Dennis Orcollo repulses Kuwaiti foe

Filipino defending champion Dennis Orcollo stamped his class on little-known Nasser Al Mujaibel of Kuwait, 7-4, Tuesday to lead the charge of the favorites at the start of the 2012 World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Orcollo, a former fisherman from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, surged ahead from a 4-4 deadlock by taking the next three racks to advance to the last 64 of the $150,000 event.

“The pockets were very tight and the table was new, so I had to make some adjustments,” said Orcollo, top player of businessman Perry Mariano’s Bugsy Promotions. “I’m still focused and I’m confident I can win this thing again.”

His compatriots Lee Vann Corteza and Joven Alba also barged into the last 64, after besting Dominic Jentsch of Germany, 7-6, and Elvis Calasang, 7-2, respectively.

Other available results: Niels Feijen (NED) d. Lee Chen-man (HKG), 7-3; Karol Skowverski (POL) d. Marcus Chamat (SWE), 7-2; Yukio Akagariyama (JPN) d. Tomasz Kaplan (POL), 7-3; Salah Al Rimawi (UAE) d. Nguyen Phuc Long (VIE), 7-5; Darren Appleton (GBR) d. Vilmos Foldes (HUN), 7-5; Imran Majid (GBR) d. Oliver Ortmann (GER), 7-4; Toru Kuribayashi (JPN) over Yousfi Chaouki (MAR), 7-4; Huidji See (NED) d. Mohammed Ali (IRN), 7-5; Hwang Yong (SK) d. Konstantin Stepanov (RUS), 7-5; Chang Jun-lin (TPE) d. Sayeem Hossaien (UAE), 7-3; Chris Melling (GBR) d. Majid Sultan (UAE), 7-1; Serge Das (BEL) d. Takhti Zarekani (IRN), 7-3; Ralf Souquet (GER) d. Radoslaw Babica (POL), 7-4; Omar Al Shaheen (KUW) d. Turki Al Ali Meshaal (QAT), 7-0.