DEFENDING champion and two-time Asian games champion Yang Shin Chun of Taiwan bested compatriot 2005 World Pool Champion Wu Chia Ching (11-2) in the finals to retain his title in the just concluded 2006 Power-In Super Cup at the Living Mall in Taipei, Taiwan late Sunday.
The 27-year-old Kaoshiung pool wizard defeated countryman and ex-world 9-ball champion Chao Fong Pao (7-5) in the semis to arranged titular showdown with Wu, winner over former World Pool ruler Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany (7-2).
On the way to the final four, Yang edges reigning WPC winner Ronato “Volcano” Alcano of the Philippines (7-6) while another Filipino hopeful Jose “Amang” Parica lost to Wu (4-7).
Tied at 6-all, the 34-year-old Alcano from Calamba City, Laguna scratched in his break in the final rack, allowing the 27-year-old Kaoshiung pool wizard to seal the victory.
“It was a sorry game but that happens,” said Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) president Ernesto “Ernie” Fajardo the other day. “It's called breaks of the game.”
This scenario (The game between of Alcano and Yang) happened earlier before the 2006 Philippine World Pool Championships but not in a tournament play but in so called “money game” play.
Alcano, with one ball to go miss an easy shot of No.9 ball allowing Yang to escaped a 15-14 victory enroute P150,000 at stakes when the two player meet each other in one of the famous billiards hall in Metro, Manila.
Yang who pocketed the top prize worth US$20,000 in the 2005 edition for beating compatriot 2004 WPC runner-up Chang Pei-Wei (11-8) in the finals held in Core Pacific Mall in Taipei.
In the battle for third, Chao beat Souquet to complete the Taiwanese celebration in the Christmas day with 1-2-3 finish (Yang, Wu and Chao).
Both Chao (Group B with 4-2-win-loss record but with 37 racks won, three racks ahead with Alcano) and Souquet (Group A with 5-1 win-loss record) topped their respective brackets to gain a seat in the semis.
Photo courtesy of On The Hill
