TWO more Taiwanese billiards masters have made it to the main draw of the WPA World Ten-Ball Championship (WTBC) scheduled on Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Lai Chia-hsiung and Fu Che-wei are the latest additions to the powerhouse Taiwanese contingent after winning the two ten-ball qualifiers staged by Raya Sports at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, on Thursday.
Lai powered his way to the main draw after beating Japanese Kazuo Furuta, 9-3, in the final round to rule Qualifier 5 of the Stage One. Lai also bested Chang Yau Mau, 7-3, Wang Yong –bak, 7-1, Victor Arpilleda, 7-3, and Reyner Espejo, 7-0.
Fu, on the other hand, crushed countryman Lu Hui-chan, 9-5, to dominate Qualifier 6, becoming the fifth Taiwanese to enter the main draw. Fu also downed Yoedi Kristianto, 7-6, Franklin Tolentino, 7-1, Mellari Baguio, 7-1, and Val Pajuay, 7-6.
The other Taiwanese players who advanced to the 128-man main draw are Pei Wei-chang (Q1), Chang Yu-lung (Q2), and Wang Kuo-pin (Q4).
After three days of action, Arnel Bautista, of Magi Stable, remains the only Filipino to qualify after winning Qualifier 3 on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Barobo, Surigao del Sur native defeated Chu Hu-ming of Chinese-Taipei, 9-3, in the final.
He will join seeded compatriots Antonio Gabica, Marlon Manalo, Jeffrey de Luna, Elvis Calasang and Elmer Kalaquian.
Meanwhile, two other Filipinos were given wildcard spots last week -- RP's brightest hope Jericho Banares and Middle East-based worker Mario Tolentino.
Banares, an 18-year-old phenom, won the Philippine National Junior Championship last March. In two legs of the Philippine Pool Tour (PPT), he made it to the semifinals in the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup and finished second to Taiwanese Wu Chia-ching in the Puerto Princesa Cup. Tolentino, on the other hand made it to the semifinals in the Mandaluyong Cup and rocked the Puerto Princesa Cup by beating defending Guinness 9-ball Grand Finale Champion Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei.
