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www.predator10ball.com
Monday-Saturday 12-17 May 2008
Francisco Bustamante - 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championship Semi-Finalist
Down to the final four in Las Vegas!
The top three pool powerhouse continents are still in business in the final four players of the Predator International 10-Ball Championship. Europe, Asia, and USA. From 33 Americans, 22 Europeans, and 19 Asians it has been dwindled down to the Final 16 with 5 USA, 5 Europeans, 4 Asia, 1 Canadian and 1 Mexico. That has been shaved down to the Final Four consisting of Jeremy Jones USA, Francisco Bustamante PHI, Tony Drago of Malta, and Marcus Chamat SWE.
#2 seed Bustamante is the only seeded player left in the event and only Filipino out of the strong contingent of seven Filipinos to survive. The European and North American forces outflanked the strong Filipinos, who had been very dominant the past year in 2007, but having a slow start in 2008.
USA's last hope resides on the shoulders of Texan Jeremy Jones. Jones, a very experienced pro with a US Open title under his belt, has been off and on the last few years in the pool circuit. He was unseeded in the event so took the long journey out to the final four. His wins included a 10-9 win over Charlie Bryant, then he defeated Louis Ulrich, Tomoki Mekari JPN, before losing to Dominguez MEX. He bounced back into the final 16 with a dominating win against Stan Tourangeau CAN. In the final 16 he faced red hot Raj Hundal of India, and then he defeated the last Canadian standing Tyler Edey. Jones will be tested in the semi-finals against the dangerous Bustamante of the Philippines next.
"Read More..." for the details.
Tony Drago - 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championship Semi-Finalist
Tony Drago of Malta, known as the Tornado, has made a dramatic entrance into his first major international pool championship. Thus far he has gone undefeated all the way into the semi-finals and is only 2 matches away from being crowned Predator International 10-Ball Champion.
Drago started with a 10-8 win over Salvas CAN, the took out last year's runner up Cliff Joyner USA, Gareth Esprit DOM, and then Tyler Edey CAN to get into the final 16.
Once in the last 16 players of the event, the format changed to race to 11. First Drago defeated Darren Appleton GBR then he made an amazing match of former World 9-Ball Champion Alex Pagulayan PHI . Losing 10-9, Drago made a great kick shot off a Pagulayan safety and then a nice safety exchange before running the rack and then won the last game 11-10 to the cheers of his new USA fans.
"This is a class event. It's one of the most well run and well organized events I've ever played in. I've deeply enjoyed myself thus far." said Drago.
"I can't how tough this field is and how many strong players are here. And the event looks great, by far this is the best event I've seen Dragon Promotions produce in the US." said Corey Deuel.
Also keeping Europe alive is Marcus Chamat of Sweden. Chamat has had an impressive run in the event knocking out World 9-Ball Champion Mika Immonen FIN and World 10-Ball Champion Shane Van Boening. He also included Filipino pro Ramil Gallego and Derby City 9-Ball Champ Niels Feijen on his belt. This would be a great win for the Swede as his last title came in 2005 at The World Summit of Pool in New York City.
For full coverage and brackets and latest pictures goto www.predator10ball.com
Marcus Chamat - 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championship Semi-Finalist
Here are some event highlights:
Raj Hundal Puts India on the Map: Historic Wins Against Archer and Appleton
India's Raj Hundal made history with his 10-7 win over 4x World Champion and 10x Player of the Year Johnny Archer of the USA at the 8th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship. Hundal had controlled the match from start to end and never trailed to USA's #1 ranked player. Hundal had became ill earlier in the day and was concerned if he could finish the match.
"There's a stomach virus going around and I became very ill today."said Hundal, resident of London,UK and New Dehli,India."But I've never beaten Johnny before and I was up for the challenge. Fortunately I didn't have to use the bathroom during the match!"
On his next match, Hundal faced Great Britain's World English Pool Champion Darren Appleton. Appleton had earlier in the week defeated USA' Scott Frost in a $7500 challenge match and was in deadly form. Hundal managed to take Darren out in a 10-7 decision.
Hundal moved India into the final 16 players of the event. 80 players from 22 countries have been already eliminated.
Raj eventually succumbed to USA's Jeremy Jones in the last stage of the event, but ended in a respectable 9th place finish for himself and India. A historic achievement in this star studded, and super challenging field.
The matches can be seen live on www.predator10ball.com with final day airing on Eurosport
Jeremy Jones - 2008 Predator International 10-Ball Championship SemiFinalist
Allison Fisher Defeat's Spanish #1 Alcaide: Hofstatter Crushes Tony Crosby
Allison Fisher is keeping the women alive with her 10-9 win against David Alcaide of Spain. The match began with Alcaide jumping to a 2-0 lead and later 4-1 as he capitalized on Fisher's unforced errors. Slowly Fisher kept the pressure on and came back to 4-3. From there the match see sawed back and forth until Alcaide led 9-8. Both players had tremendous problems making a ball on the break.
A mistake by David allowed Fisher to run out to tie 9-9. Finally Fisher made a ball on the break and was left with the cueball almost frozen to the rail with a long off angle shot on the 2 ball. Fisher took aim in her famous snooker form and sent the 2 ball into the hole and proceeded to run the rest of the rack .
Gerda Hofstatter and close friend Kristi Carter could be seen celebrating and beating the tables like drums in triumph for Allison.
"I finally made a ball on the break!" exclaimed Fisher after the match.
"Allison has as much poise and composure as any player I've ever seen. Man or woman." commented Jay Helfert.
Though Gerda Hofstatter had been beaten out of the event earlier by France's Stefan Cohen, she did put another notch in her belt before she left. Gerda was trailing USA's Top 16 Pro Tony "Sniper " Crosby 3-0 when she made a dramatic momentum swing and won 10 of the next 11 games for a 10-4 victory.
"I wish I had played better in my last match against Cohen, but I did play really well against Tony." said Hofstatter.
Fisher remained the sole woman left of the six entered and defeated Dominican Champion Gareth Esprit before bowing to USA's young gun Michael Dechaine,20 years old. Fisher ended the event finishing at 25th place tie out of 96 participants.