Former world champs Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan and Ronnie "The Volcano" Alcano won in the qualifying round to enter the main draw of the Qatar Open 9-Ball tournament that started Sunday, June 29, at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation in Doha.

AZBilliards.com reported that the qualifying session of the tournament that ends July 5 saw Pagulayan defeating fellow Filipino Israel "Amay" Rota, 7-4, to top Group 6.

Meanwhile, Alcano dumped Mohanna O'Baidly, 7-1, to lead Group 5.

In other qualifying matches, Allan Cuartero beat 2007 WPA World 9-Ball finalist Roberto Gomez, 7-2, in Group 1; Ruben Cuna stunned specialist Benjie Guevarra, 7-1, in Group 2.  Joven Bustamante defeated Monaza Belardo, 7-1, in Group 3 while Vicente Joyme beat Ibrahim Al Ahmad, 7-1, in Group 4.
 
Gandy Valle, fresh from winning of Villar Cup Cebu leg last weekend is hoping to make it to the main event playing in the last qualifying round. Valle lost to Ahmad, 7-6, who in turn beat Joyme, nephew of Rolly Vicente of Puyat Sports in the finals of Group 4.
 
Pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, World No.1 Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo, Ramil "Bebeng" Gallego, Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo, Jeffrey "The Bull" De Luna, and reigning national champion Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza took a bye in the first round.
 
Meanwhile, Leonardo "Dodong Dadiangas" Andam is hoping to win against his first round opponent, local bet Ahmed Al Sada,  and if he prevails, another former WPA 9-Ball and 8-Ball ruler Chia-Ching Wu of Taiwan is waiting in the next round. Warren "Warrior" Kiamco, on the other hand will face Dharminder Lilly of India.
 
A total of 96 players will see action in the $150,000-event that guarantees  $40,000 to the winner.

Players will be divided into eight groups with 12 players each. They will play in a double elimination, alternate break, race-to-nine format. Four players from each group will qualify – two from the winner's bracket and two from the loser's bracket.

Tournament players from the international pool scene slated to join the event are Ralf Souquet, Thomas Engert, Oliver Ortmann and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, Niels Fejen of the Netherlands, Fabio Petroni of Italy, Marcus Chamat of Sweden and Johnny Archer and Shane Van Boening of the US.

Reigning WPA World 9-Ball titlist Daryl Peach of Great Britain is also included in the list of players.