Dave Grau AND CARLOS CABELLO, relative unknowns outside their respective areas of the American North East and Spain, became the latest two qualifiers to make it through to Las Vegas and the starting line up of the 2010 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters.
Grau, the 33 year-old from Rochester, New York beat Louis Fazekas 13-11 to bag his Vegas spot but it was almost not to be. Taking place at Silver Tip Billiards, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Grau looked to be cruising before he hit a snag.
‘I lead the whole way to find myself 10-6 ahead but then found myself down 11-10. I made a great out to tie it up but he scratched unexpectedly when trying to reach the hill and it was all me from there,' said a delighted Grau.
He had earlier beaten Canadian notables Jason Klatt, Chris Orme and Eric Hjorleifson en route to the grand prize and is looking forward to mixing it in the top bracket in Las Vegas.
Grau, who mainly competes on the Joss Tour in the North East, describes himself as that tour's No.2 behind Dennis Hatch.
The week before at the I-Hotel in Madrid it was the turn of Carlos Cabello who came through a strong all-Spanish field before beating David Alcoberro 13-11 in an exciting finale.
Unable to play through to a true double-elimination format, due to the constraints of time, the event organisers gave hot seat incumbent Alcoberro a two rack start.
Cabello, who had lost 11-6 to David Alvarez on the left hand side of the draw, battled through the losers' bracket with three wins, including 9-3 revenge over Alvarez.
After catching up the two rack start, the two players then went rack for rack before the score stood at 11-all in the alternate break match. Cabello then took the next two to claim the Masters spot where he will join David Alcaide, one of the invited players.
Working with an array of respected partners around the world, the qualifying events take in France, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Canada, USA, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. This will give every pool player in the world the opportunity to win a trip to Las Vegas and mix it with the world's elite in the Masters.
Each qualifying event will carry an entry fee and have, in most cases a maximum field of 32 players. The winner of each event wins a trip to Vegas, to include flight and accommodation, to compete in the Masters and there are cash prizes for high finishers depending on entries.
After 17 years as a 16-player invitational competition, the Masters, one of the longest established tournaments in pool, has moved to 64 players and will run from Wednesday, May 12 to Sunday, May 16, will take place at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Working in conjunction with Cuesports International, the Masters takes place during the annual BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships, which sees thousands of players and fans flock to the Riviera for a lengthy festival of pool.
The first two days of the main event in May feature double elimination play on a multi-table set-up as the field reduces from 64 down to 32.
The event then goes to single elimination and the last 16 is played out in a single table arena setting in front of the TV cameras, culminating in the final on the evening of Sunday, May 16.
Television is produced by Matchroom Sport and will be seen as 15 x one hour programmes in 14 countries around the world with more to be added to the list.
The prize fund is set at a guaranteed $100,000 with $20,000 going to the eventual champion.
