32 ranked players were seeded in the event, with the top 16 getting a bye. It still didn't help a few of them. The winners featured major casualties today on Day 2 of the 9th Annual Predator International 10-Ball Championship.
Current #1 USA ranked Johnny Archer was the first big upset. He played unheralded amateur James Roberts of Tampa, Florida in what seemingly should have been a routine win for Archer. So everyone thought at least. Unusually below par play from Archer gave Roberts the chances he needed to score a commanding 10-5 win.
Current World 8-Ball Champion Ralf Souquet trailed relatively unknown Spanish player Carlos Cabello most of his match. At one point, Cabello held a 6-2 lead. True to form, Souquet mounted a steady comeback to tie at 9-9. Cabello held his composure though to win 10-9 to the many cheers of his Spanish/Portugese entourage. Also Manuel Gama of Portugal defeated Filipino legend Rodolfo Luat 10-8.
The baddest beat of the day must go to reigning World 14.1 Champion Niels Feijen of Netherlands. Feijen raced to a near insurmountable 7-0 lead over unranked Dan Heidrich of USA. Feijen unbeliveably played at a career low as he made unforced error after unforced error, missing three 10-balls in the process. Heidrich took full advantage of the meltdown to win 10 of the next 11 games for a 10-8 victory. Though Feijen is still a heavy favorite to qualify, he will be sure to remember that match for quite awhile.
In the other more "normal" matches, John Schmidt won 10-8 over Canadian Tyler Edey, Alex Pagulayan PHI won 10-3 over Mike Davis USA, Charlie Williams USA won 10-8 over Santos Sambajon PHI, Shane Van Boening USA over Yannick Beaufils FRA, and defending champion Tony Drago over Japan's Goh Takami.
Play continues all day tomorrow till Saturdays final four players.
Live scoring and brackets can be followed at www.predator10ball.com
