MANILA, PHILIPPINES---TWO world champions from Europe and America have signed up to play in the first Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the Philippine Pool Tour, which is scheduled on May 6 to 11 at the City Atrium and Kaban ng Hiyas Auditorium of Mandaluyong City.
Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 2003 world 9-ball champion and 2006 straight pool champion, expressed his desire to compete in the Mandaluyong Cup in a letter to the Raya Sports office. He will be coming to Manila on May 6 after competing in the Korean Pro Pool Championship in Seoul on April 29 to May 2.
Following his stint in Manila, Hohmann will fly to Las Vegas to play in the Predator International Ten Ball Championship on May 13 to 17.
Johnny Archer of America, 1992 and 1997 world 9-ball champion, will be flying straight from the US to compete in the Mandaluyong Cup. Archer has been in top form lately. He won in succession the Turning Stone Classic in New York, the 12th annual Jay Swanson Memorial tournament in California, and the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop in South Carolina.
Archer and Hohmann will test their ten-ball skills against Filipino and Asian players who are expected to turn up in big numbers for the Mandaluyong Cup. The tournament offers $30,000 in prize money and a guaranteed seat for the winner in the World Ten Ball Championship in Manila in September.
Besides Mandaluyong City, the PPT will have four other legs this year: Puerto Princesa in June, Cebu, Davao and Pasay City. Other American and European players have expressed interest in joining the tour at its second leg in Palawan.
Both Hohmann and Archer are familiar to Filipino pool fans having played in the Philippines in the 2006 and 2007 World Pool Championship, as well as several invitational tournaments. Archer has won a couple of tournaments in the country.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
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