12-17 February 2012
Share
Championship Reports
<<< back
Result Sheet >>>
You really have to beat me
Through to the final 64 of the World 8Ball Championship,
England's Darren Appleton knows he's going to be tough to beat
Credit: Ted Lerner
With a long day one
in the books here at the 2012 World 8-ball Championship in Fujairah, UAE,
certain trends are already becoming crystal clear.
The break shot is
going to play a massive factor throughout the week in determining who
stays and who takes a walk. With super tight pockets and responsive
rails, the seven Knight Shot tables inside the Fujairah Tennis and
Country Club are playing extremely difficult. Which translates to any
player not playing with an extra fine touch can forget about contending
for the title.
All this clearly
means that only those with the most developed skills, and the deepest
experiences handling extreme pressure will be standing towards the end.
And this is at it should be at the World Championship of 8-ball.
One of those who
looked the goods tonight was England’s Darren Appleton. Appleton, ranked
number 3 in the world and the current back-to-back US Open champion,
didn’t get the easiest of draws, as he came up against Hungary’s very
capable Vilmos Foldes in the race to 7 alternate break match. It was
Appleton’s first effort on the floor and he came into the match nursing
a burgeoning head cold. Foldes meanwhile had already won a tough
qualifier over the weekend and had loosened up with a narrow 7-6 win
over Australia’s Stuart Lawler earlier in the day.
Foldes started out
on fire, breaking and running his first three racks for a 4-2 lead. On
the table and about to go to 5-2, though, Foldes made a mistake and from
there the match turned in favor of Appleton. The hardcore Brit
methodically took control of the match and won 7-5 booking his place in
the final 64 beginning Wednesday.
Keen observers of
the pro circuit, as well as punters, have to figure that Appleton is one
of the top five favorites in Fujairah. Although he’s made his name in
the American game in 10-ball, 9-ball and straight pool, Appleton’s
pedigree comes from 8-ball. He started his cue career player English
8-ball and was number 1 in that game for 7 years in the late 1990’s and
2000’s. He has made it to the semis of the World 8-ball two years in a
row, losing to eventual runner up Niels Feijen.
Appleton knows what
it takes to win in pro pool and he believes he has all the ingredients
to add the World 8-ball trophy to his growing collection of titles.
"The break is massive in 8-ball,"
Appleton said afterward. "I'm one of the
best and most consistent breakers in this game. And with these tight
pockets, you have to be accurate. You have to have perfect cue ball
speed. You can’t punch the ball on these tables. And there’s no slide in
the rails." And of course Appleton is
supremely confident in his ability to utilize that intangible that all
great players bring to big time tournament play.
"My mental game is
my main asset. You really have to beat me."
In
all, 17 players punched their ticket through today to the final 64
knockout stage which begins on Wednesday. Defending Champion Dennis
Orcullo of the Philippines had a few shaky moments on the TV table in
his match vs. Kuwait’s Nasser Al Mujaibel. The match was tied at 4 and
Orcullo didn’t look all too comfortable. But the Filipino star pulled it
together for a 7-4 win and a spot in the final 64.
"I missed some easy shots,"
Orcullo said. "The pockets are very tight
and the table is new so I had to make some adjustments. I’m still
focused and I’m confident I can win this thing again."
Also making it
through was the runner up in the last two World 8-ball Championships,
the Netherland’s Niels Feijen who easily beat Hong Kong’s Lee Chenman,
7-3. Current World 9-ball champion Yukio Akagariyama of Japan took down
Poland’s Tomasz Kaplan 7-3. England's Chris Melling looked strong in
beating the UAE’s Majid Sultan 7-1. The Philippines Lee Van Corteza and
Joven Alba also made it through with wins.
It was a terrible
day for the USA as the lone two players from the home of 8-ball suffered
losses. Brandon Shuff came in confident of a win vs. Hajato Hijikata of
Japan. But the American newcomer couldn’t keep pace and lost 7-5. Max
Eberle simply couldn’t get out of the box vs. Spain’s Carlos Cabello and
lost 7-3.
The remainder of
the final 64 will be determined at the conclusion of play on Tuesday.