Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Pagulayan rules World Pool Masters
FIL-CANADIAN Alex Pagulayan defeated Mika Immonen of Finland, 8-6, in the finals to win the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters Champion in front of a packed crowd at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas yesterday.
Pagulayan, the 2004 World Pool Championship champion, was 6-3 down at one stage and looked headed for severe trouble but the match turned on an illegal break by Immonen, when the Fin pocketed a ball but failed to carry two other balls past the headstring.
From there Pagulayan cleared to table to gain the momentum and his got steadier in the closing stages to take victory.
“This was like winning the World Championship for me. I’ve always wanted it but I’ve finally broken the ice,” said a jubilant Pagulayan, playing under the banner of Puyat Sports Stable.
“This is 9-Ball and I couldn’t get too upset because I didn’t get a chance. I thought if he runs the set, then he runs the set but I knew that if I got a chance I would need to focus and concentrate and do the best I can,” Pagulayan said.
Pagulayan defeated stablemate and former world No.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 8-4, in the semifinals to arrange a titular showdown with Immonen, a similar 8-4 winner over reigning WPA World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan.
Pagulayan made two balls from the opening break of the final and although Immonen got to the table, the diminutive Filipino took the rack for the early lead.
A golden break from Immonen, as the cue ball kicked the nine home, saw Immonen take the lead and he almost did the same again in the fourth, as the nine hung near the pocket. (PR)
