get poolplaying action. Come to Manila with lots of money. Go to One Side or any of the top pool halls. You'll seriously find a lot of takers and our doors are always open. :cool:

j/k. :D Well, I hope to bring good news on changes in the Asian tournament scene soon. Tune in when I make the announcement.

Oh yeah, John - I read somewhere here that Corteza uses a Fury shaft. Might wanna check that out.
 
cuycuy said:
I never really understood the logic of an All-Asian invitational tournament of 24 players to begin with. It is not even a true tour open to anyone to join, slots are controlled by the APBU and the national associations. I find it a travesty that they're giving away 10 spots to the WPC through this tour.

I agree with open competition, but the Guiness tour is just a nudge for the region to give pool exposure in a sports market dominated by Football (soccer to heathen Americans :p ).

Besides, there's always this option for any non-Asian pro in Asia who wants to get poolplaying action. Come to Manila with lots of money. Go to One Side or any of the top pool halls. You'll seriously find a lot of takers and our doors are always open. :cool:

j/k. :D Well, I hope to bring good news on changes in the Asian tournament scene soon. Tune in when I make the announcement.

Oh yeah, John - I read somewhere here that Corteza uses a Fury shaft. Might wanna check that out.
Click to expand...

I know you are just kidding but let me ask you a serious question which you may or may not know the answer to.

How much money can we play for if I bring a non-Asian player to the Phillipines to play a 15 ahead set of nine ball with the best player you can muster.

Would I be able to get a bet of $500,000 covered? What is your limit? Do you have any? I know that the dollar goes a long way there and I said I didn't think that playing for $10,000 to determine the "money game king" was particularly impressive.

About five to ten times that was in play when Hoppe played Vigeaneux(sp) in like 1910 or something.

So really, do you think Puyat, or Bugsy, or the Filipino Mafia will cover a bet like that or are we still talking about walking around money in Derby City?

I doubt Corteza uses a Fury shaft but if he does good for him. Do you happen to know who scammed me out a case posing as Dennis Orcullo several years ago? I'd love to hear that those assholes got some karmic smackdown.

And yeah, how can it be a "tour" if it's all invitational? I guess it's the Guiness poolplayers exhibition tour. What's up with making them dress up in those stupid shirts? Let the players be individuals. I'd love to see these assholes try and tell Tiger Woods and the rest of the pro golfers that they had to all wear the same clothes for an event. Good luck with that.

If this is the kind of control that they are exercising then I am glad Efren said no to the tour.

Why doens't the APBU leverage their sponsorship and open it up to anyone who is qualified to compete? Let's just see if Archer, Morris or Immonen can hang on tour in Asia.

I a sure Guiness wouldn't care if they had more diversity in their black and white shirts.

Or maybe they think no one will watch if there isn't an Asian playing. Tell that to the NBA which broadcasts games in China that get watched even without Yao Ming.

Rant off. Does $500,000 fit on the light?
 
John Barton said:
Watching the Guiness Tour live on the internet is awesome. What would be more awesome is if they opened it up to all players from around the world.

No one is barred from US Tournaments. No one is barred from the Eurotour. ( at least I don't think so.)

I don't really like the fact that Guiness makes the players wear uniforms so it's hard to tell them apart. And it looks as if they aren't allowed to wear sponsors logos on the front. Just a low key one on the sleeve.

It's like they are robbing the players of their individuality.

I hate that even now the players are just assets to be toyed with at will by the promoter.

But the Asians have a functioning tour being broadcast live with a major sponsor.

So, open it up and get some international flavor.

Or are the Asians afraid to let the rest of the world in?
Click to expand...

No one is barred from Japan Open, All Japan Open, Philippines Open....., but where were the american players? Sometimes we could see Max Eberle and Tony Robles' names on the list, but that was all. Some of your players even refused to join 8-ball and 9-ball WPC, so......:rolleyes:
 
liekdi2588 said:
No one is barred from Japan Open, All Japan Open, Philippines Open....., but where were the american players? Sometimes we could see Max Eberle and Tony Robles' names on the list, but that was all. Some of your players even refused to join 8-ball and 9-ball WPC, so......:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The Phillipines Open? How much did that pay out? Like .72cnts :-) Seriously, was it worth traveling to?

The Guiness Tour isn't really "worth" it either with $1000 fifth place prize money.

There was a time when the Americans and Europeans came to play. And the Europeans still come.

I think you won't find too many Americans willing to travel to the middle east right now so they can hardly be blamed for not wanting to go to a "dangerous" place for not so much money. So that's why you didn't get any participation from the US players on the 8-Ball WC. Put it on in the US and see who shows up.

What does the Japan Open pay out? I forget but I do know that in 1998 we paid something $250 a night for the equivalent of a closet for a room. So I think the expenses might be a tad high comparatively.

I don't know that the Europeans and Americans would show up for the Guiness Tour. I'd like to see them have the chance if they dared to take it.

Anyway, it's good that the USA doesn't have a "play USA" mentality or we might never have been treated to Parica, Reyes and the gang. Maybe someday your organizers will get it together and make room for the rest of the world to compete regularly on your turf.
 
Speaking of non Asian players, I remember seeing Jasmine Ouschan, Line Kjorsvik, Ralf Souquet, and Thomas Engert in the All Japan Championship last year. There was no US player. The first prize for women only paid $6,000 or so. It was like $20,000 for men. I believe Bobby Hunter and Max Eberle was there the year before.

I agree it is very expensive to go there. The hotel is really expensive, since they charge per person per room, so if you have two people sharing the room, you have to pay almost double the charge of one single room. But it is a nice hotel, and is not really that small.:)

Since the All Japan Championship is sanctioned by the WPC, players' rankings can be improved if they do well in this tournament. In Jamine's case, she came 2nd but that finish secured her WPC #1 ranking in the world. I also heard that they have a bit of allowance given to the overseas players, to help out the expenses of coming all the way from across the globe.

The first prize of one tour stop of the Guinness pays $15,000, and then the final pays something like $36,000 for first, if I am not mistaken. I am glad to see pool getting more exposure all over the world, and players are given a chance to make some money. This is a very tough tour though, with all the top level players from the Filipine and Taiwan competing in it--so, no easy money for anyone by any measure.

Let's not forget these tours are the result of lots of hard work between the Asian associations and sponsors.

With regard to the WPC 9 ball, I know some players were having problem coming up with the expenses to travel. It is very sad.

We need an organization to negotiate big sponsorships and TV coverage to get a tours with nice payout in the US. The WPBA is invitational, and they are working very hard to secure TV exposure, which I think is a good start.

I have been to Asia a few times to watch some big tournaments, and I have to say I think Mr. Tu and the APBU are doing an awesome job. They do not just organize a professional event--they do a lot of marketing activities before the tournament to expose and market the event. These are activities held in public, and usually received very good response from the general public.

They can now secure LIVE TV coverage of some of their events. This is good for the sponsors, and the players. I think they will do even better in the next few years, and we will see more tournaments and tours happening in Asia. More tours and tournaments mean more opportunity for the players to gain more experience and to sharpen their games against the better players. As a result, the level of play in Asia will only get better.

Richard
 
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John Barton said:
The Phillipines Open? How much did that pay out? Like .72cnts :-) Seriously, was it worth traveling to?

The Guiness Tour isn't really "worth" it either with $1000 fifth place prize money.

There was a time when the Americans and Europeans came to play. And the Europeans still come.

I think you won't find too many Americans willing to travel to the middle east right now so they can hardly be blamed for not wanting to go to a "dangerous" place for not so much money. So that's why you didn't get any participation from the US players on the 8-Ball WC. Put it on in the US and see who shows up.

What does the Japan Open pay out? I forget but I do know that in 1998 we paid something $250 a night for the equivalent of a closet for a room. So I think the expenses might be a tad high comparatively.

I don't know that the Europeans and Americans would show up for the Guiness Tour. I'd like to see them have the chance if they dared to take it.

Anyway, it's good that the USA doesn't have a "play USA" mentality or we might never have been treated to Parica, Reyes and the gang. Maybe someday your organizers will get it together and make room for the rest of the world to compete regularly on your turf.
Click to expand...

I understand your sentiments regarding this one John. though it seems that most pool players from the western part of the world (not just Americans) are having some problems regarding travel expenses, small purse, and open tourney invitations in Asia, we and they must understand these situations. First, though the purse seems relatively small compared to the price money offered in the U.S. and Europe, the supposed purse is relatively high enough for Asian countries considering the lower cost of living and expenses there. 0.72 cents maybe of no value in the U.S, but in most parts of Asia (primarily southeastern), that is already a hard earned 1 month salary. However, I do believe that increasing the purse will encourage some western players (not all) to join these Asian tournaments, if they dared to. Regarding the tourneys in Asia, for a long time Japan had organized an annual open tourneys with much respectable purses on. I do believe that the prices here are more than enough not to leave you broke ( as long as you don't place last :D ). these are the gambles that western players have to consider before deciding to participate in Asia. besides, the likes of Efren and the gang also gambled when they came in the states. there was no guarantee whether they will leave empty handed or owing a lot of dough. Going to the states and Europe is also not a joke, actually it's more dangerous to thread waters in these unfamiliar areas considering the high costs of living.

I do however agree that in time, there will be more open tourneys in Asia. not just Japan, but also the Philippines , Taiwan and other parts of Asia. besides, Pool is just beginning to bloom in that part of the world. If not for the wins of such Asian players in major tourneys in the U.S. and Europe, Pool will just be an ordinary gambling game on the sidewalks. so let us be happy on the direction on where Pool is heading. ;)
 
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Walking down the street here in Bangkok you could see the tournament on TV through the windows in every sports bar. You would think it was the Super Bowl by the number of people watching.
 
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