WORLD POOL MASTERS DAY 1 RESULTS

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Alex Pagulayan’s bid to become the first back-to-back champion of the World Pool Masters came to an early end as he ran into a near-impeccable play of Nick van den Berg of Holland , dropping an 8-2 decision in the tournament’s first match yesterday at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada .

Pagulayan never had a decent chance against the reigning European champion, who took control of the match right from the start.

After winning the lag, Van den Berg ran out the first two racks. His miss at the blue-2 in the third frame allowed Pagulayan his first crack at the table and he sank a 3-9 combination for his first point.

The 2004 World Pool champion was forced to play safe in the next rack, but the Dutchman was able to solve the puzzle for a 3-1 lead.

Van den Berg then pocketed the next three racks to pad his lead to five. Pagulayan stopped his bleeding by claiming the eighth frame, but that was all he could do as he surrendered the next two to also bid his quest for the $20,000 top purse goodbye.

Pagulayan’s loss left former world no.1 Dennis Orcollo in carrying the Philippine flag in this prestigious event that gathered 16 of the world’s top cue artists.

Orcollo, who was invited to the event by Matchroom Sport for the first time, will begin his campaign today against Canadian Tyler Edey.

Pagulayan and Orcollo, whose campaign are supported by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines , the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines and Senator Manny Villar’s Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports, are also set to compete in the 9^th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship that begins on Tuesday.

The two will be joined in the event, organized by Dragon Promotions, by compatriots Roberto Gomez, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Warren Kiamco, Lee Van Corteza, Rodolfo Luat, and Jose “Amang” Parica.