Two reigning world champions, two winners in qualifying events, and the European number one women's player are the first to secure guaranteed spots in the inaugural WPA World Ten Ball Championship scheduled on September 29 to October 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
The five players are Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, Ralf Souquet of Germany, Daryl Peach of England, Chia-Ching Wu of Chinese Taipei, and Antonio Gabica of the Philippines.
Ouschan secured her spot by virtue of her ranking as the top women's player in Europe and a direct invitation from the WPA. She is widely regarded as the top women's straight pool player in the world. She placed fifth in the 2006 World Straight Pool Championship featuring both men and women players.
Playing in the inaugural WTBC fulfills a major personal goal. She says: "My goal is to be one of the best players in the world and also to try to challenge the best male players in the world."
She will have much to challenge in the male players who have already secured spots in the WTBC.
Souquet earned his spot as the reigning WPA World 8-Ball Champion, which he won in Fujairah, UAE, last April. He has been a consistent top-five player in the world for the past five years.
Peach got his spot as the reigning WPA World 9-Ball Champion. He won the 2007 title in Manila last November.
Wu and Gabica are the first two winners of the WTBC qualifying events held under the Philippine Pool Tour.
Wu, a double world champion for 8-ball and 9-ball in 2005, won the Puerto Princesa Mayor's Cup of the PPT last June 17-22 in Puerto Princesa City.
Gabica, the reigning Philippine Open champion and Asian Games gold medalist, won the Mandaluyong Mayor's Cup of the PPT last May 6-11 in Mandaluyong City.
Meanwhile, the qualifying of players for the WTBC under the WPA allocation system is currently ongoing. The majority of spots go to the continental associations. The rest are allocated for qualifying events and wild cards.
Distribution of spots is as follows:
APBU - Asia 30
BCA - North America 14
EPBF - Europe 40
OPBA - Oceania 4
South America 4
AAPA - Africa 2
Spots for Women Players 7
WPA World Champions 3
Spots for Qualifying Events 14
Spots for Tour Events 4
Wild Cards 6
Total 128
Players interested in joining the WTBC are enjoined to contact their continental and national associations for information about how they can secure spots in the championship.
