Filipino Dennis Orcollo is backing up his world's number 1 ranking after taking the lead in the on-going inaugural Million Dollar 9-ball shoot-out at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Dubbed as Robocop in the world of pool, the diminutive cue artist from Bislig, Surigao del Sur native tallyed 64 wins with 21 Break and Runs after four rounds of play.
"I hope to perform well in this event (Million Dollar 9-ball shoot out)," Orcollo told this writer in a recent interview before he left the country.
Orcollo, who is seeking his fourth major title this year in this Million Dollar 9-ball shoot out, also the 2008 Japan 9-Ball Open Champion, the 1st QC Open 9-Ball Winner and the first Qatar World 9-Ball Open Champion. Orcollo settled for 3rd place in the 2008 World 8-Ball Open in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Orcollo, who is fresh from a runner-up finish in the Guinness 9-ball tour Singapore leg will square off against reigning US Open 9-Ball Champion Shane "The South Dakota Kid" Van Boening of the United States in round 5 in the 12 player's field event.
Van Boening, sponsored by The BCA Pool League, climbed into a solo second place position with 54 wins and 26 Break and Runs, followed by third placer Corey "The Prince" Deuel, also from the host country with 54 wins with 25 Break and Runs.
Former World No.1 and 2002 World 9-Ball Championships runner-up Francisco "Django" Bustamante is in fourth place with 54 wins plus 20 Break and Run followed by fifth placer Johnny "The Scorpion" Archer of the United States with 53 wins with 21 Break and Runs.
Another Filipino entry Marlon "Marvelous" Manalo landed at Number 8 with 51 wins and 16 Break and Runs while reigning World 9-ball champion Daryl Peach of England is at No.10 with 49 wins with 13 Break and Runs.
Other renowned players seeing in action in the event organized by American Allen Hopkins were Number 6 Dennis "The Hatchet Man" Hatch (52 wins with 23 Break and Runs), Number 7 Tony "T-Rex" Chohan (52 wins with 13 Break and Runs), Number 9 Stevie Moore (50 wins with 10 Break and Runs), Number 11 Matt Krah (40 wins with 7 Break and Runs), and Number 12 Evan "The Running Man" Broxmeyer (28 wins with 2 Break and Runs).
At stakes is a total of $60,000 in prize money based on 12 players, with the champion getting the lions share of $20,000. the runner-up will be receiving $12,000 while the 3rd and 4th place finishers get $10,000 each. Fifth to 12th placers won't go home empty-handed with a guaranteed prize of $1,000 each.
The format calls for 12 players playing a unique format. Beginning in Session 1 (Round 1), the players will pair up and play each other 25 games. Not a race to 13, not a race to 25, they will just play 25 games, rotate break. Then, they will re-convene and be paired up based on the Session 1 scores. The top 2 scorers will play each other, 3rd will play 4th, and so on... Then, they will meet and do this again, and again. They will do this Saturday as well. By the end of play Saturday night, all players will have played 150 games each. At this point, the bottom 8 players will be eliminated and the top 4 players will return Sunday to battle it out for the title... Sunday's play will be Single Elimination races to 13.
