World Pool Championships 2025, July 21-26, Jeddah

[T411]

I will never forget the 2006 World Pool Championship (WPC) in Philippines between Ralf Souquet and Ronnie Alcano. The entire audience consisting of Filipinos cheered and chanted Ralf's name over and over again when he hung his head down low, his voice cracking, and tears rolling down his face because of coming in second place once again in the WPC. That was one memorable pool happening. The love that the Filipino people show to players from around the world is quite special.

This post about the 06 WPC and the way the crowd rallied behind Ralf at that moment to me speaks volumes about the Filipino people. You can see in that clip that pool in the Philippines is placed on a different level. They understand the heart it takes to compete and show real empathy and love for other players around the world… not just their own.

Honestly, your timing is perfect. Lately, I’ve noticed a little side-eyeing or resentment toward the Filipinos because they produce so many high level players… how many Filipino players were in the final 32 of the World Championship… unbelievable. At some point, you’ve got to respect greatness, even if it comes from the same corner of the world again and again…. Players and their fans!

 

[jay helfert]

Over the years, I have seen no evidence that having a longer shot clock increases the level of play. All a longer shot clock brings is slow play.

Two of the slowest players of the modern era are Ralf Souquet and Eklent Kaci. When they play off the shot clock, they take forever and play well. When they play on the shot clock, they play just as well. This week, Kledio Kaci, another notoriously slow player, played the best pool he has ever played and the thirty-second shot clock was in use.

The intuitive argument that if decisions at the pool table are made more slowly, those decisions will be better, does not hold up to scrutiny.

The players, as a group, have proven over and over that they can make accurate decisions quickly, but give them forever to shoot and that's exactly how long they will take.

Think long, think wrong!

 

[jay helfert]

I will never forget the 2006 World Pool Championship (WPC) in Philippines between Ralf Souquet and Ronnie Alcano. The entire audience consisting of Filipinos cheered and chanted Ralf's name over and over again when he hung his head down low, his voice cracking, and tears rolling down his face because of coming in second place once again in the WPC. That was one memorable pool happening. The love that the Filipino people show to players from around the world is quite special.

I was there and you are 100% correct. The Filipinos appreciate good pool played by good people! The way it should be. For me personally one of the real highs of my early journeys to the Philippines was playing a money game and having people cheer for my good shots and applaud my run outs in Rotation. There were many who even bet on me!

 

[pt109]

I was there and you are 100% correct. The Filipinos appreciate good pool played by good people! The way it should be. For me personally one of the real highs of my early journeys to the Philippines was playing a money game and having people cheer for my good shots and applaud my run outs in Rotation. There were many who even bet on me!

Jose Parica gambled at our place in Toronto..naturally that attracted a lot of Pinoys….but they clapped just as loudly when his opponent ran out…..good sports.