 Shirley Holtz prays during a match |
In an ‘auld enemy' clash on Table Five at the PICC in Manila, Scotland's Pat Holtz, became the first player through to the next round of the 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship as he beat England's Kevin Uzzell 10-6 to set up a last 16 match with either defending champion Wu Chia-ching or fellow Taiwanese Wang Hung-hsiang.
Holtz was full of pride after the match as the realization that his has been the best Scottish performance ever in a World Pool Championship.
“I'm over the moon and very proud. It's very special to be able to represent Scotland in the World Pool Championship and to get out of the group stages and into the last 16 is great,” he said.
Holtz was undefeated in the opening round of matches and wins over top Filipinos Jose Parica and Santos Sambajon signaled his intentions and he followed up yesterday with a win over Japan's Tomoo Takana.
Uzzell, 40, from Wolverhampton, looked good in the early stages as he opened up a 2-1 lead with a couple of break and runs. Holtz tried to stay with him but Uzzell moved into a 5-3 lead to keep the Scotsman at bay. Holtz dug in though and won the next six racks to deal the killer blow to the Englishman.
Uzzell rallied in the 15th rack when Holtz missed a 5 ball down the rail but it was to be his last meaningful contribution to the match. The Scotsman has worn a kilt throughout the tournament which has attracted a lot of attention in and around the venue and by his own admission it has its advantages.
“I think it's putting players off when I bend over the table! Everywhere I go in it people want pictures and autographs and it's bringing me luck though so it will be staying on.”
Holtz, a former top English 8 ball player has only been playing on the big tables for a year, but credits a lot of his success to his wife Shirley (pictured right praying during Holtz's last match) who has accompanied him to Manila.
“She takes care of everything for me off the table so I can concentrate on my game. I know she's in the audience so when things go against me I look over and she really lifts me,” he said.
“I'm really excited about the next match and I hope it's Wu. I'll give a good account of myself, I'm not afraid so bring it on!"
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