WE HAVE A NEW WORLD CHAMPION!!!!

The Philippines woke up yesterday with a new world champion after Dennis Orcollo topped the field of 112 topnotch cue artists from around the globe to rule the 9^th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Orcollo, a former top-ranked pool master, trounced current world no.1 and multi-world titlist Ralf Souquet of Germany , 8-3, in finals to finally put a jewel to his tag as one of the best players in the world today.

The man regarded as the world’s money-game king is now also the best in tournament play. “I’m very happy that, finally, I won the big one,” said Orcollo, a stalwart of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano.

The feat also earned the 30-year-old pride of Bislig, Surigao del Sur and Quezon City the $20,000 top purse at stake.

“I offer this victory to my countrymen, especially to those who have been and my fellow billiards players like my managers Boss Perry and Ma’am Verna, the BMPAP, the new BSCP and of course to Senator Manny Villar, whose Villar Cup has become training ground for us,” he added.

Orcollo is a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines Senator Villar’s Team Villards, and his campaign, as well as those of the rest of the Filipinos who competed in this prestigious event, were also supported by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines headed by chairman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat and president Arturo “Bong” Ilagan, Puyat Sports and Negros Billiards Stable.

It was not a walk in the park for Orcollo in winning this $86,000 event organized by Dragon Promotions and sponsored by JBETpoker.net.

After winning his first two matches in the qualification phase, Orcollo was upset by American Tony Robles, 10-6, that sent him to the complicated one-loss side. There, he blasted another American Jeremy Sossei, 10-2, to advance into the 32-man knockout stage via the backdoor.

Orcollo then dethroned defending champion Tony Drago of Malta , 10-6, in the Last 32 and then defeated compatriot Rodolfo Luat, 10-6, in the Last 16. He scored another 10-6 win over top US pro Charlie Williams in the quarterfinals before subduing countryman Warren Kiamco, 7-4, in the semis.

Souquet made it to the title-match by beating fellow former world champion Alex Pagulayan, 7-1. The German, who Filipino vividly remember as the man Ronnie Alcano defeated in the finals of the 2006 World Pool Championship in Manila, settled for the runner-up prize of $10,000.

Pagulayan and Kiamco each received $5,000.

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