Two reigning world champions, two winners in qualifying events and the European number one women’s player have been named as the first ones to secure guaranteed spots in the inaugural WPA World Ten Ball Championship scheduled from September 29-October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Philippine pride Antonio Gabica leads the pool of champions with Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, Ralf Souquet of Germany, Daryl Peach of England and Wu Chai-Ching of Chinese Taipei.

Ouschan bagged her place by virtue of her ranking as the top women’s player in Europe and a direct invitation from the World Pool and Billiards Association. She is widely regarded as the top women’s straight pool player in the world. She placed fifth in the 2006 World Straight Pool Championship featuring both men and women players.

Playing in the inaugural WTBC fulfills a major personal goal.

"My goal is to be one of the best players in the world and also to try to challenge the best male players in the world," she said.

Souquet, meanwhile, earned his spot as the reigning WPA World 8-Ball Champion, which he won in Fujairah, UAE, in April. He has been a consistent top-five player in the world for the past five years.

Peach got his spot as the reigning WPA World 9-Ball Champion. He won the 2007 title in Manila last November.

Wu and Gabica are the first two winners of the WTBC qualifying events held under the Philippine Pool Tour.

Wu, a double world champion for 8-ball and 9-ball in 2005, won the Puerto Princesa Mayor’s Cup of the PPT last June 17-22 in Puerto Princesa City.

Gabica, the reigning Philippine Open champion and Asian Games gold medalist, won the Mandaluyong Mayor’s Cup of the PPT last May 6-11 in Mandaluyong City.

Meanwhile, the qualifying of players for the WTBC under the WPA allocation system is currently ongoing. The majority of spots go to the continental associations. The rest are allocated for qualifying events and wild cards.