Manila, Philippines - Japan’s Yukio Akakariyama outsteadied Ronnie Alcano, 13-11, Saturday evening to pocket the World 9-Ball title at the Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
Akakariyama became only the third Japanese to win the world 9-ball crown after Takeshi Okumura (1994 in Chicago) and Kunihiko Takahashi (1998 in Taipei).
Akakariyama frustrated the throng of Filipino fans who cheered on Alcano, the former world 9-ball and 8-ball champion, as he pocketed the top purse of $36,000.
Alcano seemed on his way to another victory in the prestigious event, only to fold up in the most crucial stages of the match. He settled for the runner-up purse of $18,000.
The world No. 2 from the Philippines made it to the finals by edging countryman Dennis Orcollo, 11-9, in the semis where Akakariyama defeated England’s Mark Gray, 11-10.
Alcano and Gray took home $10,000 each.