World pool champs banner stellar field

A total of 117 players representing 42 countries are already assured of spots in the 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship next month.

And more are expected to be added prior to the Nov. 4-12 meet at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The United States with 13 players at the helm, has the most number of entries led by 2002 champion Earl "The Pearl" Strickland, many-time US Player of the Year Johnny Archer and one-time US Open champion Rodney Morris.

Chinese Taipei and the Philippines come next with 12 players each, according to Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) chairman Yen Makabenta in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant.

Former World Pool champions Alex Pagulayan (2004) and Efren Reyes (1999) lead the list of qualified Filipino players along with 10 other highly-fancied local cue artists, including Dennis Orcollo, winner of the just concluded 2006 World Pool League tournament in Warsaw, Poland.

Leading the Chinese Taipei contingent, on the other hand, are reigning world champion Wu Chia Ching and 2000 winner Fong Pang Chao.

"All world champions are coming here, kaya bakbakan ito,"said Makabenta, who was joined in the forum sponsored by Pagcor, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Manila Sports Council (Masco) Ali Atienza by JP Fenix of Raya of the organizing Raya Sports and Dax Carbajal representing ESPN.

Germany, a rising power in world pool, will have nine entries behind former world champions Thorsten Hohmann (2003), Ralph Souquet (1996) and Oliver Ortmann (1995).

This year’s edition of the meet, being held in Manila for the very first time, will also be notable for the participation of players from several countries previously not represented in the tournament.

China will have three players coming, France with two and Qatar and Brunei with one each, with no less than the Crown Prince of Brunei, Prince Muhtadee Billah, carrying the colors of his country.

Two additional players from South Africa remain to be confirmed by Matchroom Sport, the lead promoter of the tournament.

To complete the 128 man-field of the tournament, Raya Sports will stage qualifying tournaments at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City from October 28 to November 1.