ALBA UPSETS MANALO IN WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DOHA

MIDDLE East-based Joven Alba showed better control of his nerves in the thrilling 9-8 come from-behind victory against compatriot Marlon Manalo to lead the opening round winners in the 2010 WPA World Pool Championships (World 9-Ball) at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

Alba scored three straight racks to repulsed former RP snooker team mate Manalo in their group matches. Manalo needed to win his remaining game to advance in the knock-out stage.

Ibrahim Bin Amir, another Filipino but playing for Malaysian flag also won his first round match against Bruno Muratore (9-7).

Aside from Alba and Ibrahim other pool wizards won their first round matches are Shane Van Boening walloped Abdullah Al Daham (9-6), Hassan Zeraatgar trounced Mazen Berjawi (9-6), Mariusz Skoneczny beat Imran Majid (9-6), Lui Hui Chan dealt Jim Chakwi (9-6), Francis Crevier routed Kenny Kwok (9-7), Scott Higgins smashed Waleed Majid (9-6) , Charlie Williams surprise Thorsten Hohmann (9-6) and Sandor Tot nipped Kazuki Nishimura (9-4.)

There are 128 players in the main event in the group round which begins yesterday.The players are divided into 16 groups of 8 players each. 4 players from each group advance into the Last 64 final round, in the race-to-9, alternate break format.

Up for grabs of the $250,000 total pot prize event are Champion $ 36,000, Runner-up $18,000, 3rd and 4^th $10,000, 5th to 8^th $6,000, 9th to 16^th $4,000, 17th to 32^nd $2,500, 33rd to 64^th $2,000, 65th to 96^th $500 (Loser of 2nd round in the loser’s bracket of Stage 2)

Other Filipino pool sharks are schedule to play last night. Francisco “Django” Bustamante versus Fabio Petroni, Ralf Souquet versus Dennis Orcullo, Lee Vann Corteza versus Ibrahim Al Khadar, Jeffrey de Luna versus Nitiwat Kanjanasri, Antonio Lining versus Corey Deuel, Antonio Gabica versus Nicolas Otterman, Efren “Bata” Reyes versus Liu Haitao and Ronato Alcano versus Ahmed Hassan.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO