Pro9 - Europe's No.1 Pool Player Resource

2013 WPA World 9-Ball Championships
Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation
Al-Arabi Sports Club
New Salata
Doha
Qatar
www.alarabi.qa
www.olympic.qa
www.qbsf.net - stage 2 draw (pdf) - live scoring
www.wpa-pool.com - live scoring
www.alkass.net/live_plus.aspx
www.onthehill.jp

7 - 13 September 2013

All photography �Takayama Takao www.onthehill.jp - and courtesy of the WPA.
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THE POOL GODS MAKE THEIR DRAMATIC PRESENCE FELT IN DOHA AS ONLY 32 REMAIN FOR THE SPORT'S BIGGEST PRIZE

When players and fans talk about the �pool gods,� they�re referring to that mysterious force that seems to regularly take over important matches, sometimes for no apparent reason. Often times, though, in hindsight, there are clear reasons for the gods� actions; to stamp down over confidence, reward risk, or penalize players for missing shots that were meant as gifts. Anyone who�s watched or played enough pool swears the pool gods are real. These other worldly forces provide the ingredients for championship pool�s incredible nerve racking drama.

The pool gods certainly appeared to be hovering over the proceedings Wednesday inside the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, as the final 64 players did battle in a rollicking day long pool-fest in the first single elimination round of the 2013 World 9-ball Championship.

After the 11 hours of play, 32 players headed for the exits, while 32 stayed alive and will come back Thursday for a veritable sprint to the finish line that promises some incredibly exciting pool. By the end of play Thursday, the run for pool�s biggest prize will be down to just four players.

There was nothing anyone could call a major upset today, but the twists and turns provided a full day�s entertainment for the several hundred fans on hand. For many of the players, they looked like they had just emerged from full scale battle.

Taiwan�s Chang Jung Lin must surely being looking upstairs and asking lots of questions today. The world ranked number 8 came to Doha with heavy expectations and deservedly so as he is Taiwan�s number 1 player and is a proven winner of big events.

Down 4-2 in a race to 11 match against German veteran Oliver Ortmann in the day�s first of four sessions, Chang stormed in front 6-4 and looked to be marching towards victory. But suddenly, the towering Chang�s break shot completely abandoned him. Unable to find an opening after the break, or even pot a ball, Chang lost his confidence, while Ortmann, seizing on the moment, found his. The German won seven straight racks to send Chang packing.

�It all depends on the break shot,� Ortmann said. �You have to hope your opponent breaks bad. That�s the only chance you have against a guy like him. I know how good he is. He�s one of the best in the world so to beat him gives me a lot of confidence.�

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