World pool champ battles Indonesians in exhibition

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

World pool champion Alex Pagulayan of Canada promised to give his best in his exhibition matches against a number of Indonesia's top billiard players scheduled to run from Sept. 16 to Sept. 20.

"Every time I play I always try to give my best. I'm not going to fool around or whatever," Pagulayan said during a press conference at The Plaza Semanggi Gillians billiard center here on Thursday.

26-year-old Pagulayan, a Filipine-born Canadian, became the world champion after beating Chang Pei-wei of Chinese Taipei in the World 9-ball Pool Championship in Taipei in July.

He was scheduled to begin his exhibition match against Adam Abdurrahim, the 9-ball gold medalist at the recent National Games, at the Bengkel Cafe, Jakarta, on Thursday at midnight.

His next opponents will be Jimmy Jusman at Gillians on Friday, Seaw Wieto in Bandung on Saturday, Yudharman in Bali on Sunday and a winner of the qualifying match in Yogyakarta on Monday.

While staving off questions about the appearance fee paid Pagulayan, Sendi Sugiharto, from the organizing committee, said they would provide Rp 10 million to any victorious Indonesian.

"We hope the cash prizes can motivate our players to beat the world champion," Sendi said.

The arrival of Pagulayan is also expected to give extra motivation to local pool players ahead of the A Mild Billiard Cup grand final on Sept. 25-26.

Thirty-two players will play in the final at the Berlian billiard center in South Jakarta. The fixed list of entries in the final will be known after competition in the seventh series, scheduled for Sept. 22-24, is completed.

"We hope the next champion of the A Mild grand final will prove himself that he can challenge the world," Putera Astaman, the chairman of the Indonesian Billiard and Snooker Championship (POBSI) said.