JOURNEYMAN Leonardo “Dodong” Didal routed Chinese Zhang Schuchan, 9-5 yesterday, to become the first Filipino to advance to the round-of-32 in the inaugural WPA World Ten Ball Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

A few minutes after Didal’s morale-boosting win, another Filipino claimed his spot in the Last 32, after Demosthenes “Plong-Plong” Pulpul nipped world No. 1 female player, Jasmine Ouschan of Austria, 9-8.

Didal, who settled for runner-up honors to Francisco “Django” Bustamante in the 2006 Solar RP 9-Ball Open, will go up against former two-time Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist Yang Ching-shun of Taiwan in the next round. Yang downed Chu Hung-ming, 9-4.

Pulpul on the other hand, will battle Japanese Kazuo Furuta who shocked former WPA 9-ball winner Oliver Ortmann of Germany, 9-6.

“Malaking factor 'yung naka una tayo,” said Didal, who raced to a, 5-2 lead in the race-to-9, winner's break format.

Earlier, reigning WPA 9-ball champ Daryl Peach of Great Britain beat Filipino Arnel Bautista, 9-4.

After a 2-all deadlock in the fourth rack, the Black Pool native Peach claimed four straight racks for a 6-2 lead and was never threatened the rest of the way in this $400,000 event.

“Mabigat kalaban si Daryl (Peach), kasi world 9-ball champion iyan eh,” said Bautista whose stint is being supported by Cebuano Paul Magandan of Magi stable. “Masaya na din ako kasi naka-abot tayo sa Last 64,” added Bautista who will receive $2,000 for making it to the Last 64.

It shall be recalled that Peach bested Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez, 17-15, during the finals of 2007 WPA World 9-ball championship last year.

Other noted players who advanced to the round-of-32 are Mark Gray of Great Britain, reigning US Open 9-ball ruler Shane Van Boening and Shaun Wilkie of the United States, Ko Pin-yi and Wu Chia-ching of Taiwan and Mika Immonen of Finland.

Gray downed Corey Deuel of the United States, 9-6, Van Boening ripped Tony Drago of Malta, 9-3, Wilkie surprised Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 9-7, Ko defeated Ruslan Chinahov of Russia, 9-2, Wu trounced Stevie Mooreof the United States, 9-4, while Immonen beat Jonni Fulcher of Great Britain, 9-5.