WTBC did not lose glitter even without top cue artists

Efren "Bata" Reyes did not weave his usual magic at the pool table in the 2nd World Ten Ball Championship.

Also absent were double world champion Wu Chia-Ching of Taiwan and the trademark power break of another Filipino billiards master, Django Bustamante. Their absence, though, were hardly felt. Especially for those billiard enthusiasts who came to see 128 of the world’s best battling it out for the $262,000 pot money and the only world pool championship for men this year. And for those who saw it, they were all given a big treat. New faces came out of nowhere and stamped their class by making impressive shows while old guards proved their worth. WTBC’s second edition capped an impressive year for Mika Immonen as the Finnish ace hoisted the trophy, his third for the year. He became the only player in recent years to win the WTBC, the US Open and the world championship in the same year. "If last year was superb, this year was simply spectacular for me," said Immonen. “I haven’t done any special thing but just good, old fashion hard work. I guess the hard work is paying off now." The second WTBC also served as a venue for several players who wanted to make a dramatic return to the big stage. Among them were Filipinos Lee Van Corteza and Antonio Lining, who years ago languished behind the shadows of Reyes and Bustamante. Corteza, who ended up as runner-up to Immonen, and semifinalist Lining proved that they still have what it takes to compete against the world’s best should given the chance. David Alcaide of Spain, a surprise semifinalist, also served notice of his bid and let everybody know that the country known only in basketball, football, fencing and bull fighting, also has a spot in the four-cornered world of pool. And while big guns like former US Open titlist Shane Van Boening of the United States, former champion Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, two-time world champion Johnny Archer, and world No.1 Ralf Souquet of Germany falling by the wayside, young players like the Philippines’ Jomar de Ocampo and China’s Dang-Jin Hu, two hardly known players, made it past the qualifying stages. – GMANews.TV