John Morra and Jason Klatt
POLAND, who have had some success in previous years at the PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool, recorded the second 8-0 whitewash of the event as they flattened Vietnam at the SM City North Mall in Quezon City, Philippines.
Radoslaw Babica, an ever-present in the Polish World Cup side since the event's inception in 2006, was this time joined by Karol Skowerski and they set about the hapless Vietnamese with abandon.
"We've known each other for more than ten years, play in the same club and have played together in the Polish National Championships and the Polish League," said Skowerski.
The knowledge of each other's games was paramount and the match was a bit of a procession as the confidence drained from the Vietnamese.
"Two weeks ago we won the Polish Scotch Doubles Championships and it was an easy win so that's why we're so confident,” said Babica.
"We started very well and that's why the match went our way. We started with two run outs, he missed and then it was 4-0. That made them more nervous and we had less pressure.
"But it was just one match and if we play like that and our opponents play like that then we will win the next match. Every match is different and we'll just concentrate on our next opponent and try to play our best," he added.
The PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool takes place at the Block Atrium at the SM Mall North in Quezon City, Manila. It features 32 two-player teams representing 31 nations – hosts Philippines have two sides. The total prize-fund is $250,000 with $60,000 going to the winning pair.
In the second match of the session, Malta made it six first round exits out of six as they went down to Canadian pair John Morra and Jason Klatt by 8-4. The Maltese pair made too many errors to stay in contention, and Canada can now look forward to meeting Orcollo and Alcano in the next round.
The 2011 World Cup of Pool is sponsored by PartyPoker.net, the world's leading online poker school. Cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc, tables by Star Xing Pai and the Official Cue is Predator.
Results to date – Round One
Chinese Taipei 8 – 4 Russia
Italy 8 – 6 Hong Kong
Singapore 8 – 7 USA
Philippines A 8 – 2 Austria
Estonia 8 – 6 England
Thailand 8 – 4 Holland
Germany 8 – 0 Australia
Malaysia 8 – 6 France
India 8 – 7 Finland
Philippines B 8 – 4 Kuwait
Korea 8 – 5 Spain
Japan 8 – 3 Croatia
Switzerland 8 – 5 China
Sweden 8 – 7 Indonesia
