Centre of Attention
Francisco Bustamante narrowly edged Earl Strickland in the final of the Ladbrokescasino.com World Pool Masters at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, England, on Sept. 2. The two players were knotted at 6-6 in the race-to-seven final played in the bustling shopping mall, before Bustamante keyed on Strickland’s empty break in the final rack to claim a 7-6 win and his second World Pool Masters crown.
The victory netted Bustamante £10,000 (approx. $14,400), while Strickland settled for the £5,000 runner-up prize.
“He never made anything on the break,” said Bustamante, who was backed by a large Filipino support group that also cheered on third-place finisher Efren Reyes. “The Filipino people in the audience were amazing, there were so many of them it was like playing in Manila. I’m so pleased to win this championship again; I’m playing in the US Open next week so it will be great to arrive there with this title in the bag.”
Going For Gold
American Jeanette Lee and Taipei’s Ching-Shun Yang captured the 9-ball divisions of the 6th World Games in Akita, Japan, Aug. 16-26. Lee took home the Gold Medal after beating Ireland’s Karen Corr, 9-3. Lee’s finish gave the United States a second-best 15 total Gold Medals during the Games, and a combined 31 medals to place third overall behind leader Russia (44) and second-place Germany (35) in the medal count.
Yang knocked off Germany’s Ralf Souquet, 11-8, in the final to claim the Gold Medal. Despite Souquet’s defeat, Germany’s medal count was boosted when Souquet’s countrymate Thomas Engert topped American Jon Kucharo to claim the bronze medal.
Belgium’s Bjoern Haneveer edged Filipino Marlon Manalo, 4-3, to take the snooker Gold Medal, while Spain’s Daniel Sanchez upset Dick Jaspers, 40-30, to earn the Gold in carom.
Mexico’s Ismaez Paez, who suffered a heart attack before one of his matches early in the 9-ball tournament, underwent heart surgery and is currently recovering.
Diliberto Cleared Of All Charges
Pool legend Danny Diliberto was acquitted of all charges after a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y., according to the prosecutor, Asst. U.S. Attorney Tony Bruce.
Diliberto had been indicted in a drug-trafficking case along with 14 others including former 9-ball stand out Dennis Hatch and his father, Gregg Hatch. Diliberto, a Buffalo native and boyhood friend of Gregg Hatch, had insisted on a trial to answer the charges of conspiracy and cocaine possession and sales, while 12 other defendants in the case pled guilty. The elder Hatch was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the younger received house arrest and probation.
2001 Admiral World Pool Championship Live Update
CARDIFF, WALES — In a closely played final match that featured 10 lead changes, Finland’s Mika Immonen captured the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship on Sunday. Immonen, who pockets $65,000 for the victory, won the last five racks in the race-to-17 final to win 17-10 over Germany’s Ralf Souquet.
World Pool Chmpionship Final Set
For the first time since 1996, a European player will take home the top prize in pool. The final of the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship comes down to two Europeans – Finland’s Mika Immonen and Germany’s Ralf Souquet. The winner of today’s final tilt will take home $65,000, while the loser will pocket $30,000.
Souquet, who won the World Pool Championship in 1996, coasted into the final match with wins over Marcus Chamat in the quarterfinals, and later Chia-hsiung Lai in Saturday evening’s semifinal on the main table. During his two matches, Souquet outscored both of his opponents by a total margin of 22-3.
“It’s not easy to be out there in the arena and play your best all the time but I think over the years, I’ve mastered playing on the TV tables,” said Souquet, who beat Lai 11-2.
Immonen, meanwhile, had a more difficult time with his opponents on Saturday. He beat Niels Feijen, 11-7, in the quarterfinal, then rallied from a 5-2 deficit for another 11-7 win over Alain Martel in the semifinal.
“Me and Ralf have got a lot of respect for each other and he is a real gentleman,” said Immonen. “We’ll both be concentrating on our respective games and not worry about each other.”
The final match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EST.
“Kaiser” Rolls On; Jones Finished
Germany’s Ralf “The Kaiser” Souquet continued his torrid play at the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales. He controlled every moment of his quarterfinal match against Sweden’s Marcus Chamat, and captured an 11-1 victory.
Lone remaining American Jeremy Jones was also eliminated on Saturday. Jones, who battled a slight cold the night before, dropped his first seven games against Chia-hsiung Lai of Chinese Taipei. Lai never looked back, and held on for an 11-3 win. Jones collected $8,500 for a share of fifth place.
“We exchanged safeties early,” said Jones, “The next time I looked up, it was 7-0. I wish I could have represented the country a little further. I really wanted to win this tournament.”
USA’s Jeremy Jones Advances
At least one American player has reached the final eight, thanks to Texas’ Jeremy Jones. Battling a slight cold and fatigue, Jones held close to Spain’s David Alcaide, and finished him off by nailing a difficult jump shot on the 8 ball in the final rack to win, 11-9.
The only other American player remaining, Florida’s Charlie Williams, plays Leonardo Andam later this evening.
Immonen, Souquet Advance in Friday Morning Session
With only two American players remaining in the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship, several European players are staking their claim at the richest payday in pool. Finland’s Mika Immonen and Germany’s Ralf Souquet were the first on Friday, breezing into the quarterfinals with convincing victories.
After taking a 5-0 lead in the race-to-11 match, Immonen took advantage of Anthony Ginn’s numerous mishaps to finish with an 11-2 win. Soon afterward, Souquet calmly crafted an 11-3 victory to advance into Saturday’s quarterfinal matches.
Niels Feijen and Chia-hsiung Lai also advanced in Friday morning’s matches.
Strickland sent packing
One night after barely squeezing into the Round of 32 with a 9-8 win over Ramil Gallego, Earl Strickland was eliminated from the 2001 Admiral World Pool Championship in Cardiff, Wales, on Thursday night. German Andreas Roschkowsky topped the five-time Player of the Year, 9-7, to advance to the last 16, beginning on Friday.
Snippets… Euro stars in nookie ban
In a desperate attempt to regain the Mosconi Cup, European Team Captain Ralf Souquet has slapped a sex ban on his team for the duration of the Mosconi Cup which starts on Thursday.
In a strongly worded letter, hard-line Souquet, dubbed ‘The Kaiser’, warned his teams against the perils of carnality.
Order for all members of the European Mosconi Cup Team: “There is a strict prohibition for having sex and/or sexual activities with effect from December 11th 2000. This rule applies particularly to the German player Thomas Engert, who is bringing his wife with him. There have even been some thoughts, whether to book two single rooms for him and his wife!”
“As captain of the European Team, it is my first and utmost priority to take care of the players and prepare them for optimal performance at the tournament. Not only from my own experience I know that having sex at an inappropriate moment can paralyse body and soul of a player. Concentration, mental force and attitude towards the game could be weakened and negatively influenced.”
“Remember there is only one goal – to win the Mosconi Cup!”
Finnish ace Mika Immonen learned of the ban on arriving in London this morning and was reported to be “gobsmacked”.