Roberto Gomez (PHI) won the first qualifier for the World 8-ball Championship

[JoeyInCali]

Efren, the inaugural champion of the World 8-Ball Championship, wasn't given the WPA Wildcard slot. Same situation with Joven who finish 3rd last year. The defending champion Ronnie Alcano, last year's finalist Dennis Orcullo and last year's 4th placer Niels Feijen all got WPA Wildcard slots but not Efren and Joven. Their 2 slots were given to Antonio Gabica and Elvis Calasang for winning their, BSCP/RAYA/PBDF/Star, supposedly APBU alloted slots Qualifier. Unfortunately, the BSCP leadership failed to meet the APBU submission deadline so those 2 slots were given to other Asian players. WPA Ian A. had to bail out Yen by having Gabica and Calasang fill 2 WPA Wildcard Slots. This is why BMPAP Vice-President and former WPA World 8-Ball Champion Efren Reyes and BMPAP member and last years 3rd placer need to go through qualifiers. Quite an insult and injustice to the Inaugural Champion and last year's 3rd placer.

That's just too disrespectful of Efren.

 

[pooladdict]

Efren, the inaugural champion of the World 8-Ball Championship, wasn't given the WPA Wildcard slot. Same situation with Joven who finish 3rd last year. The defending champion Ronnie Alcano, last year's finalist Dennis Orcullo and last year's 4th placer Niels Feijen all got WPA Wildcard slots but not Efren and Joven. Their 2 slots were given to Antonio Gabica and Elvis Calasang for winning their, BSCP/RAYA/PBDF/Star, supposedly APBU alloted slots Qualifier. Unfortunately, the BSCP leadership failed to meet the APBU submission deadline so those 2 slots were given to other Asian players. WPA Ian A. had to bail out Yen by having Gabica and Calasang fill 2 WPA Wildcard Slots. This is why BMPAP Vice-President and former WPA World 8-Ball Champion Efren Reyes and BMPAP member and last years 3rd placer need to go through qualifiers. Quite an insult and injustice to the Inaugural Champion and last year's 3rd placer.

Thats insane! Politics apart, which tournament organizer does not want to give Efren a wild-card to any tournament he wants to participate in! And this is a World Championship!

 

[bandido]

DAMN!
Get your freakin HD camera going!!!

Bugsy's is already being set-up to be full-blown studio. Remember when I told you that one of our affiliates has a million $ worth of computer equipment? He's got very agressive when he found out about this webcasting plan that I was pushing to the BMPAP. This affiliate? The Philippine Poker Tour owner.

I'm still going-on as planned with that HF10 though there're a lot of interesting happenings that can use a mobile/instant coverage.

 

[bandido]

Thats insane! Politics apart, which tournament organizer does not want to give Efren a wild-card to any tournament he wants to participate in! And this is a World Championship!

Didn't you read Doug Gordon's (pro9dg) post in that matchroomsportsforum thread http://www.worldpoolchampionship.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3761 that you replied to my post to about Marlon Bernardino's article?

Greenjay - look again and you will see Niels posted on the list.
What you have to remember is that this is only a 64 player field and that there are over 100 countries in the WPA.
The two Filipinos in the main draw were qualifiers but according to the APBU their entries were not received until after the closing date deadline. The two spots went to Japan and China. So, to save face for the BSCP, they were included in the WPA wilcard list, which exists for such contingencies.

The political situation in the Philippines is exacerbating the situation. Niels and Daryl Peach's) inclusion would have come as a result of European (EPBF) pressure. Similarly, the inclusion of a Korean player was probably due to the fact that Dragon Promotions are 'special members' of the WPA.
Gabica and Casalang got through the net as WPA wild cards. But with Yen Makabenta holding out the carrot of a 5 year contract for a World 10 Ball event in the Philippines then Joven is unlikely to find very many helping hands at the WPA.
Sad really, as the inside info from 'people in the know' is that the 10 Ball events are unlikely to happen. For my part, I would not be unhappy because we have spent the best part of the last 15 years educating the general and viewing public on how 9 Ball is played. OK it might seem easy if you are watching but if you really want to make the game harder then why not just go and play snooker. That is hard

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Efren, the inaugural champion of the World 8-Ball Championship, wasn't given the WPA Wildcard slot. Same situation with Joven who finish 3rd last year. The defending champion Ronnie Alcano, last year's finalist Dennis Orcullo and last year's 4th placer Niels Feijen all got WPA Wildcard slots but not Efren and Joven. Their 2 slots were given to Antonio Gabica and Elvis Calasang for winning their, BSCP/RAYA/PBDF/Star, supposedly APBU alloted slots Qualifier. Unfortunately, the BSCP leadership failed to meet the APBU submission deadline so those 2 slots were given to other Asian players. WPA Ian A. had to bail out Yen by having Gabica and Calasang fill 2 WPA Wildcard Slots. This is why BMPAP Vice-President and former WPA World 8-Ball Champion Efren Reyes and BMPAP member and last years 3rd placer need to go through qualifiers. Quite an insult and injustice to the Inaugural Champion and last year's 3rd placer.

Both Niels Feijen and Joven Bustamante finished 3rd in this Championship, and I guess they decided to give the spot to Niels from Netherland, instead of another player from Philippines. Fair enough, if they only had 3 spots to hand out, imo.

 

[parvus1202]

Maybe Fujairah is not a good venue for this world championship. 100 countries member and only 64 in the main draw. Not good. This only shows that that country cannot fill the 128 player field. They need to transfer this somewhere else, maybe Japan, or somewhere in Europe. Efren not included to a world championships? The greatest player on the planet? Former champion? Oooo give me a buuurrrreak.

 

[bandido]

Both Niels Feijen and Joven Bustamante finished 3rd in this Championship, and I guess they decided to give the spot to Niels from Netherland, instead of another player from Philippines. Fair enough, if they only had 3 spots to hand out, imo.

Joven's trophy states "3rd Place" for having a better win-loss record against Niels.

But it wasn't Niels that I question but rather Gabica and Calasang who were given the Wildcard slots through "politically motivated contingency". If the WPA Wildcard selection was at all fair, will you rather have Gabica and Calasang over Reyes and Joven B?

It's a political move on their part! They're trying to tone down Efren's dominanating presence and popularity since he's a member/officer of a rival of their affiliate, BSCP/RAYA.

 

[bandido]

Maybe Fujairah is not a good venue for this world championship. 100 countries member and only 64 in the main draw. Not good. This only shows that that country cannot fill the 128 player field. They need to transfer this somewhere else, maybe Japan, or somewhere in Europe. Efren not included to a world championships? The greatest player on the planet? Former champion? Oooo give me a buuurrrreak.

Fujairah is a good venue. It is the sanctioning authority, WPA, who caused problems by making "ol' boys club" decisions based on an affiliate's
(RAYA SPORTS) promise to hold a series of events, World 10-Ball Championship. Pool is about the players and not about the behind the desk guys. Hellooooooo!!!!!!!!

 

[f210]

I heard that Marcus Chamat has one one of the qualifiers. That only leaves 3 remaining slots.

 

[gopi-1]

The last qualifier was won by Warren Kiamco. He beat Fabio Petroni to get his ticket to the big dance.

From what I've gathered so far, the winners coming from the Qualifiers are Roberto Gomez, Jeff De Luna, Israel Rota, Joven Bustamante, Allan Quartero, Warren Kiamco, Marcus Chamat and Darren Appleton. 6 Filipinos and 2 Europeans...

 

[Renegade]

Efren, the inaugural champion of the World 8-Ball Championship, wasn't given the WPA Wildcard slot. Same situation with Joven who finish 3rd last year. The defending champion Ronnie Alcano, last year's finalist Dennis Orcullo and last year's 4th placer Niels Feijen all got WPA Wildcard slots but not Efren and Joven. Their 2 slots were given to Antonio Gabica and Elvis Calasang for winning their, BSCP/RAYA/PBDF/Star, supposedly APBU alloted slots Qualifier. Unfortunately, the BSCP leadership failed to meet the APBU submission deadline so those 2 slots were given to other Asian players. WPA Ian A. had to bail out Yen by having Gabica and Calasang fill 2 WPA Wildcard Slots. This is why BMPAP Vice-President and former WPA World 8-Ball Champion Efren Reyes and BMPAP member and last years 3rd placer need to go through qualifiers. Quite an insult and injustice to the Inaugural Champion and last year's 3rd placer.

Thanks for the info, Bandido. It's really crazy how anyone can think not to invite Efren to their tournament. Efren's mere presence would lend far more credibility and prestige to any tournament than, say, even a prince ever could.

I just hope things settle down politically in Philippine pool and everyone get their acts together for the common good of everyone concerned, and for the good of the sport in general.

 

[JAM]

Just curious, but why do the Filipinos have seven players at this WPA-sanctioned 8-ball championship in Fujairah, and the United States only has three players? How does that work, I wonder!

Of course, we got the Mosconi Cup, Europe versus U.S., and Philippines, unfortunately, doesn't have one of those competitions.

Maybe they should have Philippines versus Taiwan and Japan. That could call is the Sang Chun Lee Cup or something like that.

That would be a great competition!

Wu, et al., versus Efren, et al. Who do you like?

JAM

 

[f210]

Just curious, but why do the Filipinos have seven players at this WPA-sanctioned 8-ball championship in Fujairah, and the United States only has three players? How does that work, I wonder!

Of course, we got the Mosconi Cup, Europe versus U.S., and Philippines, unfortunately, doesn't have one of those competitions.

Maybe they should have Philippines versus Taiwan and Japan. That could call is the Sang Chun Lee Cup or something like that.

That would be a great competition!

Wu, et al., versus Efren, et al. Who do you like?

JAM

There are actually 10 Filipinos, Jam but only 4 were seeded in the final 64 (Alcano, Orcullo, Elvis Calasang and Gabica). The other 6 (Gomez, Joven Bustamante, Alan Cuartero, Israel Rota, Jeff De Luna and Kiamco) earned their places after going through the qualifiers. There were 8 qualifier rounds. I think the Philippines won 6 out of the 8.

 

[JAM]

There are actually 10 Filipinos, Jam but only 4 were seeded in the final 64 (Alcano, Orcullo, Elvis Calasang and Gabica). The other 6 (Gomez, Joven Bustamante, Alan Cuartero, Israel Rota, Jeff De Luna and Kiamco) earned their places after going through the qualifiers. There were 8 qualifier rounds. I think the Philippines won 6 out of the 8.

I see. That makes sense.

Where were the qualfiers held? Were they all in Philippines, or did they have some in the United States?

You know, FWIW, I remember one year this event did have qualifiers in the United States, and because of scheduling, this event happening at the same time as the UPA's World Summit of Pool, there was not a lot of interest to participate in the qualifiers. What a shame.

This really has blossomed to a WONDERFUL event. Did you see the Main Page article today? They have a picture of Wu on there in motion while he's breaking. GREAT STUFF.

Then they have a small video clip on RunOut Radio of some of the festivities.

Bravo to those who have grown this event from a seedling to a full-fledged world-class championship. I do enjoy it, even though Americans only have three players there.

JAM

 

[f210]

I see. That makes sense.

Where were the qualfiers held? Were they all in Philippines, or did they have some in the United States?

You know, FWIW, I remember one year this event did have qualifiers in the United States, and because of scheduling, this event happening at the same time as the UPA's World Summit of Pool, there was not a lot of interest to participate in the qualifiers. What a shame.

This really has blossomed to a WONDERFUL event. Did you see the Main Page article today? They have a picture of Wu on there in motion while he's breaking. GREAT STUFF.

Then they have a small video clip on RunOut Radio of some of the festivities.

Bravo to those who have grown this event from a seedling to a full-fledged world-class championship. I do enjoy it, even though Americans only have three players there.

JAM

Those 8 qualifiers were all held in Fujairah. Also, the picture on the front page today is of Jeff De Luna doing one of his powerful breaks.

 

[JAM]

Those 8 qualifiers were all held in Fujairah. Also, the picture on the front page today is of Jeff De Luna doing one of his powerful breaks.

Wow, it looked like Wu to my eye. Thanks for that important correction.

Here's the pic for those who may not have seen it. I think it's a real cool action shot of pool.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Those 8 qualifiers were all held in Fujairah....

Wow, that is a very long way to travel to compete in a qualifier. If you pay all those expenses to get there and you don't win, you're stuck a lot of cheese.

However, since there are eight of them happening, you got eight chances to make it, I guess is one way of looking at it.

JAM