Francisco “Django” Bustamante, the World 9-Ball Champion who was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame has added the 2012 Derby City Classic Fatboy 10-Ball Challenge held at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth, Indiana, to his list of triumphs.

Bustamante, who together with bosom buddy Efren Reyes forms the one-two punch of pool patron Aristeo “Putch” Puyat of Puat Sports easily defeated Steve Moore of the US winning by a lopsided 15-5 margin. a, USA,” he said.

Bustamante raced to an early  2-0 lead but a scratch omn the ten-ball in the third rack enabled Moore to claw back and tie the count at 2-2.

From a 4-3 lead Bustamante played near flawless pool to rattle of nine straight racks for a unassailable 13-3 lead and with the score at 14-5 Moore scratched on the break giving Bustamante ball-in-hand and with the table laid out perfectly Moore decided to concede and threw in the towel. the 20th rack.

Bustamante overcame 2012 Derby City Classic Bank Division champion John Morra of Canada, 15-5, in the semi-final round to arrange the finals showdown with Moore who battled his way into the finals by defeating another Filipino, former world and US Open champion  Alex Pagulayan  15-12.

For his win Bustamante pocketed  the top prize of US$ 12,000 while Moore won the runner-up prize of US$ 7,000. Pagulayan and Morra earned $ 3,500 each for reaching the final four.

Feijen brings it home for Europe

Europe 11– 7 USA

EUROPE has successfully defended the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup following a convincing 11-7 victory over the USA at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was Holland’s Niels Feijen, in his seventh Mosconi Cup, who downed the winning 9 ball which sparked mayhem as his team mates flooded the arena.

It also delivered Feijen the Most Valuable Player award, achieved for two singles and two doubles wins: “It got a bit shaky but they went in,” he said of his 6-3 victory over Rodney Morris to seal the Mosconi Cup.

“I just want to thank the crowd, the British and Europeans and you need them to make it. There were some immense moments and thanks to the coach for doing a super job. He gave us speeches every morning and kept us sharp.”

The Americans, who had trailed 10-5 at the start of the day, won the opening two games to leave the Europeans looking a little edgy.

“Even this morning, there was pressure on us and we knew they would come out strongly. There was some heat to get over the finish line but these guys are just so good,” continued Feijen.

“Being the Most Valuable Player is something I’ve been dreaming about this for seven years, every year I’ve played in it.”

Johnny Archer, playing in his 15^th Mosconi Cup was stoical in defeat; “We lost a couple of matches we should’ve won and they blitzed us in a few matches. We all gave it our best and will do it again next time. Hats off to their team, they hung in there when things didn’t look good.”

The opening match of the day saw Shane Van Boening put in an excellent performance to keep US hopes alive as he comfortably beat Nick Van den Berg 6-2. The South Dakota Kid kept his team in the competition on Saturday night when he beat the same opponent in a close match but this time he pulled away from 2-2 to take the victory.

Still fighting, a dogged display from veteran Johnny Archer kept USA fires alight as he put paid to Darren Appleton’s hopes of a repeat MVP trophy.

The Scorpion took the opening two racks before he missed a 4 ball in the third to give Appleton a great opportunity which he accepted to take his first rack of the night. However, a loose safety gave Archer the opportunity in the next which he converted to move into a 3-1 lead. That soon became 4-1 as the 4 ball kicked the 9 ball into the centre pocket for the second golden break of the tournament.

A poor break shot from Appleton gave Archer every chance in the sixth game but he missed a bank shot on the 5 ball and Appleton made it 2-4.

He took the seventh but Appleton missed a cut on the 2 ball in the next though and Archer held his nerve to reach the hill. He completed a break and run to seal the victory and reduce the deficit to three.

It was left to Niels Feijen to bring home the bacon for Team Europe as he faced off against Rodney Morris. The Hawaiian had not been at his best this week but had showed flashes of his best form at times.

A poor safety from Morris gave Feijen an opportunity in the opener but he scratched, drawing the ball down table and into the centre pocket and Morris, with ball in hand, ran out. Feijen took the next with a tidy run out and went into a 2-1 lead when Morris scratched on the break and handed him an open table.

Another excellent run out, this time from Morris, levelled the scores at 2-2, before Feijen took the lead, thumping a tricky 9 ball into to the top corner pocket. He increased that lead as he was given ball in hand after a Morris foul and Europe were two racks away from glory.

That became one rack as Feijen took the next before a dry break from the Dutchman gave Morris a chance in what was a high quality match, and the Hawaiian ran through the table to reduce arrears to 5-3.

Morris broke in the next and with the table open, he missed a horrible pot on the 2 ball. Feijen though, with nerves creeping in, missed it himself. Finally a shocking safety from Morris on the 5 ball was to prove to be the Americans last contribution to the event as Feijen ran out for a glorious victory.

Report by Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport

Notes: Matchroom Sport are one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and are responsible for over 1,100 hours of original programming across a range of sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, the Mosconi Cup is one of a stable of pool events that include the World Cup of Pool and the World Pool Masters.

Europe 4 – 1 USA

AFTER the first day’s play at the 2011 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup, Team Europe holds a commanding 4-1 lead as they cashed in on some tentative play from the Americans at the MGM Grand.

Aside from Archer and Putnam’s solid show in the first doubles match of the tournament, none of the Americans were firing on all cylinders and captain Charlie Williams will have a job to do for tomorrow.

Europe by contrast looked like thoroughbreds with big names like Souquet and Feijen looking the part and rookie Chris Melling pulling off a stunning win in the last game of the day.

Watched by his father, who was celebrating his 60^th birthday, the 32 year-old Melling looked superb as he came from 3-0 down to steal the final match of the day from Shane Van Boening with a hill-hill win.

It was a bitter pill for the Americans to swallow as the difference between 3-2 and 4-1 is immense, and they will need to dig deep tomorrow if they are to reverse their fortunes.

Earlier, the Europeans drew first blood as they took the opening team match which featured all ten players. The format differed from previous years, in that each rack was contested by just two players rather than the alternate shot method involving all five.

It was Chris Melling who took the deciding rack against Mike Dechaine for the point but the Americans looked a little nervous throughout.

2010 MVP Darren Appleton was delighted with the win; “I’m really happy with the start. The format had changed a bit and it adds more pressure. You’re a bit cold and have no help from your friends. I played the first rack and was shaking really badly.

“Chris didn’t get a shot in the first game but he managed to win the rack that won us the point and I think he will go on and play very well.

“We don’t have to gel as we just come together and are a lot more relaxed than ever before. We’re playing really good, feel calm in ourselves and pretty sure we’re going to win.”

The American pair of Johnny Archer and Shawn Putnam – close friends off the table – dug their heels in to overturn a 3-1 deficit and beat the Euro duo of Chris Melling and Nick Van den Berg.

It was a big point for the Americans as Archer and Putnam grew in confidence as the match went on and they came with the critical shots in the closing stages. The communication between the pair was excellent as they kicked on for victory.

“Representing your country is the most pressure you will feel,” said Putnam.

“Everyone is used to playing for yourselves but when you play for your country the nerves are about ten times more and your friends on the team are looking for you to come through.

Archer added “It’s early but any match can turn anything around. We were 3-1 down and the momentum was in their favour but a bad break gave us a bit of a lifeline and we started creeping back.”

Rodney Morris, for so long a stalwart of the US Mosconi Cup side, looked a forlorn figure as he slumped to a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Niels Feijen. The Dutchman looked clinical throughout as he capitalised on Morris’s lacklustre display.

“That match was great,” said a delighted Feijen.

“In the first team match it was the most nerve-racking match I’ve played in so it was nice to settle down in the singles match.

“I played really well and it was a lot of fun. It’s a big confidence boost, especially against someone like Rodney Morris who has a super record in the Mosconi Cup.”

Matchroom Sport executive Luke Riches reported “The USA suffered a huge kick in the teeth in the fourth match of the day as Mike Dechaine and Shane Van Boening relinquished a 4-0 lead to lose 6-4 to Darren Appleton and Ralf Souquet.

The critical moment came in the seventh rack when Dechaine needed a tricky 9 ball cueing off the rail to take the US to the hill at 5-2, but his head came up far too early and the chance went begging.”

What should have been 5-2 became 4-3 and Appleton and Souquet had shifted the momentum in their favour. From there, they never looked back as they took Europe into a 3-1 lead and it was left to Melling to complete the route.

Efren “Bata” Reyes and inaugural World Women’s 10-ball champion Rubilen Amit teamed up to win their second World Mixed Doubles Championship at the Liberation Shopping Center in Hangzhou, China Friday night.

Reyes who is 54 still had some magic still left in him and together with Amit  who has played steady pool all throughout the tournament, repeated their 2009 victory in the inaugural championships organized by Dragon Promotions and staged in SM North Edsa beating the formidable American tandem of Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer and “The Black Widow” Jeannette Lee 10-6.

Aristeo “Putch” Puyat of Puyat Sports, one of the longtime patrons of Philippine pool told us that  Reyes and Amit edged ahead at 6-5 and conceded only one of the last five racks to win the coveted title and a handsome trophy.

The Philippine pair edged China’s Li Hi Wen and Chen Si Ming in a gripping the semi final showdown 9-8 who later said they were hoping the Filipinos win the championship.

The Chinese duo lost the battle for third to the English pair of Allison Fisher  and Craig Osborne.

THE PHILIPPINES DENNIS ORCULLO IS THE 2011 WPA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TV host, pool commentator and boxing writer Ted Lerner reports that Dennis Orcullo, who once upon a time was an itinerant fisherman in a remote and poor part of the Philippines, has now reached the pinnacle of the pool world by being named the World Pool and Billiard Association(WPA) 2011 Player of the Year.

The 32 year old Orcullo racked up a total of 2570 points in 8 WPA ranking events over the course of the year to grab the top spot in the world rankings. Japan’s Yukio Akagariyama, who won the World 9-ball Championship in Qatar in June, came in second with 2382 points.  England’s Darren Appleton, who won his second straight US Open title in October, finished in third with 2256 points. The Philippines Ronnie Alcano landed in fourth with 2063 points.

“That’s very good news,” Orcullo said when informed he’d been named the 2011 WPA Player of the Year. “I’m very happy and it’s a big honor for the Philippines. Hopefully I can continue to play my best in 2012.”

The WPA Player of the Year honors are based on the total number of ranking points each player accumulates throughout the calendar year. In 2011, the men competed in 8 different WPA ranking events.  Players receive points based on their order of finish in each event.  The amount of ranking points available in each event varies, depending on the size of the field and prize fund.

It was a year of firsts for the hardworking Orcullo. After years of knocking on the door, he won his first world championship in 2011 when he won the World 8-Ball title in February in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.  That win garnered Orcullo 900 ranking points and put him squarely on the path to the top honor. He then finished 7^th in the Philippine Open, 5^th in the World 10 Ball Championship and 3^rd in the World 9-ball Championship.

But it wasn’t just in WPA ranking events that Orcullo performed well. In January he won the Derby City 9-ball division in Louisville. In September he was runner up to Ralf Souquet in the World Pool Masters.  He then captured the brutally tough Philippine National 9-ball championship.  Orcullo then went on to win his first big international tournament in the Philippines when he won the Predator International 10-Ball.  All around Orcullo had a stellar year in 2011.

The WPA Player of the Year honors mark another remarkable milestone in Orcullo’s pool playing life. Orginally from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao in the southern Philippines, Orcullo spent his childhood helping his father fish to try and feed the family.   When his father tragically disappeared in a fishing accident, Orcullo, just 9 years old at the time, was forced to take over the arduous fishing duties to keep the family fed.

Orcullo used to play pool in his down time from fishing and fell in love with the sport. In his mid-teens he decided to follow his dream of becoming a world champion on the blue pitch and traveled to Manila. Years of hard work and perseverance began to pay off and have finally brought  the man Filipino fans call “Robocop” to the top of the pool playing world.

For winning the WPA Player of the Year award, Orcullo will receive a trophy and a beautiful Tag Heuer watch.

—

 

 

 

Van den Berg: “They’re weaker than last year; we’re stronger”

 

HOLLAND’S NICK van den Berg believes the European Mosconi Cup team is stronger than ever, while the American side is getting weaker. That was the

Dutchman’s candid assessment of the respective sides, and he is confident of victory at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from December 8 to 11.

 

Van den Berg was part of the winning European five last year and will be back to help defend the title after coming out in the top five of the gruelling year-long qualification system.

 

He will be joined by countryman Niels Feijen, Germany’s Ralf Souquet and English duo Darren Appleton and Chris Melling as they face off against an American team comprised of Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Rodney Morris, Shawn Putnam and debutant Mike Dechaine.

 

However, van den Berg believes the additions of Dechaine and Putnam, who is returning to the team for the first time since 2005, have strengthened Europe’s chances.

 

“Europe is very big and there are lots of top players to choose from but in the US you only have a handful of players you could pick for the Mosconi Cup,” said van den Berg.

 

“They can only have the best at that moment so now players that should be there like Corey Deuel and Dennis Hatch aren’t playing. Dennis always plays good in the Mosconi Cup and last year we saw him as the weak link but at the tournament he was their best player.

 

“I think they’re weaker than last year and we’ve only got stronger.

 

“In the last seven years we’ve had the advantage as in my eyes we have a stronger team than the Americans.

 

“On the Euro Tour we have so many good players and you have to play even better than before and you need to run out every time.

 

“European players have started to dominate in world events. We already have the Mosconi Cup and it will stay here.

 

“That said, I think there will be a lot of hill-hill matches but I’m 95 per cent sure we will win, the other five per cent is the luck factor involved.”

 

Van den Berg has played in the Mosconi Cup on four previous occasions and believes he will produce his to form in America.

 

Although he will be making his fifth appearance in the prestigious competition, being picked for the team has still been the highlight of his pool year.

 

“It means a lot to me and I’ve been working all year for it,” added Van den Berg. “I set some goals for the future at the beginning of my year and my goal was to get into the Mosconi Cup team.

 

“Only five players can get into it and the ranking system made it more nerve-wracking. Every Euro Tour match was effectively three more points and I was getting excited at the end as there were only a few points between me, Darren and Ralf.

 

“It’s the only tournament of its kind with that audience, that atmosphere where everyone wants you to win – during the Mosconi Cup it overwhelms you.

 

“I’m pretty good under pressure but it hasn’t brought the best out of me yet and hopefully this year it will and I will show my best game.”

 

“The coach (Johan Ruijsink) is Dutch and Niels is Dutch so this is the first year three Dutch are in it – I can’t wait.”

Reyes & Amit are the Champs

Efren “Bata” Reyes and Rubilen Amit will defend their World Mixed Doubles title in Hangzhou, China in the 2^ndAnnual Championships in Guangzho, China beginning on November 30

Dragon Promotions which has earned a name for itself as an outstanding promoter of billiards events will produce the event which will be the first international event produced in China by a foreign international company and sanctioned by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.

Dragon Promotions Charlie Williams said they will be working with a local partner 9 Club Entertainment.

The event will pair the top men’s and women’s players together as a two-person team with a total of 16 teams from around the world.

The inaugural World Mixed Doubles championship was won by the Philippine tandem of Efren Reyes, known around the world as “The Magician” and the winner of the inaugural Women’s 1—Ball Championship Rubilen Amit.

Other top cue stars participating in the event are Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland, “The South Dakota Kid”  Shane Van Boening of the United States, the attractive Fil-American Shanelle Loraine and Kaori Ebe among others.

All players are welcome to participate in a qualifier for the main event  on November 28, 2011 at 9-Club in Hangzhou, China. The stage 1 qualifier event will take place near the main event venue.

The format will be: 10-Ball, Race to 8 Double elimination while the Champion of the event will receive free entry to the World Mixed Doubles hampionship.

Wang Di, President of 9 Club Entertainment was quoted as saying “This is a dream come true for us to bring Dragon Promotions to China. Their name is very respected here and the World Mixed Doubles is one of their premiere events that we really wish to see. Having the top men and women stars at the same time playing together will be a very big treat for the fans. We plan on helping Dragon Promotions to build this into a huge event and we look forward to a long cooperation with them for years to come.”

Dragon Promotions is one of the leading producers of billiard programming in the world today. In a span of over 10 years, Dragon Promotions has produced over 100 international events airing on networks in USA, Korea, and Europe such as ESPN, ABS-CBN in the Philippines, ESPN Star Asia, MBC ESPN, XTM, XPORTS, and Euro Sport. Events include The World Tournament of 14.1, The Predator International 10-Ball Championship, King & Queen of Carom, Empress Cup, Pro Pool Schools, DP Pro Classic, Women’s Trickshot Challenge, World Junior 10-Ball Championships, The World Mixed Doubles and many more.

CHARLIE WILLIAMS will captain the USA team at the 18^th annual PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup which takes place at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from 8^th to 11^th December.

It will be Williams’ debut as a captain although he has played in the event five times (2001-2005) and been victorious on four occasions. He sports a playing record of 12 wins from 21 matches.

In his capacity as head of Dragon Promotions, Williams has had great success coaching individual players over the past few years and coupled with his experience as a competitor in the event, it was felt that he was the man to revive American fortunes after last year’s defeat.

“I am undeniably thrilled to be chosen to captain this USA Mosconi Cup team. I’ve been on the team as a player five times, but in many ways this is even more of an honor,” said Williams.

“The Europeans no doubt have a solid team with Darren (Appleton), Niels (Feijen), Ralf (Souquet), Nick (Van den Berg) and Chris Melling, but when I look at our roster with Rodney (Morris), Shane (Van Boening), Johnny (Archer),  Shawn (Putnam) and Mike (Dechaine) I honestly feel we are more than their match.

“Of course anything can happen in the Cup, but you have to believe in your team and I can’t help but really believe in this one,” he added.

Williams’ job will be to gather his side in Las Vegas, put them through their paces in the build-up and then guide the team through often choppy waters once play gets underway at 11am on Thursday 8^th December.

Commented Rodney Morris, who will be making his eighth appearance in Vegas; “Charlie will make a good captain. He’s helped me with my game recently, he’s a good motivator, and has played in Mosconi before, so he’s very familiar with the team concept.”

Johnny Archer added, “I think Charlie will bring his coaching skills to Team USA and I look forward to going after Team Europe with Charlie at the head of the team.”

Williams is under no illusions as to what he will be up against.

“Team Europe will be a challenge, of that there is no doubt and their captain Johan Ruijsink has a strong, systematic approach with his players. He is a full-time professional Olympic-recognized coach, and he is undefeated in three Mosconi Cups.

“As a professional coach myself, I’ve worked with many of the world’s greatest players and I understand the value of great coaching and definitely won’t underestimate Europe’s team or captain.

“This is why I feel Team USA deserve the same kind of fortitude and attention and my plan is to give that to them. Our USA boys this year are a close knit group that love and care about each other off and on the table and that’s going to shine through in Vegas.”

“These guys all know how to play already. I’m just here to try to help them get the most out of themselves and I’ll do whatever the task needs of me to accomplish that.”

Newly crowned World Champ Kelly Fisher is congratulated by Yalin President Eric Ding

pics by Karis Ren of wwwmy147.com and Li Xiaolong of www.top147.com

Manila, Philippines- Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher accomplished her life goal of becoming the World Champion in pool. Fisher maintained her undefeated run in Manila to race to the Yalin World Championship title with her 10-4 dismantling of Taiwan’s Pei Chen Tsai. Fisher excelled in a field that had 70 pro players worldwide vying for the title, and fought for 5 days winning 9 matches in a row in the sport’s hardest tournament to win.

Pei Chen Tsai knocked out heavy hitters prior to the finals including a 8-7 thriller over Filipina Rubilen Amit in the quarters, and then squeaked by paper favorite Ga Young Kim of Korea 9-7 in the semis. Tsai made an incredible kickshot on the final 3 balls with the match hanging in the balance at 8-7. The shot set up her win and seat at the finals.

“It was an amazing shot to come with at that moment”, said Charlie Williams, one of the top men’s pros.

“We really like to see new faces succeed at our events. We have had Asian, European, and American winners. We like the fact the players come knowing it’s going to be fair for all. In our final four we had a Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, and British player. We couldn’t have hoped for much better diversity,” commented Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.

DP Founder Charlie Williams, ABS-CBN Celebrities Peter Musgni, ABS-CBN Morning Show host Andrei Felix, & Cindy Lee, CEO Dragon Promotions

In the finals, the match was hyped up with special celebrity MC announcers. First, ABS-CBN’s Peter Musgni, the most famous voice of the Philippines, introduced the audience to the final match of the World 10-Ball Championship. Then ABS-CBN Morning Show host Andrei Felix took it away and introduced the players with music blaring. The arena was jammed packed, and a fitting World Championship scene was set. East versus West once more with England versus Taiwan.

Fisher was never close to losing in her final four matches

Kelly Fisher took down the first game 1-0 but Tsai leveled it off the next frame. Fisher kept the lead but saw it tied again at 3-3. The table was playing tight, and Fisher used a controlled break while Tsia cannoned her break each time. Neither players having much success on the break, which is common in 10-Ball. Fisher then capitalized on a miss from Tsai and proceeded to win the next 6 games in a row. Both players getting opportunities, but Fisher making the most of it, defeating Tsai tactically the majority of the time. Tsai was able to mark one more game up on her side, but the lead was too insurmountable by then. Fisher clenched her fists over her cue and threw her hands up in the air as she pocketed the final ball.

Pei Chen congratulates Kelly with a mock choke attack. Both players are good friends off the table.

It was the first finals of a World Championship for both Tsai and Fisher.

“I can’t believe that I’ve finally done it. It really hasn’t hit me yet,” said Fisher after the match.

“This tournament is very exciting! I hope I can come back and win it in the future”, said Tsai.

A multitude of fans lined up to meet the players for an autograph session, including 15 year old Belgium star Kamila Khodjaeva. The publicity and media attention of the event was unsurpassed

“I’ve had alot of ups and downs the past couple years, and haven’t really won anything. It’s frustrating sometimes, but I kept working on my game and trying to get better. And then finally I had a good result last week in China getting to the finals, and then came here and won. It proves you just have to stick with it,” added Kelly.

Fisher joins Allison Fisher as the only two players, man or woman, to hold World Championship titles in both snooker and pool. Both players coincidentally are both from England and both share the same last name, though not related.

“It’s nice that the veterans are the ones keeping up with the Asians lately. Kelly really deserves it and I’m happy for her,” said Allison Fisher. Allison could be seen at all of Kelly’s matches giving her support.

Kelly Fisher and Allison Fisher will next appear together at the Dragon Promotions World Mixed Doubles in China at the end of the month.

Kelly Fisher will enjoy a 12 month reign as the World Champion

The Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship is additionally sponsored by ABS-CBN Sports, Robinson’s Galleria, Predator Cues, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Top147.com, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, Magic 89.9, and Crown Plaza Galleria Ortigas. The event will be airing on ABS-CBN and internationally on ESPN Star Sports. The event will be broadcasted live for all five days of the main event with 25 hours of broadcast television coverage.
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With these global network and media partners the Yalin Women’s World 10-Ball Championship is still the biggest and most watched women’s billiard event in the world.