Reigning World Cup champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will launch the Asian challenge' campaign in billiards when the much awaited Asia versus Europe Men's 9-Ball Team Challenge gets underway on January 15 to 17 at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Brunei.
Reyes and Bustamante, both playing under the banner of sportsman/ businessman Aristeo “Putch” Puyat will be joined by host's Chee Soon Teo and Taiwanese Pin Yi Ko and Hui Chan Lu representing Team Asia in the event organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association, supported by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports and sponsored by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd, sanctioned by Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).
The European team players will comprise of double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) Ralf Souquet of Germany, 2008 World Ten Ball titlist Darren Appleton of Great Britain, Ruslan Chinakhov of Russia, Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands.
“I hope to do well in this prestigious event, “said The Angeles City, Pampanga pride Reyes, acknowledge one of greatest pool player of all time, who teaming up with Bustamante, who won the last year's World Cup of Pool in Manila.
The dynamic duo beat the pair of Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, in the final last year to regain the World Cup they won during the inaugural staging in 2006 at the Newport, South Wales in England.
A total of US$45,000 prize money will be up for grabs with the team champion getting US$27,000, team runner-up (US$13,000), single match winner US$5,000 and US$500 per match x 10 matches.
Soon, who partnered with Brunei Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah for the men's nine-ball doubles event at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos last month, is currently ranked No. 2 in his country while the 2008 WPA Reno World Junior 9-ball champion Ko, nicknamed the Prince of Pool is currently ranked No. 1 in Asian Pocket Billiards Union ranking while compatriot Lu nicknamed "Whirlwind Kid" is currently ranked No. 15 in the world.
Souquet, on the other hand nicknamed The Kaiser and The Surgeon is currently ranked No 2 in world ranking while Feijen nicknamed The Terminator is currently ranked No 7.
van den Berg nicknamed El Nino is currently ranked No 40 and Appleton is currently ranked No 3 and Chinahov is currently ranked No 19 in the world.
