2007 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Championship

The 2007 World Nine-ball Championship was the 18th annual international nine-ball pool tournament for men sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). It was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines from 3–11 November 2007. It was the second consecutive time the tournament has been held in the Philippines.

2007 WPA World 9-Ball Championship
Tournament details
CountryPhilippines
CityPasay
Venue(s)International Convention Center
Dates3–11 November 2007 (2007-11-03 – 2007-11-11)
FormatDouble elimination / Single elimination
Participants128
Final positions
ChampionsEngland Daryl Peach
Runner-upPhilippines Roberto Gomez
← 2006
2010 →

The tournament is sponsored by Matchroom Sport, which has sponsored the event since 1999. 128 participants from 46 WPA member countries competed for US$400,000 in total prize money, including defending champion Ronato Alcano of the Philippines. The overall winner received a purse of $100,000, the highest-ever payout for the tournament.

Format

The Format of qualifying used on 2006 was used for 2007. Several last-minute qualifying tournaments were held in the Metro Manila area a few weeks before the tournament starts.

All matches are in winner's break: the winner of the previous rack will break on the next rack, it was reverted from alternate break used in 2006.

There are 32 seeded players prior to the group stages; they are distributed 2 per group. The defending champion, Ronnie Alcano, is seeded #1.

Also, a double-elimination tournament will be used for the group stages; instead of 32 groups of 4, there will be 16 groups of eight, with the top four advancing. Each player will be seeded 1–8 in their groups, with a routine double-elimination tournament following the first round; however the player that wins twice will advance to the quarterfinals and will not take part in other group matches, in contrast if a player loses two games, he is eliminated. The top four players in each group therefore would have won twice. After the group stages, the routine 64-man single elimination tournament follows.[citation needed]

In the initial group stages the format consists of races to 9 racks. The last 64 play races to 10 racks. This is followed by the round of 16 (quarterfinals and semifinals) where the races are to 11 racks. The race in the finals jumps to 17 racks.[1]

Notable occurrences

  • On day 1, a group match (race to 9) between Charles Williams and Ricky Yang took over 2 and half hours to complete, with both players accused of playing too slowly. Calls were made for moves to outlaw overly-slow play in future years.
  • On day 3, Jeremy Jones of the U.S. and Finland's Mika Immonen almost came to blows after Immonen eliminated Jones from contention, 9–6 at the group stages.[2]
  • There was high drama on day 4, Tuesday afternoon at the Big Dome when fire broke out in the lighting rig over Table 5 on the upper tier. Each of the outside tables has a light box with fluorescent tubes that light the table and a short circuit sent sparks flying and before long the box was ablaze. Matchroom Sport's John McDonald alerted venue staff and only his quick thinking saved the table as he and cameraman Lawrence 'Lol' Lustig covered it to stop debris and foam raining down onto the felt. Before long temporary lights were installed and play was able to commence at the designated time.
  • On the quarterfinals, Francisco Bustamante, leading Daryl Peach 10–9 in a race to 11 match, failed to play position on the 3-ball and snookered himself behind the 9-ball. A kick shot struck both the 3 and 9 balls, fluking the 9 into a corner pocket. With the player and crowd celebrating the win, a lengthy inquiry began, in which the referee and tournament officials studied frame-by-frame replays of the shot, before concluding that the 9 had been struck first, and the shot was therefore a foul. After the lengthy break in play, in which Bustamante insisted the shot had been legal, Peach held his nerve amongst a partisan Filipino crowd to run the last two racks of the match to win 11–10, en route to his World Championship victory the following day.

Players

By nation

The WPA considered the home nations of England and Scotland as separate entities for the tournament and the codes of "ENG" and "SCO" was subsequently shown in the TV broadcast instead of "GBR."[3]

Champion
Runner-up
Semifinals
Quarterfinals
Last 16
Last 32
Last 64
Group stages
  • 15 players: Philippines
  • 14 players: Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
  • 11 players: United States
  • 7 players: Germany
  • 6 players: Canada and England
  • 5 players: Japan
  • 4 players: Australia
  • 3 players: China, Holland (Netherlands), Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Singapore.
  • 2 players: Chile, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Spain and Vietnam.
  • 1 player: Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Finland, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Qatar, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and UAE

Seeded

SeedNamePrevious titles2007 finish
17 Daryl PeachnoneChampion
18 Chao Fong-pang2 (1993, 2000)Last 32
19 Fabio PetroninoneLast 64
20 Dennis OrcollononeLast 64
21 Lee Van CortezanoneLast 64
22 Rodney MorrisnoneGroup stage
23 Imran MajidnoneLast 64
24 Corey DeuelnoneLast 16
25 David AlcaidenoneLast 64
26 Christian ReimeringnoneWithdrew
27 Tony DragononeLast 32
28 Fu Che-weinoneLast 64
29 Jonni FulchernoneGroup stage
30 Luong Chi DungnoneLast 32
31 Ronnie WisemannoneGroup stage
32 Ricky YangnoneGroup stage

Unseeded players who advanced to the round of 64

Player boldfaced made it to the final.

Group stage

Group 1

PreliminariesQualifiers
Ronnie Alcano9
Saeed Ahmed Al-Mutawa3
Ronnie Alcano9
Harold Stolka1
Alex Lely8
Harald Stolka9
Xu Meng6
Charles Williams9
Charles Williams9
Ricky Yang8
Ricky Yang9
Brady Gollan4
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Alex Lely9
Saeed Ahmed Al-Mutawa3 Ricky Yang8
Alex Lely9
Brady Gollan3
Xu Meng3 Harold Stolka9
Brady Gollan9

Group 2

PreliminariesQualifiers
Ralf Souquet5
Leonardo Andam9
Leonardo Andam9
Raj Hundal8
Bernard Tey Choon Kiat4
Raj Hundal9
Mike Davis5
James Delahunty9
James Delahunty9
Ronnie Wiseman8
Ronnie Wiseman9
Tepwin Arunnath7
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Ralf Souquet9
Ralf Souquet9 Ronnie Wiseman3
Bernard Tey Choon Kiat6
Mike Davis5
Mike Davis9 Raj Hundal9
Tepwin Arunnath5

Group 3

PreliminariesQualifiers
Wu Chia-ching9
Carlos Castro4
Wu Chia-ching7
Vilmos Foldes9
Radosław Babica8
Vilmos Foldes9
Chu Hung-ming9
Craig Osborne8
Chu Hung-ming6
Luong Chi-dung9
Luong Chi-dung9
Kusano Hisashi8
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Radosław Babica9
Carlos Castro7 Chu Hung-ming8
Radosław Babica9
Craig Osborne4
Craig Osborne9 Wu Chia-ching9
Kusano Hisashi8

Group 4

PreliminariesQualifiers
Yang Ching-shun5
Lu Hui-chan4
Lu Hui-chan9
Antonio Gabica3
Bruno Muratore1
Antonio Gabica9
Ibrahim Bin Amir8
Joven Bustamante9
Joven Bustamante9
Jonni Fulcher7
Jonni Fulcher9
Enrique Rojas3
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Yang Ching-shun9
Yang Ching-shun9 Jonni Fulcher0
Bruno Muratore6
Ibrahim Bin Amir6
Ibrahim Bin Amir9 Antonio Gabica9
Enrique Rojas9

Group 5

PreliminariesQualifiers
Thorsten Hohmann3
Ko Pin-yi9
Ko Pin-yi9
Serge Das3
Edwin Montal3
Serge Das9
Jeff De Luna9
Sandor Tot5
Jeff De Luna9
Fu Che-wei1
Fu Che-wei9
Vittorio De Falco8
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Edwin Montal1
Thorsten Hohmann9 Fu Che-wei9
Edwin Montal6
Sandor Tot4
Sandor Tot9 Serge Das9
Vittorio De Falco7

Group 6

PreliminariesQualifiers
Efren Reyes2
Kenichi Uchigaki9
Kenichi Uchigaki9
Alain Martel3
Liu Cheng-chuan3
Alain Martel9
Tony Robles0
Tomasz Kapłan9
Tomasz Kapłan4
Tony Drago9
Tony Drago9
Ceri Worts7
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Efren Reyes9
Efren Reyes9 Tomasz Kapłan4
Liu Cheng-chuan6
Ceri Worts6
Tony Robles7 Alain Martel9
Ceri Worts9

Group 7

PreliminariesQualifiers
Chang Jung-ling9
Alwi6
Chang Jung-ling1
Ramil Gallego9
Chan Keng Kwang4
Ramil Gallego9
Nick van den Berg9
John Morra7
Nick van den Berg9
Dang Jinhu3
Dang Jinhu9
Kazuo Furuta3
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Chan Keng Kwang9
Alwi5 Dang Jinhu4
Chan Keng Kwang9
Kazuo Furuta6
John Morra2 Chang Jung-ling9
Kazuo Furuta9

Group 8

PreliminariesQualifiers
Alex Pagulayan9
Hamza Mohammed Saeed Ali0
Alex Pagulayan9
Martin Kempter6
Martin Kempter9
Robb Saez1
Muhammad Zulfikri9
Philipp Stojanovic5
Muhammad Zulfikri9
David Alcaide1
David Alcaide9
Stephen Capaldi0
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Robb Saez9
Hamza Mohammed Saeed Ali4 David Alcaide4
Robb Saez9
Philipp Stojanovic6
Philipp Stojanovic9 Martin Kempter9
Stephen Capaldi3

Group 9

PreliminariesQualifiers
Francisco Bustamante9
Zbynek Vaic4
Francisco Bustamante9
Jeong Young-hwa0
Jeong Young-hwa9
Antonio Lining8
Oliver Ortmann9
Pham Tuan Ngoc1
Oliver Ortmann9
Corey Deuel6
Corey Deuel9
John Wims3
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Antonio Lining7
Zbynek Vaic4 Corey Deuel9
Antonio Lining9
Pham Tuan Ngoc9
Pham Tuan Ngoc9 Jeong Young-hwa7
John Wims3

Group 10

PreliminariesQualifiers
Thomas Engert9
Al-Muhtadee Billah2
Thomas Engert9
Roman Hybler2
Roman Hybler9
Lee Chenman7
Kuo Po-cheng9
David Alcoberro3
Kuo Po-cheng4
Louis Condo9
Imran Majid5
Louis Condo9
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Lee Chenman3
Al-Muhtadee Billah4 Kuo Po-cheng9
Lee Chenman9
Imran Majid9
David Alcoberro9 Roman Hybler8
Imran Majid3

Group 11

PreliminariesQualifiers
Konstantin Stepanov9
Alejandro Carvajal4
Konstantin Stepanov9
Rye Seung-woo2
Rye Seung-woo9
Bahram Lotfy4
Kuo Marco Tschudi9
Kevin Uzzell4
Marco Tschudi9
Rodney Morris5
Rodney Morris9
David Reljic0
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Bahram Lotfy9
Alejandro Carvajal8 Rodney Morris4
Bahram Lotfy9
David Reljic6
Kevin Uzzell8 Rye Seung-woo9
David Reljic9

Group 12

PreliminariesQualifiers
Mika Immonen9
Fahad Mohammadi3
Mika Immonen9
Jeremy Jones6
Tyler Edey8
Jeremy Jones9
Chang Pei-wei6
Karl Boyes9
Karl Boyes9
Goran Mladenovic4
Lee Van Corteza7
Goran Mladenovic9
1st playoff round2nd playoff round
Tyler Edey7
Fahad Mohammadi0 Goran Mladenovic9
Tyler Edey9
Lee Van Corteza9
Chang Pei-wei4 Jeremy Jones4
Lee van Corteza9

Knockout stages

Section 1

Last 64
Race to 10
Nov 7
Last 32
Race to 10
Nov 8
Last 16
Race to 11
Nov 9
Quarterfinals
Race to 11
Nov 10
            
1 Alcano6
17 Peach10
17 Peach10
Lee7
Lee10
Hundal6
17 Peach11
Stolka5
Erculj3
Stolka10
Stolka10
Wu Y-L2
Andam5
Wu Y-L10
17 Peach11
9  F Bustamante10
9  F Bustamante10
25 Alcaide1
9  F Bustamante10
van den Berg8
van den Berg10
23 Majid4
9  F Bustamante11
8 Pagulayan2
8 Pagulayan10
Pham6
8 Pagulayan10
Condo2
Condo10
Kwang2

Section 2

Last 64
Race to 10
Nov 7
Last 32
Race to 10
Nov 8
Last 16
Race to 11
Nov 9
Quarterfinals
Race to 11
Nov 10
            
Ko8
Mladenovic10
Mladenovic2
Martel10
Tschudi4
Martel10
Martel8
12 Immonen11
12 Immonen10
28 Fu5
12 Immonen10
27 Drago6
27 Drago10
Lofty7
12 Immonen7
Földes11
13 Van Boening10
Gabica7
13 Van Boening8
Földes10
Földes10
Dabovic2
Földes11
Lu5
Lu10
Chamat6
Lu10
Babica3
Manalo1
Babica10

Section 3

Last 64
Race to 10
Nov 7
Last 32
Race to 10
Nov 8
Last 16
Race to 11
Nov 9
Quarterfinals
Race to 11
Nov 10
            
30 Luong10
Strickland8
30 Luong3
Kawabata10
Kawabata10
4 Yang3
Kawabata9
 J Bustamante11
19 Petroni9
3 Wu C-C10
3 Wu C-C8
 J Bustamante10
 J Bustamante10
Orcollo6
 J Bustamante8
Boyes11
11 Stepanov10
6 Reyes5
11 Stepanov10
de Luna4
de Luna10
21 Corteza7
11 Stepanov4
Boyes11
Uchigaki7
Rye10
Rye8
Boyes10
Boyes10
Tot6

Section 4

Last 64
Race to 10
Nov 7
Last 32
Race to 10
Nov 8
Last 16
Race to 11
Nov 9
Quarterfinals
Race to 11
Nov 10
            
Gallego5
Kuo10
Kuo10
Ortmann7
Ortmann10
Stojanovic7
Kuo11
24 Deuel7
10 Engert7
7 Chang10
7 Chang9
24 Deuel10
Zulfikri4
24 Deuel10
Kuo4
  Gomez11
Oi8
2 Souquet10
2 Souquet2
16 Feijen10
Williams7
16 Feijen10
16 Feijen0
Gomez11
Delahunty0
18 Chao10
18 Chao2
Gomez10
Gomez10
Lely1

Semifinals and final

Semi-finals
Race to 11
Nov 10
Final
Race to 17
Nov 11
      
 17  Peach11
  Földes2
 17  Peach17
  Gomez15
  Boyes4
  Gomez11

Country representation

CountryLast 64Last 32Last 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
 England422221
 Philippines1354311
 Hungary11111-
 Chinese Taipei10721--
 Finland1111--
 Germany431---
 United States421---
 Netherlands321---
 Japan311---
 Canada111---
 Russia111---
 Serbia31----
 Australia21----
 Vietnam21----
 Malta11----
 Poland11----
 South Korea11----
Other countries9-----

Final

November 11Daryl Peach 17–15 Roberto GomezAraneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referee: Michaela Tabb

References