RP eyes 2nd title in pool World Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Matchroom Sport yesterday announced the staging of the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool at SM City North EDSA Mall in Quezon City with the top two-man teams in the world vying for top honors in the $250,000 event on Sept. 1-6.

The event will feature 32 teams from 31 countries with the Philippines going for the second crown in four years after the tandem of pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes and former world No. 1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante won the inaugurals in Newport, Wales in 2006.

Team USA, composed of Rodney Morris and Shane Van Boening, is the defending champion.

Matchroom Sport has partnered with Solar Sports, the country’s leading sports TV network, to bring the event to Manila, which also staged the World Pool Championship in 2006 and 2007.

“This is a fantastic move for the event and everyone – from the staff, players and crew – are delighted to be returning to the hotbed of world pool,” said Matchroom Sport chair Barry Hearn.

“The level of interest among fans, media and broadcasters in the Philippines has always been off the scale and we are looking forward to a highly successful event,” he added.

As host, the Philippines is entitled to field in two teams with the Reyes-Bustamante tandem tipped to lead the first team.

“The World Cup of Pool is a great venue for the Filipinos to shine once again in the world of sports. We are honored to be hosting this prestigious event in our country and thrilled that Solar Sports will be part of it,” said Peter Chanliong, COO of Solar Sports.

The World Cup of Pool is sponsored by PartyCasino.net, the world’s leading on-line casino. Tables are supplied by Brunswick Billiards, cloth by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc. The official cue is Predator.