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2016 WPA World 9-Ball Championships
Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation
Al-Arabi Sports Club
Al Shaab Street
Doha
Qatar
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www.alarabi.qa
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Friday 29 July - Thursday 4 August 2016

All photography courtesy of �Bo Bader - used by Pro9 with express permission
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Saudi Arabia's Abdul Rahman Al Amar is part of wave of young Middle Eastern players notching victories on Day 1 at the World 9-ball Championship

The moments before the first rack on the first day of the World 9-ball Championship are never easy, even for the best of players. The tables and conditions are new and untested. Players know they only have to win two race-to-9matches to qualify for the final 64, but things in pool can easily go array as you may come out flat, or the balls might conspire against you. Even the top players realize that just because you haven�t heard of the guy you�re paired against, it doesn�t mean you�re going to waltz into the money rounds.

Indeed while 15 of the WPA�s top 20 players won their opening matches on day 1 in Doha, several big names suffered setbacks, suddenly finding themselves on the one loss side of their groups, and one more loss from unceremoniously exiting pool�s biggest stage.

After 8 hours of pool at its highest level at the Al Arabi sports club, several things stand out loud and clear. The sport of pool has never seen this many highly skilled players from so many different countries. This fact, combined with the new rule this year of racking the balls with the 9-ball on the spot instead of the 1-ball, thereby toughening up the opening break shot, means that the 2016 World 9-ball championship will surely see the world crown contested at the highest level we have ever witnessed.

All 128 players saw action in the double elimination group stages today and, as usual, it seems the Taiwanese are ready to contend yet again. Defending champion Ko Pin Yi had a layup of a match to get things started as he cruised to a 9-1 win over Algeria�s Mohamed Elraousti. As the day progressed, the Taiwanese kept notching up impressive wins, going 8 out of 10; Chang Jun Lin, Chu Hong Ming, Ko Ping Chung(Pin Yi�s younger brother), Hsieh Chia Chen, Li Wen Lo, Wu Kun Lin and Cheng Yu Husan all saw victory. Only Chang Yu Lung and veteran Yang Chin Shun lost.

Many people believe that a European will be standing in the winner�s circle next Thursday because the Europeans have been playing with the 9-ball on the spot on the Euro tour for years, and already understand this breaks shot�s unique complexities. One player in particular with good odds is 2014 World 9-ball Champion Niels Feijen of the Netherlands, who didn�t face a difficult task as he waltzed past Qatar�s Abdul Latif Al Fawal, 9-3. It�s rumored that the Dutchman has put in 1000�s of hours perfecting the break shot and has even unlocked a certain secret about its configuration.

Other notable Europeans notching victories today include two time World 9-ball Champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, Greece�s Nikos Ekonomopoulos, Austria�s Albin Ouscan, and 2012 World 9-ball champion Darren Appleton.

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