DAVAO City-born Lee Vann Corteza bid his hopes goodbye as six other Filipinos cruised through the Last 32 of the 2014 World 9-Ball Championship at the Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar Wednesday.
Corteza, succumbing to a series of costly errors, bowed to unheralded hometown favorite Waleed Majid of Qatar, 6-11, in their Last 64 match.
The 26-year-old Qatari, who had never gone beyond the group stages in the past, racked up a 5-3 lead and stretched it to 10-5 as he capitalized on the crucial mistakes of the Dabawenyo pool shark.
Corteza, breaking on the 16th frame, opted for a safety on the first ball that then led to a series of safety exchanges between the two players. But Corteza stood his ground and secured the frame still trailing at 6-10.
Another series of safety exchanges on the 17th frame but the confident Majid wrapped up the match to win a ticket to the Round of 32 opposite 2012 World 9-Ball champion Darren Appleton of Great Britain, an 11-3 winner over compatriot Daryl Peach.
Majid, in a www.azbilliards.com article, said: "During the match I always just look at the table. I don't look at my opponent. But before the match if I see I'm playing a world class player, then that really helps me concentrate and play better."
He went on saying, "I felt good in practice before the World 9-Ball Championship. I want to do good because I want to help pool in Qatar. I will give everything to help Qatar because Qatar supports me."
Filipinos Warren Kiamco, Francisco Felicilda, Jeffrey de Luna and Dennis Orcollo were also booted out of the $200,000 billiards spectacle.
Kiamco of Cebu City lost to Wang Can of Canada, 9-11, while Felicilda was beaten by Zamboanga City's Elmer Haya, 4-11, and De Luna fell at the hands of Canadian Jason Klatt, 6-11. Orcollo, a native of Bislig, Surigao del Sur, was eliminated by Japanese Naoyuki Oi, 8-11.
Defending champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany was also sent home after absorbing a 9-11 loss to Marc Teutscher of The Netherlands.
Aside from Haya, Filipinos Johann Chua, Carlo Biado, Antonio Gabica and Ramil Gallego also advanced.
Chua outclassed Daniele Corrieri of Italy, 11-4, while Biado routed Meiszko Fortunski of Poland, 11-6, and Gabica beat Medhi Rasekhi of Iran, 11-7. Gallego, for his part, survived past Ralf Souquet of Germany, 11-10. (MLSA)