INQUIRER Sports

FILIPINO billiards ace Francisco “Django” Bustamante is guns to preserve his winning run as he battles American Corey “The Prince” Deuel in the forthcoming International Pool Tour (IPT) Challenge Match on January 23 in the United States.

Bustamante, one of the top players of Puyat Sports, is fresh from winning the prestigious Derby City Classic Master of the Table Bonus Champion crown at the West Executive Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

The former world No.1 earned the Table Bonus title after reaching the final of the 9-ball competition, the semifinal in the one pocket event and the quarters in the 9-ball bank game in the 10th annual Derby City Classic which has a total prize fund of $100,000.

According to an IPT news release sent to the Puyat Sports office yesterday, the live match will take place on January 23, 8 pm East Coast Time in the online IPT website. The game is 8-ball, and the first player to win fifteen games wins.

“Viewers can watch the live stream absolutely free by being a Basic Member of the ITP website,” said the press statement. “We suggest registering early so that viewers won't miss the beginning of the live broadcast. Registration is simple and takes just a minute. There are no costs to become a Basic Member. This show is just pure pool for anyone who wants to watch two famous champions represent their respective countries,” added the official IPT website.

Two years ago, the IPT was hounded by controversy after it failed to pay the prizes of the winner in the International Pool Tour (IPT) World 8-Ball tournament in Nevada which was then hailed as the richest event in pool history.

Filipino Hall of Famer Efren “Bata” Reyes topped the said event worth $500,000. Correspondent Marlon Bernardino