CEBU, Philippines – Four more Filipino players led by veteran Cebuano shotmaker Warren Kiamco advanced into Final 64 of the World 9-ball Championship at the Al Arabi Sports Club Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.
Kiamco is joined by Oliver Medenilla, Johann Gonzales, and Lee Van Corteza into the next round. This brings the total number of Pinoy qualifiers to nine as Carlo Biado, Dennis Orcollo, Antonio Gabica, Jeff Ignacio, and Raymund Faraon earlier booked a spot in the knockout stage that will follow a race to 11, alternate break format.
During the so-called 'Judgement Day' last Tuesday night, Kiamco, Medenilla and Gonzales booted out Shannon Ducharme of Canada, Vegar Kristiansen of Normay and Chang Jun Ling of Chinese-Taipei, respectively, with the same score of 9-6, while the Cagayan de Oro City-native Corteza ousted Canadian Tom Teriault, 9-2.
Unfortunately, Kiamco and Faraon will take on each other next, while Biado will take on Corteza in another Pinoy duel. The rest of the matches featuring Pinoys pit Gonzales vs Japan's Akagariyama Yukio; Ignacio vs Canada's Jason Klatt; Gabica vs Russia's Ruslan Chinakhov; Medevilla vs Poland's Karol Skowerski; and Orcollo vs Qatar's Mishel Turkey.
Offering a total prize fund of $200,000, the champion wil receive $30,000 (P1.3 million), while the runner-up pockets $15,000. — EBV (FREEMAN)