NEWS  June 19, 2006  PartyCasino.com World Pool Masters – 5th title for Souquet



Ralf
 

For the 14th time, Matchroom Sport had invited 16 players for the World Pool Masters. The world’s top players met this year again in the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee on the Dutch coast, after the England edition of last year.

The format was a KO bracket in races to 8 with changing break and the draw made me play in round one against the „Magician“ Efren Reyes (PHI). I had the better start and after a few mistakes made by the Philippine player, I took a 6-2 lead. But this advantage melted away in just a few minutes and all of a sudden, the score was equal 6-6. Upon my own break, I took control over my weak period and scored again to lead 7-6. At 7-6, I almost had a match point, but gave the rack away. In the decisive rack, I lost my position on the 5 ball and did not know how to proceed. After a few minutes I decided to shot for the difficult middle pocket and this decision was the good one. Even if the following 7 ball was all but easy, I managed to secure an 8-7 win in this first match.

In the next round, I was opposed to the current no. 1 of the UK, Imran Majid, who currently plays great billiards. Even if he won the first break, I took control over the match and secured a 2-0 and 3-1 lead. But I did not feel too well and made several position mistakes and played bad safety shots. Lucky enough, Majid could not really benefit from my weakness and gave me the opportunity to win the match easily 8-2.
 


Daddy - Illy - Ralf - Mum

In the semi-final, I played 17 years old current World Champion in 8-Ball and 9-Ball, Wu Chia-Ching from Taiwan. He won the first break and after two combinations, I was trailing 0-2. But a completely unnecessary foul of the young double world champion allowed me to score and I came back to 2-2. we won another rack each and a mistake by Wu in rack 7 allowed me to take the lead for the first time in this match. But Wu equalled the score immediately at 4-4. Another mistake by the Taiwanese player, anjd I was leading again and this lead, I was to keep it until the end. Without committing any mistake, I won the next three racks and entered the final with a clear 8-4.

In the final, my opponent as the current US Open champion and former World Champion Alex Pagulayan (PHI).
Once more, my opponent won the right to play the first break and the “Lion” won the first rack. I scored the next two racks, but then Pagulayan did the same and was leading 2-3. But then I won the next 5 racks and I succeeded in everything. I played perfect rail shots and took always the right decision when it came to accept or to refuse a Push-out. Rack 11 went to the Philippine player, who came back to 4-7. But in rack 12, I ran out the table from the break and at my 12th participation, I won my 5th Master title.

This title was something spezial for me, since for the first time, my parents and my new girl-friend were together at a major event by Matchroom Sport.

You’ll find more information under: www.worldpoolmasters.com


Frank - Ralf - Chrischl - Jürgen - Robert

 


Egmond aan Zee