CORTEZA, MANALO MADE IT TO THE 64 MAIN DRAW OF FUJAIRAH WORLD 8-BALL—BSCP

REIGNING World Ten-Ball finalists Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza and former snooker champion Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo made it to the 64 main draw of 2010 World 8-Ball Championships slated on April 4 to 10 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

This was revealed yesterday by Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) Carlos “Boying” Viola.

“Pasok na din sa Last 64 sina Lee Vann (Corteza) at Marlon (Manalo) dahil kasama sila sa top 16 WPA World’s ranking,” said Viola.

The Davao City native Corteza is currently world’s no.4 in the latest World Pool Billiards Association (WPA) ranking list while the Mandaluyong pride Manalo is at no.10.

Joining Corteza and Manalo in the tournament proper are Hall of famer Efren “Bata” Reyes, former world no.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 2009 International Predator 10-ball ruler Dennis “Robocop” Orcullo and 2007 World 8-ball titlist Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano.

The tournament features a 64-man field and offers a $100,000 total pot prize with the champion getting $28,000 in the first World Championships this year sanctioned by WPA.

Other invited players are David Alcaide of Spain, Darren Appleton, Imran Majid and Daryl Peach of Great Britain, Marcus Chamat of Sweden, Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, Mika Immonen of Finland, Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet of Germany, the 2008 World 8-ball kingpin.

Also include Shane Van Boening, Rodney Morris, Corey Deuel, Dennis Hatch, Brandon Shuff, John Schmidt, Mike Sigel and Charlie Williams of the United States, Yang Ching Shun, Chang Jung Lin, Chang Pe Wei, Ko Pin Yi of Chinese-Taipei, Ricky Yang of Indonesia and HRH Prince Billah of Brunei.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO