The Philippine Open Pool Championships scheduled at the SM Megamall in Manila on April 7 to 11, is certain to have a full field of top male and female players from all over the world.
A world-ranking event of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), the tournament has gotten an overflow list of entries from the WPA ranking system and the continental organizations, including the Billiards Congress of America (BCA), the European Pocket Billiards Federation (EPBF), the Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU), Oceania Pocket Billiards Association (OPBA).
Players entered in the qualifiers have also swelled the number of players participating in the tournament. 12 qualifiers, 10 for men and 2 for women, are on the schedule.
The player participants will be led by five current world champions, men and women, They are:
+ Dennis Orcullo, men's world 8-ball champion
+ Mika Immonen, men's world 10-ball champion
+ Francisco Bustamante, men's world 9-ball champion
+ Jasmin Ouschan, women's world 10-ball champion
+ Xiao-Fang Fu, women's world 9-ball champion
Like other open tournaments sanctioned by the WPA, the Philippine Open features both a men's and women's championship. The men's championship will showcase 32 players in the main draw. The women's division will feature 32 players.
The featured game is 10-ball under WPA rules. The Philippine Open is a double-elimination tournament, which culminates in a cross-over semifinals and finals.
The total prize fund is US$170,000: $100,000 in the men's championship, and $70,000 in the women's championship. Top prize in the men's division is $30,000. The top prize in the women's division is $20,000.
Under the system created by the WPA for world-ranking events, players earn their places in the tournament through their rankings in the WPA world-ranking system, and by being selected by their continental federations.
A number of tournament spots can also be secured through the qualifying tournament that will be staged a week before the main tournament. Over 50 players have registered for the 12 qualifiers - 10 for men and two for women.
Other ranked players in the Open are:
* Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann (Germany),
* Darren Appleton (Great Britain)
* Ricky Yang (Indonesia), defending Philippine Open champion
* Po Cheng Kuo and Jun Lin Chang (Chinese Taipei)
* Ruslan Chinakhov (Russia)
* Marcus Chamat (Sweden)
In the women's championship, Jasmin Ouschan of Austria will seek to replicate her triumph in the world championship in Manila last November. She will be joined by current world no. 1 Ga Young Kim of Korea, No. 2 Allison Fisher of Great Britain, and No.5 Kelly Fisher of Great Britain.
Representing North America are Julie Kelly and Monica Webb of the United States, and Naomi Williams and Veronique Menard of Canada.
Also competing for Europe are: Helena Benjamin of Sweden, Mirika Poikkiokki of Finland, Karen Corr of Ireland, Line Kjorsvik of Norway, and Ine Jenstchura of Germany.
Asia will be amply represented in the women's division by:
* Chi-Yu Choiu of Chinese Taipei
* Xiao-Fang Fu and Chen Siming of China
* Angeline Ticoalu of Indonesia
* Suniti Damani of India
* Yu Ram Cha of Korea
Rubilen Amit, world no.7 and former 10-ball world champion, will lead the players representing host Philippines.
Other male players from around the world include:
* Ruslan Chinakhov and Konstantin Stepanov (Russia)
* Robbi Foldvari (Australia)
* Jason Klatt and John Morra (Canada)
* Vincent Facquet (France)
* Jonni Fulcher of (Scotland)
* Marcus Chamat (Sweden)
* Ko Ping Chun (Chinese Taipei)
* Naoyuki Oi and Lo Li Wen (Japan)
* Phuc Long Nguyen (Vietnam)
* Bashar Hussain and Mohd Al Bin Ali (Qatar)
* Rafath Habib and Sundeep Gulati (India)
* Keng Kwang Chen and Desmond Goh Teck (Singapore)
* Kenny Kwok and Bobby Lee (Hong Kong)
* Ahmad taufiq and Md Alias Bin Rashid (Brunei)
* Rudi Susanto and Irsal Nasution (Indonesia)
* Chamaka Atapattu (Sri Lanka)
The Philippine Open will be broadcast by ESPN-Star Sports in al its Asian channels. Action TV41 will produce and provide the TV coverage, and broadcast the event live in the Philippines.
Like other open tournaments sanctioned by the WPA, the Philippine Open features both a men's and women's championship. The men's championship will showcase 64 players in the main draw. The women's division will feature 32 players.
The featured game is 10-ball WPA rules. The Philippine Open is a double-elimination tournament, which culminates in a cross-over semifinals and finals.
The total prize fund is US$170,000: $100,000 in the men's championship, and $70,000 in the women's championship. Top prize in the men's division is $30,000. The top prize in the women's division is $20,000.
