MANILA, PHILIPPINES---ALL eyes are on America's brightest hope in billiards, Shane Van Boening as his skill will be tested in the biggest 9-ball pool today.
While his name hardly rings a bell to many,Van Boening, the recently crowned US Open champion, easily tops the list of fancied players in the World Pool Championship at the Big Dome.
"He (Van Boening) is maybe the best player in the world today," said Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto "Ernie" Fajardo on the eve of the group elimination in yesterday's press conference hosted by ESPN Star Sports, Matchroom and Raya Sports and Events at the Mandarin Suite Hotel in Gateway Mall.
Even Yen Makabenta, event's organizer and chairman of BSCP puts Van Boening high on his list of favorites.
"Durability is very important in a very competitive and long tournament and that is the quality of Van Boening," Makabenta said.
The unassuming American enjoys the billing but not the pressure that goes with it. "It's tough to carry the hopes of your country," Van Boening said.
The 128 players from 45 countries competing in the tournament are divided into 16 groups. The double elimination format will be used in group play.
The top four players will advance to the knockout round while the other four will go home.
Van Boening doesn't want a cameo appearance on the biggest stage of pool.
"This is my first time to compete in WPC and in the Philippines. I want to make a very good first impression," said the 24-year-old Van Boening.
Asked about his two favorite player possible to win World 9-Ball Crown plus the whopping purse $100,000 in the event will be aired on ESPN Star Sports and Studio 23.
""I think Alcano and Bustamante had a big chance to enter the finals and even to win the World Pool crown. Alcano had won the World 9-ball and World 8-ball his momentum is still there, while Bustamante is eager to win his first WPC title."
Alcano, whom Van Boening beat in the recently US Open 9-Ball crown in Chesapeake Virginia is the reigning World 9-Ball and World 8-Ball Champion and open his retention title bid against little known H. Saeed Ahmed Al-Mutawa of United Arab Emirates in Group 1.
Van Boening, on the other hand, was bracketed so called "Group of Death" takes on Chang Yau-Mau of Taiwan in Group 13 that includes 2006 World Pool League champ and 2007 BCA Enjoy pool.com winner Dennis Orcollo, Marcus Chamat of Sweden and Satoshi Kawabat of Japan, who beat Antonio "Ga-Ga" Gabica in the Doha Asian Games 8-ball finals.
Efren "Bata" Reyes, the 1999 World 9-Ball champion in Cardiff, Wales said "Marami ng gumagaling sa bilyar," who won the biggest ever-prize in history of world of pool in last year's International Pool Tour (IPT) World 8-Ball of cool prize of $500,000 but only half of the prize he receive in the total amount.
The cuefest offers $40,000 to the runner-up, $20,000 to the third placer and $10,000 to the fourth placer.
The last 16 players will each receive $4,500 while the last 32 will go home with $3,000 and the last 64 with $2,000 apiece.
Other Filipino pool shark in the main draw were 2004 WPC ruler Alex Pagulayan, Lee Vann Corteza, Marlon Manalo, Antonio Lining, Ramil Gallego, Rodolfo Luat, Joven Bustamante, Jeffrey de Luna, Antonio Gabica and qualifiers Leonardo Andam and Roberto Gomez.
(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO).
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