INQUIRER Sports

Southeast Asian Games multiple gold medallist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza of the Philippines yesterday bowed to defending champion Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland, 11-8, in the losers' brackets and wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the 34th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship held at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The Davao City native Corteza, playing under the banner of businessman/ sportsman Jonathan Sy of the rising Negros Billiards Stable, earlier defeated Kim Davenport of the United States, while Immonen, also a former World 9-ball ruler, crushed Stevie Moore, 11-5, to arrange a showdown with Corteza.

Despite the loss, Corteza didn't go home empty-handed as he pocketed a consolation prize worth $7,000 (roughly P3.4M) after settling for fourth overall in the $200,000 tournament which attracted 256 of the world’s best cue masters.

Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany, the reigning World 8-ball ruler, nipped the last American left in the event, Donnie Mills, 11-10, in the winners bracket to advance to the race-to-13 championship round.

Souquet, earlier beat Corteza, 11-7, in the winner brackets while Mills subdued countryman Rodney “Rockets” Morris, 11-9.

Immonen and Mills, will dispute the last final slot in the losers’ side with the survivor taking on the unbeaten Souquet for this year's US Open 9-ball title and the $40,000 top prize. The second placer will bring home $15,000 while the third placer will receive $10,000.

Other Filipino bets who saw action in the five-day event include ex-US Open 9-ball finalist Ronato “Volcano” Alcano who is also a former double world champion, Jose “Amang” Parica, Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo, Warren “Warrior” Kiamco, Ramil “Bebeng” Gallego, Roberto “Pinoy Superman” Gomez and Al Lapena.