Tight battle seen in rich Open 10-ball

MANILA, Philippines - Ralf Souquet of Germany and Darren Appleton of Great Britain, ranked as the top two best players in the world and top seeds in the first ever Philippine Open Ten Ball Championship, believe the race for the crown in the year’s first World Pool-Billiard Association ranking event will be a wide open race.

With a strong field composed of 64 players, the $20,000 top prize and the prestigious title will be a tight battle to the finish regardless of race and gender.

The best men and lady players are entered in the main draw that will start today at the SM Megamall Mega Trade Hall 2 with all eyes focusing on the strong European contingent sending their best competitors here.

Souquet, a champion in the World 9-Ball and World 8-Ball events, is the No.1 player in the world. He was a losing finalist to Filipino Dennis Orcollo in the Predator 10-Ball tournament in the United States but is now setting his sights for the championship in this event which also serves as basis for the selection of players in the coming World Ten Ball Championship tentatively set in Cebu this October.

“I have no problems playing with both men and women, but I truly believe that this event would be a wide open race for the championship regardless of whom we’re competing with,” said Souquet.

Appleton ruled last year’s WTBC in Manila, making him an instant favorite in this tournament.

But these two best male competitors are not only the players to watch. The toughest women players have also come here to get the share of spotlight.

Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, ranked the No.1 lady player by the WPA, will be joined by five other crack women competitors from the Women’s Professional Billiards Association.

They are Karen Corr and Julie Kelly of Ireland, Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, and Melissa Little and Sarah Rousey of the United States.

Ouschan easily became the darling of the crowd in last year’s WTBC. The pretty 23-year-old won the 2006 Billiards Congress of America Open 9-Ball Championship women’s division and finished third in the Women’s World Pool Championship the same year.

“I am looking forward to playing here once again,” said Ouschan. “The Filipinos are very warm, it makes me feel I’m playing at home. It would be a big help for my campaign knowing that I have people cheering on behind me.”

Corr is the top player in the women’s professional pool circuit today. She is also the winningest, being three-time World Snooker champion, three-time World English Billiard champion, European snooker champion, WPBA 9-Ball champion, WPBA US Open champion and two-time WPBA BCA champion.

Fisher won the 2000 World 9-Ball Women’s Championship and the 2008 US Women’s Open Championship. She has also won the European women’s championship three times.

“This is my first time here,” said Fisher. “It’s quite warm, but I do hope it won’t affect my game. I hope it will bring the best out of me.”

Little was a former two-time amateur national champion in America while Rousey is currently ranked sixth in the WPBA.

The United States is also fielding their best players led by former US Open champion Shane Van Boening and Corey Deuel.

Asia has participants coming from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and host Philippines, which is sending two of its youngest participants in the event.

Ko Pin Yi will lead the Chinese Taipei contingent while Ricky Yang will lead Malaysia. Japan will be bannered by Satoshi Kawabata.

On local turf, veteran cue artist Marlon Manalo and Antonio Gabica will spearhead the Filipinos’ campaign where they will be joined in by two of the youngest participants - national junior champion Jericho Banares and 15-year-old sensation Jonas Magpantay.