Doha: Two-time world champion Efren Reyes of the Philippines crashed out of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship (W9BC) here yesterday at Al Sadd Stadium.
The Filipino players always enjoy a bit of home court advantage in Doha as the massive Overseas Filipino Worker contingent here turns out in droves to cheer on their countrymen, especially Reyes, who is a real live folk hero wherever he goes.
But yesterday the local supporters of ‘Bata’ went home disappointed.
Reyes, who lost his first match but won the second one, was trying to qualify through the losers bracket. The Filipino fell for the guile of Karl Boyes of England.
In a closely contested group match, Boyes won 9-8. Boyes joins a field of 64 players who qualified for the knock out stage of the tournament which will begin today.
Hosts Qatar’s challenge in the round of 64 will be led by Waleed Majed and Antonio Gabica, runner-up at last year’s championship and assistant coach at Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF).
Another Qatari player, Ali Obaidly failed to make it to the next round.
Obaidly went down fighting 9-6 to Francisco Felicilda of the Philippines.
Also making the roiund of 64 was India’s Sandeep Gulati.
The 36-year-old from New Delhi today became only the second ever player from India to reach the knockout stage of the World 9-ball championship, as he grinded out a hard fought win over Ukraine’s Artem Koshovyi, 9-6.
“This is just so awesome” the Indian said, “I can’t explain it. I’m at a loss for words. I come from a non-pool playing country. Only one other Indian has ever reached the top 64. I was so nervous out there. I know all my friends and family back in India are watching online,” Gulati said of his match.
Gulati takes on Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi in the next match.
“I have nothing to lose. If I beat him that will be something. The moment I get on the table I am assuming I have lost. So I have no pressure. The pressure is definitely on him.”
The winner of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship will receive $30,000. The runner-up will receive $15,000.
The Peninsula
