Play Heats Up at the Predator 10 Ball Championships as Players Push to Make it to the Final 32

Read the detailed breakdown written earlier Friday evening. 

Currently here at the Predator International 10-Ball Championships in Las Vegas, Roberto Gomez is on a tear, dominating his opponents by a combined total score of 30-3. The tournament is set to re-draw the final 32 as the double elimination format becomes a single elimination race to 11 games. 

The top 16 undefeated players will be seeded 1-16, and the seeded players who are in the “One Loss Side” will be seeded 17-32. 

The seeding matches up the #1 player with the #32 player, #2 with 31 etc. 

Click Here to view photos from some of yesterday’s highlight matches.

Sponsors for this event include Ozone Billiards, which is also joined by www.Jbetpoker.net, Simonis Cloth, Diamond Tables, Aramith Balls, Laser Rack, Uni-Loc, and the event host BCA Pool Leagues in this Dragon Promotions production.

Tony Robles was impressive in regaining control and momentum of the match between Top Filipino player Dennis Orcullo. “The Silent Assasin” played near perfect to win 9 consecutive games while making a statement through his play.  

“Little Lightning” Yu-Ram Cha is playing with fire and determination as she is looking to follow up her BCAPL Women’s Grand Master win with showing the men that she has the heart and power to play at the highest level. Yu Ram defeated France’s Reda Belhaj 10-2, then followed up a solid win defeating one of the biggest names in pool… “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee. This was a huge win for Yu Ram, because she had yet to beat Jeanette in a major tournament and Yu-Ram has much respect for Jeanette’s game. 

With this win, Yu Ram is fighting in the final 48 and has her sight set for her first goal in this tournament… making the final 32 players. Yu Ram is playing Shane as i write this… we will be reporting on the breakdown shortly. Along with Yu-Ram Cha, the one of the other remaining women player is Austrian superstar Jasmin Ouschan. Jasmin stood tough to defeat Seattle-based veteran professional Dan Louie 10-6. She is lined up to play Carlos Cabello form Spain who has been impressive this event including a huge win over Ralph Souquet. 

“The Dutchess of Doom” Allison Fisher is lined up to play Dan Heidrich from NY for a chance to make it to the final 32. Heidrich is a strong up and coming player who was able to escape a 7-0 deficit vs Niels Feijen earlier in the event.  

Current #1-ranked woman in the world, Kelly Fisher is matched up with Filipino superstar Ramil Gallego of the Philippines. If she is able to defeat him, she will be lined up with Dragon Promotions Founder and top pro Charlie Williams. 

If a women’s pro makes it through, it will mark the first time in the 9 year history of the event a woman would have finished in the prize money and in the top quarter of the field.

JBETpoker.net is offering bonus money to the top woman’s finisher of $1000 and $500 for the second highest in addition to the regular prize money.

Read the story for the Breakdown of Wednesday’s action leading up to today from NYCgrind.com contributing writer Geoff Conway.

PREDATOR INTERNATIONAL 10 BALL

Wednesday was moving day for many of the players competing in this highly competitive event. By moving, of course I mean moving out of their hotel rooms, and exiting the tournament. Yes it was the end of the road for exactly forty players, and unfortunately there can only be one winner from each pairing and someone has to go home.

For many of the players, it is like a pilgrimage each year. They come from all over the world just to see how far they can make it in the tournament. In a way it is sad that they know that they probably do not have the honed game of the professional player, yet they are hoping to find that “A plus” game in one of the rounds and achieve that miracle win over one of the big names in pool.

It is these dream chasers that we must all be thankful for, as it always makes for a much more interesting event, and adds a certain trepidation to any event, especially as we all like to root for the underdog in any situation.

In a different vain we are all watching the progress of the ladies in this event. With that in mind I am pleased to report that four of the ladies won their matches today.

Allison Fisher came out the victor against Badi Nazhat (Aruba) with a score of 10-1. Allison, who came 25th in this event last year, is on track to equal or better that place this year.

Next we had Vivian Villarreal winning her match in the early hours of the morning, when her 11:30 pm match ran overtime, and finally ended with her match against Tommy Tokoph tied hill, and they both looked like they had a bad case of nerves in the final rack, when they both missed on several occasions. However, a few deep breaths by Vivian saw her come out the winner at 10-9, and keeping her in the tournament, but unfortunately it was suitcase time for Mr. Tokoph.

Yu Ram Cha (Korea) kept up her winning ways in getting past Reda Belhaj (France) with a score line of 10-2.

We also saw Jeanette Lee take down Dave Hemmah in a close match coming from behind, which finished 10-9.

We also have what most would consider the best chance a lady to do well in this event and that is Kelly Fisher (UK) who will be playing on Thursday, and we wish her well in her quest to forge ahead in I believe her first time in this tournament. 

Other stand out performances in yesterday’s matches were Tony Robles against Dennis Orcollo, who was down early in the match 6-1 to Dennis, but called upon all of his great pool skills (Wait for it) to win the next consecutive 9 games to dump Dennis into the losers bracket 10-6. 

I would add that it was not that Dennis was off his game, but that Tony was playing absolutely perfect pool, that was accompanied by many great safety shots. Expect Tony to keep winning on the winners side of the bracket.

We also saw the young gun from England, Stephen Folan destroy Shane Van Boening 10-4. This kid can really shoot, and in his previous round put Raj Hundal into the loser’s bracket. Look for this young gun to do well in this event.

Rudolfo Luat (Philippines) absolutely dominated Stephen Cohen (France) sending him packing 10-0. Keep your eyes on Mr. Luat do do well here this week.

Ronnie Wiseman got quite a surprise when he ran into the late replacement for Dennis Hatch, who no showed at the last minute. Andy Worthington replaced Dennis in the tournament, and Ronnie was pleased to see that he didn’t have to play Dennis Hatch. The underdog replacement is a good friend of Daryl Peach who accompanied him on this trip from Manchester England. Andy is known as “Taxi Boy” on the UK pool circuit due to the fact that he owns a Limo Company. The wire is that while Andy doesn’t play as much as he used to he remains a top player in the UK. 

Andy had to miss his first round match due to his being in one of the final matches in the BCA Masters event, and subsequently had to forfiet his first match on the winners side. 

Now he faced of against Ronnie in the first session of the day at 10 PM. Mr. Worthington got of to a quick start and had Ronnie trailing 4-2, but Ronnie known for his heart, especially in money matches soon pulled it back to trail by one game at 5-4. Andy kept up the pressure on Mr Wiseman with stellar play, and although Ronnie got within striking distance 8-7, he was eventually shut out by the unknown Mr Worthington 10-7. I am sure Mr Wiseman who was not in the best of spirits when he left the arena, will always remember being taken for a ride by “Taxi Boy”.

Mark Vidal from New York stopped Andy “Taxi Boy” Worthington from progressing any further in this event 10-2, Mark really came with some great shots late in this 6 PM match. Mark capped off a dominant set by showing an impressive gear towards the end of the set.

Raj Hundal (India) bounced back from his loss yesterday to Stephen Folan (UK), and beat Mike Yednak 10-4.

Daryl Peach stormed back after his loss to Imran Majid (UK) on Tuesdau, when he took down Matt Krah in a lop sided match with the score of 10-4. 

Mike Massey must have thought that he was at one of his Trick Shot events, when he found himself matched up against fellow trick shot exponent Steve Lillis. Mike came out the eventual winner at 10-8, sending Mr Lillis and his bag of tricks back to New Jersey.

Stevie Moore just keeps on going on the winner’s side with a win over Carlos Cabello (Spain) 10-6. Stevie has been playing strong lately, he is a player to keep your eye on. 

Imran Majid (UK) was pushing his luck when he tossed the promoter of this fine event into the losers side with the score of 10-8. Expect Imran to go far in this event judging by his fine play to date.

Corey Deuel is playing his usual great pool and is always there at the end of these big clutch events, taking down Thorsten Hohmann (GER) 10-8.

Sylver Ochoa got drilled by the in form Mika Immonen (Finland) in this one sided match which ended up 10-2 to Mika. I look for Mika to be there right at the end of this event, going by his precision game that stood him well in the preceeding World Pool Masters event last weekend.

Darren Appleton (UK) continues his great play when he beat Rodney Morris (USA) 10-7, I look for Darren to be there at the end of this event.

Ernesto Dominguez (Mexico) lost to Jeremy Sossei (USA) in a close match, which saw them go to the hill with Jeremy coming out the victor 10-9. Jeremy also won his 8:30 pm match against Max Eberle (USA) 10-5. Jeremy has been looking to take down a big event soon, so lets wish him well in the rest of this event.

In his 10 pm match, Matt Tetreault (USA) a regular on the Joss Northeast Tour, is still progressing through the tournament with a win over Angel Paglia (USA) in a close match which Matt won 10-8. Matt also won his 10:30 pm match against Alexjandro Carvajal (Chile)  10-7. (Well done Matt)

George Breedlove (USA) lost to Rafael Martinez (Mexico) by a landslide at 10-3. George, who mentioned to not having played in a big tournament for a long while. 

In his 10:30 PM match Niels Feijen (NED) bounced back from his lose against Dan Heidrich (USA) and took down Michael Hutcheson (USA) 10-7.

Another great player who regularly plays in the NY area, Shaun Wilkie, (USA) exited the event today losing to Ramil Gallego (Phi) 10-8.

Gareth Espirit (Dominian Republic) won his winner’s side match today against Randy Whitehead (USA) with a convincing score of 10-2. Gareth who live in England is one of a big contingent of UK players that cheer each other on. It is refreshing to see them  giving each other support and firing each other up. 

Nick Van Den Berg (NED) is still playing well, and took down Jeremy Jones (USA) 10-8. Nick, who came second to Darren Appleton on the World Pool Masters event last weekend, is I think one of the favorites to finish high in this event.

THURSDAY UPDATE (Part 1)

Yu Ram Cha (KOR) beat Jeanette Lee (USA) 10-9, in a long drawn out match that took over three hours to finish. 

Allison Fisher (ENG) beat Amalia Mates (ESP) 10-4, another fine display of the champions pool skills.

Johnny Archer (USA) disposed of Sal Butera (USA) 10-7. Sal is the son of “Machine Gun” Lou Butera, who only recently hung up his stick at the age of 72. Sal did well in the BCA Grand Masters event last weekend, finishing third. 

Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) continues her absolute stellar play to knock out Dan Louie (USA) with a score of 10-6.

Kim Davenport continues to amaze us with that beautiful stroke of his, when he won another match taking out Mark Vidal (ESP) in a nail biter, 10-9.

Big Mike Massey (USA) ended his run in this event when he came up against David Alcaide (ESP) 10-4. So its back to the trick shot world for Mike.

Oscar Dominguez (USA) made his dad proud today when he beat the Canadian Eric Hjorliefson (CAN) by a big margin 10-4. Oscar plays Sylver Ochoa (USA) tonight at 11 pm.

Jeremy Sossei (USA) beat John Morra (CAN) in his 3 pm match, in a convincing display of patience and consistant play 10-5. Jeremy plays at 11 pm later tonite against Dennis Orcollo (PHI). Lets see how Dennis bounces back after the bad beating he took at the hands of Tony Robles on Wednesday.

Daryl Peach (ENG) displayed some great pool to destroy Santos Sambajon (PHI) 10-6 in his 3 pm match today. Daryl plays again tonite at 8:30 pm against Mike Davis (USA).

Hall of Famer Allen Hopkins (USA) exited the tournament today, when he came close with a 10-9 hill hill match against Hiroshi Takenaka (JPN). Allen, who doesn’t play that much competively any more did great to get this far into the event.

La Frenchman Vincent Facquet  got the better of Al Lapena (PHI) 10-6.

Raj Hundal (IND) was 4-3 down against Ralf Souquet (GER) on the TV when I left at 5 pm. 

Interesting matches tonite include Yu Ram Cha (KOR) against Shane Van Boening (USA) in their 8:30 pm match up. Shane must be the favorite here.

Allison Fisher plays Dan Heidrich at 8:30 pm tonite. I give Allison the edge in this match.

A great match at 6 pm tonite is the top of the bill match up of Rudalfo Luat (PHI) against Niels Feijen (NED), this will be a humdinger.

I cannot wait to write up tonights action later tonite and post it for you sometime late tonight.

The event is really heating up and a lot of good players will be going home early  after todays play.

Geoff Conway  “Pool Junkie”

For more info on The Predator International 10-Ball Championships goto www.predator10ball.com

Predator Group, an international billiards industry leader, is focused on bringing constant innovation and game-improving equipment to billiards players worldwide. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Predator Group’s core brands include Predator Cues – high-end (professional level) cues with revolutionary technology to enhance performance, Poison Billiards – recreational cues with cutting-edge designs and Predator engineering for best-in-class playability, and Uni-Loc® – precision billiards equipment manufacturer. For more information regarding Predator Group’s products, visit www.predatorgroup.com. 

Dragon Promotions is one of the leading producers of billiard programming in the world today. Dragon produces over 40 events a year airing on networks in the Philippines, USA, Korea, India, and Europe such as ABS-CBN, ESPN, MBC ESPN, XTM, XPORTS, and Euro Sport. Events include The Women’s World 10-Ball Championship, The World 14.1 Championship, The Predator International 10-Ball Championship, King & Queen of Carom, Empress Cup, Pro Pool Schools, Women’s Trickshot Challenge, World Junior 10-Ball Championships, Korea vs USA, and many more.  Dragon also manages some of the world’s best players including Mika Immonen, Shanelle Loraine, Mike Davis, Yu Ram Cha,  Raj Hundal, , Rodney Morris,  Charlie Williams, and many more.  

Visit www.dragonpromotions.com  or www.dragonpromotions.co.kr 

Players or fans wanting info please email world10ballchampionships@gmail.com or call 1-407-782-4978 www.dragonpromotions.com

 

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