Efren Reyes...early exit
By Suman Malla/Doha


Filipino pool master Efren Reyes became the biggest casualty at the 2011 World 9-Ball Championship, bowing out to compatriot Caneda Villamor in the final round of 64 at the Al Sadd Sports Club yesterday.
Villamor, who worked his way up the losing bracket after narrowly missing out on a win against defending champion Francisco Bustamante on Saturday, was in tremendous form yesterday.
Villamor, who works as the game’s instructor in Saudi Arabia, combined good breaks, potting and safety almost to perfection to beat his idol 11-5.
Reyes, who started off with a thrilling victory over Britain’s Mark Gray in the final rack, came into yesterday’s game with a convincing victory over Russia’s Konstantin Stepanov on Monday. Despite enjoying more support from the stands than his rival, it was proved one of those odds days for the 56-year-old legend as hardly anything went in his favour, and he was let down by poor breaks.
Villamor will now meet another of his compatriots Dennis Orcollo after the world number one came up with an 11-9 win over Indonesia’s Mohammed Zulfikri in a tight match.
But Bustamante had it all plain sailing as he dismissed the challenge of Germany’s Sascha-Andrej Tege 11-4. He will play Indonesia’s Riyan Setiawan for a place in the last 16 today. Setiawan defeated Spaniard Carlo Cabello 11-8.
Earlier, another Filipino Antonio Gabica had his own share of a big scalp as he ousted 2011 9-ball world champion Mika Immonen of Finland 11-10 in a nail-biting finish.
Gabica began brightly, racing to 4-1 lead and then to 10-6 as the Finn struggled to find his rhythm.
But just as it appeared Gabica would coast home comfortably, Immonen hit back when the Filipino scratched after sinking the 2 ball to win four consecutive racks to tie the match at 10-10 and force it into the deciding rack.
The final rack developed into a long tricky affair with both the players going for safety. Then Gabica came up with a great pocketing shot, sinking the 1 ball from where he hardly looked like missing any shot and rightly so he took the match 11-10 to send the Filipino crowd wild.
“There was so much pressure and I was quite nervous going for the break in the final rack” said a delighted Gabica after the match. He also admitted that there was an element of luck involved in his dramatic victory. “Everything fell into place from the start, enabling me to race to a comfortable early lead. And I was lucky in the final rack after Immonen returned with four consecutive racks.”
Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Po-Cheng was another big casualty on the day as he buckled under pressure, losing to England’s Mark Gray in the match that was also decided on the final rack.
Two-times runner-up Po-Cheng was well placed for a victory, leading 10-6 at one stage. But Gray, who fought his way back after a heart-breaking final-rack defeat to Reyes in his opening match, held his nerves to level the score at 10-10. And it was a break and run in the final rack to leave the Taiwanese completely stunned.
He will now meet Chris Melling in an all-English battle today for a place in the next stage. Melling scored an easy 11-2 victory over Korean Hwang Yong.
Earlier, American Shane Van Boening came back from a 6-2 behind to beat Russia’s Konstantin Stepanov 11-8. He plays Taiwan’s Chang Jung Lin, who put off the challenge of Filipino Joven Alba 11-5.