Dutch, Korean aces target better finish in Open 9-ball

Dutchman Neils Feijen and Korean Jeong Young Hwa get a chance to make amends for their poor showing during prior visits in the country as they compete in the Philippine International Open 9-Ball Championships slated on June 25-29 at the Robinson’s Galleria Trade Hall.

Feijen failed to get past the elimination of the On Cue 1: Philippines versus Europe 9-Ball Tournament in 2003, his first and only previous start in local billiards tournament.

Jeong is a more frequent visitor, but his presence is hardly felt in any of his past campaigns in the country.

The two will take the places of European standouts Steve Davis and Alex Lely, who chose a more private approach in their preparations for next month’s World Pool Championship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The other seeded players in the 32-man tournament are local bets Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan, Satoshi Kawabata and Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan, Wu Chia-Ching, Chao Fong Pang and Yang Ching Shun of Taiwan, Johnny Archer, Gabe Owen, Rodney Morris, Corey Deuel and Charlie Williams of the United States and European pool stars Mika Immonen, Thorstenn Hohmann, Tony Drago, Marcus Chamat and Thomas Engert.

The other 12 slots will be filled by the top finishers in the qualifying round set on the first two days of competition.

Filipino pool aces Marlon Manalo, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcullo, Antonio Gabica and Nickoy Lining are expected to dominate the qualifier, but a bevy of foreign bidders will be out to get their share of spots in the main draw.

Actions in the five-day event will be aired live on Solar Sports from 2 p.m.

The event co-organized by Solar Sports and Puyat Sports offers $20,000 to the champion, $10,000 to second, $4,000 each to the losing semifinalists, $2,000 each to fifth and sixth, $1,000 each to seventh and eighth, $750 each to ninth to 12th, $500 each to 13th-16th, $300 each to 17th-24th and $200 each to 25th-32nd.