Locals get a look-in at Bali Open
Locals get a look-in at Bali Open
Moch N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali
As qualifying rounds began for the A Mild Bali International
Open on Monday, many local hopefuls showed up to compete for a
place among top-ranked billiard players from 18 countries in the
main draw.
Among the stars confirmed to play the Rp 208 million
(US$21,800) annual tournament are three-time 8-ball champion
Efren Reyes of the Philippines, who is coming off his win in the
San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour stop in Jakarta on Sunday; 2001
World Pool champion Mika Immonen of Finland; 1998 World 9-ball
champion Kunihiko Takahashi of Japan and two-time World 9-ball
champion Chao Fong-Pang of Chinese Taipei.
They were not in action on Monday, however, as 116 players,
including 12 women, took part in the stage 1 qualification round
under a double elimination system to take one of the 15 places in
the main draw.
Qualifiers on Monday included 2004 National Games (PON) 8-ball
silver medalist and 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women's
player Desak Raka of Bali.
She defeated Charlene Chai of Singapore and Indonesian
national coach Mutiara by identical 7-3 scores to earn her place
in the main draw.
Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) chairman
Putera Astaman said Indonesian players should make the most of
their experience of playing in a major event.
"It is a rare chance to play against world-class billiard
players, so don't waste the chance," he said.
On Tuesday, the losers from stage 1 will vie to fill the
remaining 15 slots in the 96-player draw.
A total of 66 players -- consisting of 32 players competing in
the four-leg San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour, top 10 national
players and two wild cards of Balinese players -- have
automatically qualified for the main competition, which starts on
Wednesday.
The main draw contests, like the qualifying, will involve a
seven system -- with the first player to take seven racks the
winner -- through the round of 64.
From the last 32 to semifinals, it will be the first to nine,
and the final will be an 11-rack system.