GOMEZ REACH KNOCKOUT STAGE; ‘BATA’, ‘DJANGO’, ALCANO CRASHES OUT IN 2010 PARTY POKER WORLD POOL MASTERS IN VEGAS

ROBERTO GOMEZ, dubbed as Pinoy Superman showed nerves of steel to beat former world 9-ball champion Earl Strickland of the United States (9-5) and heavyweight Huidji See of the Netherlands (9-8) in Group 2 to reach the knockout phase (round of 32) of the 2010 Party Poker World Pool Masters being held yesterday at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United Sates.

Gomez, one of the top players of Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions tallied two wins in group stage of the double elimination competition, enough to enter in the straight knock out stages of the $100,000 total pot prize event with the champion getting the lion share of $20,000.

However, not as fortunate were compatriots Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano suffered two loses crashing out of the competition.

Reyes, the 2010 Player of the Decade defeated David Alcaide of Spain (9-3) but yielded to fellow former World 9-ball champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany (6-9) the he lost to reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain (6-9) in their do-or die match in Group 3.

Bustamante, who is fresh from winning the World Professional Billiard League dubbed as Super Series of Billiards at the Mc Phillips Station Casino in Winnipeg, Canada, over the weekend lost to Do Hong Quan of Vietnam (8-9) but bounced back after eliminating countryman Alcano (9-6) but fell to Oliver Ortmann of Germany (2-9) in their do-or-die match in Group 4.

The Calamba hotshot Alcano, a former World 9-ball and 8-ball champion earlier bowed to Tyler Edey of Canada (4-9) in the first match.

Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo is schedule to play today with Shaun Wilkie of the USA in Group 5 as well Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza will square off with Carlos Cabello of Spain in Group 6.

Corteza, the reigning national open champion tries a back-to-back US title after winning the 1st Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles California, USA, last Monday.

Former US Open 9-ball champion Shane Van Boening of the United States was the tournament’s first big casualty. He lost to Yevgeny Novosad of Ukraine (8-9) beat countryman David Grau (9-5) but lost to Jason Klatt of Canada (5-9) in Group 1.

Other player’s who make it to the next round were Raj Hundal of India, Kuo Po-cheng of Taiwan, Huidji See of the Netherlands, Dennis Hatch of the USA, John Morra of Canada, Naoyuko Oi of Japan and Mark Gray of England.

Defending champion is Darren Appleton of Great Britain. Appleton also won the inauguration of WPA World Ten-Ball in Manila two years ago.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO