Souquet, Reyes draw first blood

German Ralf Souquet pounced on Warren Kiamco’s costly miscue on the fourth rack and went on to fashion out a 7-4 victory at the start of the On Cue! Europe vs Philippines 9-ball tournament before a packed crowd at The Loop Center inside the ABS-CBN compound last night.

"Sumablay, sobrang nipis," was all Kiamco could say after Souquet wrapped up the match that kicked off the five-day battle for pool wizardry among the world’s top cue masters bracing for the coming world championship in Cardiff, Wales.

He was referring to his muffed shot on No. 9 on the fourth rack, which had he made would have given him a 3-1 cushion and the momentum Kiamco needed to prevail in a short race-to-7, alternate break format.

"Namalikmata kasi sobrang hirap naman noong pinasok kong bola (No. 6) bago iyong nuwebe," rued the 33-year-old Kiamco, now hardpressed to win in the second day of action today, a grueling two-round match.

Efren "Bata" Reyes dropped his opening rack but fought back in the next then outplayed Marcus Chamat the rest of the way as the former world pool champion breezed through a 7-2 victory over the diminutive Swede to join Souquet in the winners’ circle.

Hardly were there spectacular shots unleashed by the sentimental favorite to win this $33,000 event but after a rather so-so start, the 48-year-old Reyes buckled down to work to dominate his rival he has beaten twice in their last three matches.

But Reyes will have his hands full today as he goes up against Niels Feijen of the Netherlands at 3 p.m. and battles Souquet in the featured match at 6 p.m. The first six of eight matches on tap today will be telecast live on Studio 23.

Souquet, the world’s No. 2 behind teammate Mika Immonen, won the lag and scored a run-out but after Kiamco won on his turn on the break on a 2-9 combination. The 34-year-old winner of the recent BCA 9-ball Open lost in a battle of safety shots, enabling the Filipino bet to steal the rack on another 2-9 combination.

Two-to-one up and on the break, Kiamco looked headed for a run-out and a 3-1 lead but uncharacteriscally missed the yellow and white ball, giving Souquet the chance to draw level and regain the momentum.

He did as Souquet won on his break, stole the next from the faltering Kiamco and then held again for 5-2 lead. Both players won on their respective breaks on the next four racks before Souquet, a right-hander, wrapped up the match by using his left-hand in sinking No. 5 on the side pocket.

Three matches were still to be played at presstime with Efren "Bata" Reyes clashing with Marcus Chamat, Antonio Lining battling Immonen, and Francisco "Django" Bustamante tanling with Niels Feijen.

The top two players from each side after the one-round robin elims with clash in the crossover semis with the winners disputing the title worth $15,000 in this event put up by giant television network ABS-CBN.