WCOP 2009 - Day 2 Update

Matchroom Sport Press Release:

Japan Comeback KOs Croats

IN AN outstanding effort, the Japanese team of Satoshi Kawabata and Hayato Hijikata, looked to be down and out at the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool before coming back from a 6-3 deficit to beat Croatia 8-6 and advance to round two at the SM Mall North Annex in Manila.

The Croatian paring of Philipp Stojanovic and Ivica Putnik looked pained at the conclusion and they had played well throughout, but the Japanese dug deep and played superbly when it mattered.

Croatia looked smooth in the early stages as they moved into a 4-2 lead but Putnik deposited the cue ball on the floor from his break shot in the seventh and that allowed Japan to pull one back.

There were a few Japanese flag-waving fans in the crowd and they were silenced by the Croatians who took the next two to get to 6-3 and look in a commanding position.

Another foul break from Putnik put Japan back in and they took advantage to get within two racks and that was just one as Hijikata buried the 9 ball in the 11th game.

The 12th rack was an eventful one for Hijikata as he pushed out, missed a pot at the 1-ball and also the 4-ball. But it didn’t matter as Croatia failed to take their chance and the scores are tied.

Japan moved into the lead for the first time at 7-6. Croatia had a chance in the 14th rack but Stojanovic missed a shot at the 1-ball and looked dejected as he slumped back into his chair.

It was to be his countries last shot of the competition as Hijikata held his nerve to book a last 16 spot for Japan.

Germans Whitewash Hong Kong

The German pair of former World Pool Champions Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet looked all business as they ran away with their first round match as they hammered Hong Kong 8-0.

The Hong Kong duo of Kenny Kwok and Lee Chenman didn’t get too many opportunities as the Germans kept them away from table with precision play throughout.

Hohmann, playing in his first World Cup of Pool looked outstanding throughout as they limited the Hong Kong team’s opportunities.

“If I could choose any player in the world to play scotch doubles with it would be Ralf,” said Hohmann.

“We had a lot of fun out there and it was great to be involved,” he added.

Souquet was delighted to get the first match out of the way: “Hong Kong could not show much of their skills. Playing doubles is much harder but it worked very well today. Thorsten played extremely well; he played almost perfectly and that made it easy for the both of us.”

“Winning this match was a big confidence boost but there are so many great teams here. For us the next step is France which will be tough because they played great in their first match and it will not be easy but we’re looking forward to it,” added Souquet.

English Make Meal Of Malaysia

Reigning World 10 Ball Champ, Darren Appleton and partner Imran Majid, made it through to the last 16 of the PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool as they made hard work of beating Malaysia after a blistering start.

The English pair stormed into a 5-0 lead as they raced through the racks and Majid had an easy 9 ball to make it 6-0 but missed it to give the Malaysian team of Ibrahim Bin Amir and Lee Poh Soon a glimmer of hope.

Another miss by Majid, this time on the 5 ball, gave the Malaysians another chance which they took and things looked even better for them as they ran out the next from the break to make it 5-3.

England relieved the pressure by winning the next but it was an Appleton miss that gave a chance to the Malaysians and they made it 4-6 but it was to be their last meaningful contribution to the match.

England took the next and when Bin Amir fouled trying to escape from a complex snooker, it was all over for the Malaysians.

Taking place over six days at the SM Mall North Annex in Manila, the World Cup of Pool features 32 x two player teams chasing a $250,000 prize fund. The entire event is live on Solar Sports and CS9 in the Philippines.

"In 2007 I had to qualify for the World Pool Championships in the Philippines and unfortunately didn't do so, but then I came here the next year and won the World 10-Ball Championships so I love coming here,” said Appleton.

"Something like this event you have the best players in the world and when you play in the Philippines you have to bring your best play," he added.

Favourites Philippines Edge Through

IN THE final match of the day, highly-fancied Philippines A, made up of ’06 World Champion Ronnie Alcano and former WPA World No.1 Dennis Orcollo, had a real scare against the brave Thai team of Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Surethep Phoochalam.

The unfancied Thailand team showed no nerves while their more illustrious opponents were clearly feeling the pressure of the great expectation upon them.

There was no trouble in the early stages as the Philippines moved into a 4-1 lead but that lead slowly crumbled as the Thais won four racks on the spin to move into a shock lead.

A stroke of luck helped the home side’s effort as Alcano fluked the 1 ball to set up the tenth rack and they regained the lead following a fine break shot to shake some of the nerves.

There was no further trouble for the Philippine pair as they closed out the remaining two racks to set up a last 16 clash with Denmark or Russia.

"We needed to do everything right but we made a few mistakes and got nervous. But Ronnie said to me to not think about the mistakes and just win this match," said a relieved Orcollo after the match.

First Round Results So Far

Philippines A 8 – 5 Thailand
England 8 – 4 Malaysia
Germany 8 – 0 Hong Kong
Japan 8 – 6 Croatia
Italy 8 – 5 Austria
Finland 8 – 3 Sweden
Philippines B 8 – 3 Qatar
USA 8 – 7 Malta
Indonesia 8 – 3 India
Spain 8 – 3 Australia
China 8 – 5 Korea
France 8 – 1 Canada

For more information, visit MatchroomPool.com