Among the best stories in the WPC qualifiers was the one for American Max Eberle.
On the last day, Eberle needed to get to the finals to make it to the WPC. Eberle had around 10 pts - with 15, he'd be 5th on the list (away from the 4 slots available) and if he lost in the finals he'd have 20 pts (which would put him on top of the list).
Plowing through a field of consistent performers like Taiwanese Shen Ping Pan and Filipino Jharome Pena, Eberle crawled all the way to the semi-finals before running up against young Ryoji Aoki of Japan.
Ryoki Aoji jumped to a 6-2 lead in their semifinal matchup. Finishing off a rack he was breaking, Aoji missed a long 7 on the table that set the stage for Max Eberle to make a remarkable comeback. Ryoji Aoki's game was falling apart missing a 9-ball at 6-4 for Eberle to crawl back to 6-6.
Many were wondering whether the Japanese could finish off the last rack breaking.
One bystander commented: "The only way this kid is going to finish this rack off is if he sinks the 9-ball on the break..."
As if scripted, Ryoji Aoki hits for a golden break and wins the match 7-6.
Valiant effort from Eberle however, who won many local admirers at the Star Billiards Center through his display of skill guts and determination.
On the last day, Eberle needed to get to the finals to make it to the WPC. Eberle had around 10 pts - with 15, he'd be 5th on the list (away from the 4 slots available) and if he lost in the finals he'd have 20 pts (which would put him on top of the list).
Plowing through a field of consistent performers like Taiwanese Shen Ping Pan and Filipino Jharome Pena, Eberle crawled all the way to the semi-finals before running up against young Ryoji Aoki of Japan.
Ryoki Aoji jumped to a 6-2 lead in their semifinal matchup. Finishing off a rack he was breaking, Aoji missed a long 7 on the table that set the stage for Max Eberle to make a remarkable comeback. Ryoji Aoki's game was falling apart missing a 9-ball at 6-4 for Eberle to crawl back to 6-6.
Many were wondering whether the Japanese could finish off the last rack breaking.
One bystander commented: "The only way this kid is going to finish this rack off is if he sinks the 9-ball on the break..."
As if scripted, Ryoji Aoki hits for a golden break and wins the match 7-6.
Valiant effort from Eberle however, who won many local admirers at the Star Billiards Center through his display of skill guts and determination.
