Reigning world champion Francisco Bustamante  will be leading Philippines’ charge at the Doha event

Sports Reporter/DohaThe 2011 World 9-ball Championship gets underway today with qualifying rounds at the Al Sadd Sports Club. Defending champion Philippines’ Francisco Bustamante will be among the hosts of stars that are descending on Doha to contest for the sport’s most prestigious title. Bustamante broke the world championship jinx last year with a convincing 13-7 victory over Kuo Po Cheng of Chinese Taipei.  The championship – the second of the five that Qatar has agreed with the World Pool-Billiards Association to host here through 2014 – has a total purse of $250,000. The winner of the July 2 final will pocket $36,000.Over two days, 96 cueists will be vying for 12 remaining slots in the 128-man main field. There will be three qualifiers, with each game being played on race to seven, alternate break, single elimination.The tournament proper starts on June 25, with players separated into 16 groups of 8, playing a double elimination format, race to 9, alternate break. Four qualifiers (two each from winner’s brackets and loser’s brackets) will advance to the final round of 64, which will be played under single elimination, race to 11, alternate break. The final will be a race to 13, alternate break.With Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation recently roping in the leading American pool equiptment manufacturer, Diamond Billiards Products Inc, as the event’s official sponsor, the games will be played on beautiful Diamond tables.