Defending champions Spain have been knocked out of the 2023 World Cup of Pool in the opening session of the tournament by the Philippines 7-5 at Pazo de Feiras e Congresos de Lugo, Spain in partnership with The Asociación Gallega de Billar Pool (AGP), Xunta de Galicia and EIDF Solar live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, DAZN in Spain, the USA, Italy, and Brazil, Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics and Poland and broadcasters worldwide.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide set out as 9/2 bookies’ favourites but with the tallest order of them all to make the second stage. The Philippines are unseeded for the first time but some would say it wasn’t a true reflection of the talent in their ranks with James Aranas and Johann Chua bringing the heat to the hosts who were buoyed by a strong Spanish crowd.
Team Spain: Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide｜©Taka G. Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Spain got the better of the opening racks to lead 2-0 and it looked to be the start of a routine performance for the 2022 champions but Aranas and Chua were there to crash the party. The Philippines took the following three racks and the contest was turned on its head with the best exchange of the match to come in the sixth. A brilliant hook was left by the Philippines to hide the cue ball from the two but Alcaide proceeded to nail a jump shot to clean up and allow Spain back for three apiece and then a lead at 5-3 and be two away from the finish line.
The young duo of Aranas and Chua held firm despite some shaky moments and seized upon an uncharacteristic error from Sanchez Ruiz on the two ball when looking to find position for a 3-9 combination. Spain didn’t have a look in when the Pinoy boys got going from there, with the scores level at 5-5. Errors were the downfall of Spain’s efforts and it allowed the Philippines back in to settle up 7-5 and set up a tie with either Spain or Saudi Arabia in the second round.
Team Philippines: James Aranas and Johann Chua｜©Taka G. Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Greece were next up against last year’s finalists Singapore who had a new pairing with Aloysius Yapp joined by Sharik Sayed for the first time since 2019. Alexander Kazakis and Nikos Economopoulos meanwhile were looking to do better than their first-round exit 12 months ago in Brentwood, England. Singapore led early on 2-1 and continued to apply the pressure to take a 4-1 lead and look to be the team to beat in the contest. Greece came back though at 6-6 and the first hill-hill of the tournament was about to unfold.
Economopoulos‘ break was solid enough but it came up dry with the balls left in an awkward table layout, from there an awkward safety battle ensued for Singapore to pull through and secure the win.
Sayed said: “I think there’s mutual respect for each other. I have a lot of respect for Aloysius‘ game. I respect him, whatever he says, I take it to heart and I do what he tells me to do!”
Yapp added: “We will practice from here and work hard to improve in the next match.”
Team Singapore: Aloysius Yapp and Sharik Sayed｜©Taka G. Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
The session was closed out with Canada’s Alex Pagulayan and John Morra up against debutants Myanmar who was fresh off the back of SEA Games glory in 9-ball doubles in May.
Phone Myint Kyaw and partner Thaw Zin Htet looked at home early on to lead 2-1 after taking the opening rack but from there Morra especially found a different gear and it left Myanmar reeling in their hopes to make it out the first round. Pagulayan looked out of sorts but Morra‘s ability to jump well and lay key safeties helped the initial comeback as they went on to win six racks in a row to secure victory.
Team Canada: Alex Pagulayan and John Morra｜©Taka G. Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
The 2023 World Cup of Pool continues from 7pm local time live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK and Ireland with those in Spain, Italy, and the USA able to watch on DAZN. Fans in Scandinavia, Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland can watch on Viaplay with further broadcasters around the world. See where to watch in your country here with more broadcasters to be announced. Action will also be live on Matchroom.Live.
Great Britain will open against Qatar before Albania take on Peru and two-time champions Austria meet Australia to close out the session.
The 2023 World Cup of Pool will be played alongside the 31st Galician Team Pool Billiards Championship, which will bring together more than 1,000 players in the Pazo de Ferias y Congresos de Lugo, where more than 40 tables will be in action. The participants in this tournament considered the biggest in Europe, will compete for the regional titles and the prizes arranged by the Galician Association of Pool Billiards.
TICKETS
Additional tickets for the 2023 World Cup of Pool are now on sale with allocations selling out within 24 hours. Buy tickets here from only €10.
©Taka G. Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
2023 雙打世界盃 – 衛冕冠軍西班牙慘遭菲律賓淘汰
2023 首屆西班牙公開賽剛剛於盧戈展覽會議中心落下帷幕，新賽季的撞球雙打世界盃緊接著又在同一個場館接續進行。揭幕戰，東道主、衛冕冠軍西班牙A隊迎戰非種子球隊當中的最大熱門菲律賓隊。雙方比分交替領先，最後時刻菲律賓隊全新搭檔 James Aranas 和 Johann Chua 組合直落二，“爆冷” 淘汰對手。這樣一來，兩支東道主球隊無緣在第二輪上演內戰，世界排名第一的 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 在度過了去年無所不能的一個賽季之後，狀態有了回落的趨勢。菲律賓隊為非種子球隊樹立榜樣。他們下一輪對手是西班牙B隊與沙烏地阿拉伯隊的勝者，有望繼續前進。
希臘與新加坡也是強強對話。不過兩隊實力同樣也是有些 “蹩腳”，主將 Alexander Kazakis 和葉浚惟 (Aloysius Yapp) 發揮算是中規中矩，而他們的副手則難堪大任。在多次失誤後，上屆亞軍新加坡隊僥倖絕殺。
加拿大與緬甸一戰由於兩隊人氣球星 Alex Pagulayan 和楊紹杰 (Phone Myint Kyaw) 的出現而吸引大量關注。緬甸隊一度取得領先，Pagulayan失誤連連。不過上演世界盃首秀的緬甸隊隨後卻頻繁送禮，加拿大一一笑納，神奇的取得了7-2的大勝。 “緬甸球王” 楊紹杰的首次世界盃之旅遺憾收場。