NINE-BALL action returns to New York when current double world champion Ronato "Volcano" Alcano and reigning national open champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza meets the challenge from a tough field for the 2007 Turning Stone 9-Ball Open tournament which unreels today, August 16-19 at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.
Tournament organizer Mike Zuglan said to this writer through email that the champion will take home the top prize of US$12,000.
The 28-year-old Corteza who hails from Davao City, playing under the banner of Negros Billiard Stable (NBS), is fresh from a runner-up finish to eventual champion Neils "The Terminator" Fejien of the Netherlands in the 2007 International Challenge of Champions' US$50,000 winner take all last August 9-10 in Mohegan Suns Casino in Unscaville, Connecticut, USA.
In fact, Corteza almost came close to winning the whopping prize of US$50,000 after taking the first match against Feijen, 5-1, however the game was tied at 3 all in the 2 nd match, Corteza missed the No.8 ball in the seventh frame allowing Feijen to claim the next two racks for a close 5-3 victory and forge a sudden death one rack tie breaker.
Feijen, proved that he is the No.1 European player today after winning the lag and didn't gave Corteza the chance to comeback the table by cleaning up to claim the victory (1-5), (5-3), (1).
The 34-year-old Alcano on the other hand, member of the star-studded Bugsy Promotion was ousted in Day One against former world 9-ball kingpin Thorsten "The Hitmann" Hohman of Germany in the International Challenge of Champions.
Other Filipino players who is expected to play in the annual Turning Stone 9-ball Open that includes 2007 BCA Enjoypool.com 9-ball winner Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo and New Yorkers Santos "The Saint" Sambajon and Emet Vergara, Canadian based Pinoy Al Lapena and California resident Jose "Amang" Parica.
Meanwhile, Corteza and Alcano, are also scheduled to carry the country's color's when the Grand Finale of the 2007 Guinness 9-ball tour gets going on August 31 to September 2 in Bali, Indonesia, here the Grand Champion get the top prize of US$36,000.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)
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