Francisco “Django” Bustamante swears he’s aching to win the World Pool Championship but is taking it easy to ease gnawing pressure.
Bustamante, 43, launches another bid to nail an elusive crown, taking on a talented cast of players in Group 5 on the second day of the elimination phase.
“I’m taking it easy. I don’t want to keep thinking about it. Otherwise, I will just put more pressure on myself,” said Bustamante, who has won practically all the major tournaments in the world except the WPC.
He had come close to winning it in 2001 but bowed to Earl Strickland in the finale – a very sad experience coming on the heels of the untimely demise of his daughter Marielle due to a killer disease.
Bustamante said he’s in good shape but is facing tough challenges right in the eliminations being in the Group of Death with American star Corey Deuel, German ace Oliver Ortmann and compatriot Antonio “Nikoy” Lining.
“This tournament is so important to me but I just couldn’t get good breaks. Just look at my luck here. Of all the groups, I found myself in the toughest of all,” said Bustamante.– Nelson Beltran