Thailand, Canada advance to Round of 16 in World Cup of Pool

Nitiwat Kanjanasri. AFP FILE PHOTO/Bay ISMOYO

MANILA, Philippines—Thailand’s Nitiwat Kanjanasri and Kobkit Palajin defeated their Malaysian counterparts Patrick Ooi Fook Yuen and Ibrahim Bin Amir, 8-4, Tuesday in the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool 2012 at the Midtown Activity Center of the Robinson’s Mall Ermita in Manila.

Thailand, last year’s finalist, trailed 3-4 before taking the next five racks to finish off Malaysia and move to the Round of 16.

Thailand converted on an 8-9 combination that made it 4-4 before capitalizing on good breaks including a break and run-out in the 11th and 12th racks.

Meanwhile, Canada outlasted Sweden, 8-7, to also nab a Round of 16 slot.

Canada’s tandem of Alex Pagulayan and John Morra stared at a 0-3 rack deficit before taking seven of the last eight for a 7-4 cushion.

Sweden, represented by Marcus Chamat and Andreas Gerwen, fought back and with a little stroke of luck after a golden break in rack 13, made it a hill-hill battle.

Both team’s had trouble on the seven ball in the last rack before a well-placed safety shot by Pagulayan followed by Chamat’s poor safety gave the advantage to Canada for good.