Lai, Fu join Taiwanese flag bearers for World Ten Ball
By ROY MEDINA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/27/2008 2:10 PM
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Two more Taiwanese cue masters joined the main draw for the 128-man field of the World Ten Ball Championship to be held from September 29 to October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Chinese-Taipei's Lai Chia-Hsiung and Fu Che-Wei barged into the main draw after their victories in the final match of he Stage 1 tournament late Thursday at Star Billiards Center in Quezon City.
Lai entered the main draw after beating Kazuo Furuta of Japan, 9-3, in the final round of the qualifying event sanctioned by the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines.
Fu, meanwhile, became the fifth Taiwanese to gain entry into the main field after beating compatriot Lu Hui-Chan, 9-5.
As of posting time, there were only five spots left to be filled in the main draw.
The other Taiwanese players already assured of places in the 128-man field are Chang Pei-Wei, Chang Yu-Lung and Wang Kuo-Pin.
Meanwhile, all five reigning world champions are set to arrive Saturday for the WTBC that is sanctioned both by BSCP and the World Pool-Billiards Association.
They are 8-ball champ Ralf Soquet, 9-ball king Daryll Peach, Neils Feijen of the 14.1 tilt, world junior champ Ko Pin-Yi and world women's master Lin Yuan Chun.
Meanwhile, unheralded Filipino Arnel Bautista joined Wang into the main draw.
Late Wednesday, Bautista crushed Taiwan's Chu Hu-Ming, 9-3, in the final round of the qualifying event to advance in the company of world champs Antonio Gabica, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, Elmer Kalaquian and Elvis Calasang.
Wang bested compatriot Lu Hui-Chan , 9-7, to become the third Taiwanese to barge into the main field. Wang had beaten Wang Can (7-4), Liu Hung -Cheng (7-2), Chen Qi-Ang (7-3) and Fu Chei-Wei (7-2).
