Site News
Topic: *Industry News* June 2010

Huge Demand For World Open Spots

Over 500 players from across the UK have already entered the early qualifying rounds of the World Open.

It's snooker's equivalent of the nothing Cup, with 20 winners from club competitions to go through to the professional qualifying rounds in August. They will then have the chance to get through to the televised stages in Glasgow in September, when the world's top players will be competing for the title.

Rileys has 10 places up for grabs and the knockouts will take place at Rileys clubs throughout the UK on the 10th and 11th of July, with the winners going forward to regional finals on the 31st July and 1st August.

Maurice Kelly, CEO of Rileys, said: "We are delighted with the response so far. We have some very talented players in our clubs and the World Open offers a fantastic opportunity for ten Rileys qualifiers to play against the best."

The closing date for entries is the 4th of July and to enter simply go on-line at www.rileys.co.uk/worldopen

The other 10 regional qualifiers are run by independent clubs, for the full list go to www.worldsnooker.com/qualifierswanted then click 'How to enter'



The World Open receives equal funding and support from EventScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

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IMPRESSIVE START BY ORCULLO BEATS SOUQUET IN WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

FILIPINO Dennis "Robocop" Orcullo opened his campaign on a high note at the start of 2010 WPA World Pool Championships (World 9-Ball) at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday.

Orcullo, the top player of Perry Mariano's Bugsy Promotion outclassed WPA 8-ball and 9-ball Champion German Ralf "Kaiser" Souquet, 9-6, to jumpstart his bid for a first World Pool title in the $250,000 total pot prize weeklong-event with the champion getting the lion share of $36,000.

“Maganda yung naging simula medyo umayon sa akin yung bola kaya sinamantala ko na,” said the Quezon City most oustanding athlete Orcullo, who is fresh from his spectacular win in the World Pool Masters just weeks ago.

Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines chief Ceferino "Perry" Mariano commented the chances of the Filipino pool sharks "I believe we have a good chance to win the World 8-ball crown considering our players dominated the international tournament in the past events,” Mariano said.

Joining Orcullo in the winning column in the group stage matches are fellow BMPAP players Francisco "Django" Bustamante and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza.
Bustamante, playing under the banner of Puyat Sports defeated Fabio Petroni of Italy, 9-7, while Corteza from Negros Billiards Stable (NBS) demolished local bet Ibrahim Al Khadar, 9-1.

The Tarlac City native Bustamante, won the 23rd Japan Open in Tokyo and Super Billiards Leaque in Winnipeg, Canada while the Davao City ace Corteza came in from a huge win when he topped the recent 1st Annual Hard Times-Mezz Cues 10-Ball Open at the Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, Los Angeles, California and 1st US Open 10-ball at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

However,not as fortunate were newly-crowned Spanish Open champion Efren "Bata" Reyes, Jeffrey "The Bull" de Luna and Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo.

Reyes, the 2010 Player of teh Decade yielded to Liu Haitao of China, 9-5, de luna, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball silver medallist lost to Nitiwat Kanjanasri of Thailand, 9-6, and Manalo succumbed to former RP snooker team mate Joven Alba, 9-8, who is a pool instructor in the Middle East.
Sharing the limelight are Middle East pool instructor Raymond Faraon, Oliver Medenilla, Allan Cuartero and Israel "Amay" Rota.

Faraon from Bicol walloped Mark Gray of Great Britain, 9-2, Medenilla crushed Jeong Young Hwa of Korea, 9-6, Cuartero from Surigao whacked Chan Keng Kwang of Singapore, 9-7, Rota from Cebu edged current World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of Great Britain, 9-8.

Ibrahim Bin Amir, another Filipino but playing for Malaysian flag also won his first round match against Bruno Muratore of Italy, 9-7.

The top 4 finishers after the group stage matches will advance to the Last 64, which will be played in a knock-out stage format, alternate break format.

Japan-based Antonio "Nickoy" Lining was set to play Corey Deuel of the United States while 2006 Doha Asian Games 9-ball gold medallist Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica was pitted against Nicolas Otterman of Germany, former WPA8-ball and 9-ball Champion Ronato Alcano opposite another hometown bet Ahmed Hassan, Venancio "Tukao" Tanio goes up against Holger Gries of Germany and Francisco Felicilda versus Muhammad Zulfikri of India.

In other results, Shane Van Boening walloped Abdullah Al Daham (9-6), Hassan Zeraatgar trounced Mazen Berjawi (9-6), Mariusz Skoneczny beat Imran Majid (9-6), Lui Hui Chan dealt Jim Chakwi (9-6), Francis Crevier routed Kenny Kwok (9-7), Scott Higgins smashed Waleed Majid (9-6) , Charlie Williams beat Thorsten Hohmann (9-6) and Sandor Tot nipped Kazuki Nishimura (9-4).

Other first round winners are Stephan Cohen of France, Lee Chenman of Hongkong, Yang Ching-shun and Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei, Huidje See of the Netherlands, Karl Boyes of Great Britain, Tony Drago of Malta, Toru Kuribayashi of Japan, Neils Feijen of the Netherlands, Rodney Morris and Johnny Archer of the United States, Jon Morra of Canada and Thomas Engert of Germany, Marcus Chamat of Sweden and Konstantin Stepanov of Russia among others in the 128 player's field.