HOLLAND-B, a team made up of relatively unknown 19-year-olds Roy Gerards and Gijs van Helmond, produced the biggest shocker at the start of the $60,000 World Cup of Pool, when it booted top seed Taiwan out of the competition.
The two youngsters qualified to the World Cup of Pool after winning a qualification tournament in Rotterdam three weeks ago, beating Rico Diks and Alex Lely in the final.
However, they were given little hope, against a Taiwanese team consisting of recent World Ten-Ball finalist Wu Chia-ching and Wang Hung-hsiang.
But the gutsy duo overturned the form book in an inspired display at the Outland Nightclub in Rotterdam, aided in part by some glaring errors from the Taiwanese to score a shocking, 8-5 victory to advance to the round-of-16.
They will next face the winner of the opening round match between No. 10 Japan and Australia, which is still being played as of press time.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, bannered by world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo and former World Cup titleholder Francisco “Django” Bustamante, was slated to take on Denmark 's Martin Larsen and Kasper Kristoffersen late last night.
“It's anybody's game talaga. You cannot expect na hindi maganda ang laro mo at manalo ka,” said Orcollo, whose tandem with Bustamante is supported by Senate President Manny Villar's Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
Taiwan thus joined fellow seeded pairs No. 3 Holland-A of world No.2 Niels Feijen and Nick van den Berg and last year's runner-up and No. 8 seed Finland of former world titlist Mika Immonen and Markus Juva, out of the competition.
Holland-A and Finland hit the exit door after losing to Belgium and Korea, respectively.
In other Day Two matches, fourth-seed Germany of reigning world 8-ball champion Ralf Souquet and Thomas Engert blasted Qatar, 8-3, while No. 6 United States, represented by Shane van Boening and Rodney Morris, trounced Iceland , 8-4.
Other results: No.12 Canada beat France, 8-5; No.13 Poland routed Thailand, 8-3 and No.19 Austria demolished No.14 Vietnam, 8-1.
