HOLLAND OUSTS TAIWAN IN WORLD CUP OF POOL
Date 2008/10/9 18:59:44 | Topic: News and updates
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HOLLAND B, a team made up a relatively unknown 19 year-old Roy Gerards and Gijs van Helmond, produced a stunning upset as they held their nerve to deposit heavy tournament favorites Taiwan out of the competition.
The duo had won a qualification tournament in Rotterdam three weeks ago, beating Rico Diks and Alex Lely in the final match.
However, they were given little hope, against a Taiwanese team consisting of recent World Tenball finalist Wu Chia-ching and fellow countryman Wang Hung-hsiang.
They overturned the form book in an inspired display at the Outland Nightclub in Rotterdam, aided and abetted by some glaring errors from the Taiwanese to continued rock the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool with an 8-5 victory to advance into the round-of-16. They will next face the winner of the opening round match between no.10 Japan and Australia , which is being played at press time in this $60,000 top purse tournament.
The Philippines , bannered by world no.1 Dennis Orcollo and former World Cup titleholder Francisco "Django" Bustamante, was slated to take on Denmark 's Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen late last night.
"It's anybody's game talaga. You cannot expect na hindi maganda ang laro mo at manalo ka," said Orcollo, whose tandem with Bustamante is supported by Senate President Manny Villar's Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
Taiwan thus joined fellow seeded pairs no.3 Holland A of world no.2 Niels Feijen and Nick van den Berg and last year's runner-up and no.8 Finland of former world titlist Mika Immonen and Markus Juva. Holland A and Finland hit the exit door after losing to Belgium and Korea , respectively, in the opening day.
In other Day Two matches, fourth-seed Germany of reigning world 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert blasted Qatar , 8-3, while no.6 United States , represented by Shane van Boening and Rodney Morris, trounced Iceland , 8-4.
Other results were no.12 Canada prevailing 8-5 over France , no.13 Poland winning against Thailand , 8-3, and no.19 Austria demolishing no.14 Vietnam , 8-1.
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.
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