THE LEGEND AND THE UPSTART HEAD IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
By Ted Lerner, WPS Media Officer
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Jun 2011
57 YEAR OLD REYES CRUISES WHILE WORLD CHAMP SEE STUMBLES ON FIRST DAY OF CHINA OPEN IN SHANGHAI.
(Shanghai, China)--57 year old Efren ?Bata? Reyes of the Philippines, perhaps the greatest player in the history of pool, showed he had plenty left to offer as he crushed Germany?s Thomas Engert, 9-2, on the first day of the $275,000 China Open in Shanghai.
At the same time, the Netherlands? Huidji See, the recent surprise winner of the World 10-Ball Championship in Manila this past May, handily lost his first match, 9-5 to Vietnam?s Vu Trong Khai. With the loss See quickly went from being the center of attention at yesterday?s press conference to the one loss side of his group. See is now in a do or die situation for his next match in the double elimination group stage of the tournament.
Reyes, the first Filipino to enter the Hall of Fame, felt no need to offer his famous phrase, ?I get lucky,? after his convincing victory. Bata seemed to have the measure of the break on the Star table inside the Shanghai Pudong Yuanshen Stadium in suburban Shanghai. He was never challenged by the talented German.
Dutman See is quickly finding out that it?s not easy to stay in what pool players like to call the ?Free wheeling Stroke.? And he?s also discovering that there?s not only some pretty strong talent in China, but in Asia as a whole.
The friendly See, who said yesterday he entered some local tournaments in Shanghai last week but failed to even qualify because of the boatloads of talent in the city, can perhaps take solace in the fact that he also lost his first match at the World 10-ball in Manila and went on to rampage through the field and capture the title. Still, even an optimist like See would admit it?s a fairly tall order to ask the pool Gods to bestow favor on you time and again.
Vu?s victory has given Vietnam a stellar day so far. Nguen Phuc Long was a surprise winner over the Philippines Jundel Mazon, 9-3. Perhaps more surprising for the Philippines was Lee Van Corteza losing to China?s Wang Can, 9-6.
On the TV table aired over Shanghai TV, Chinese Taipei?s Kuo Po-Cheng looked the goods as he crushed China?s Li He Wen, 9-3. On an outside table, American Shane Van Boening put in a strong performance, outlasting Chinese Taipei?s Nien Rong Chin. In one of the marquee matchups of day 1, Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei drubbed German?s Thorsten Hohmann, 9-4.
The tournament has taken a break for a lavish opening ceremony with the entire contingent of billiard players from China singing songs and dignitaries, including the mayor of Shanghai, making speeches. The tournament continues with two evening sessions later tonight.
On the women?s side, the 48 player field saw less action on this first day, as 16 top seeded players had byes. China?s ?Queen of 9-ball? Pan Xiaoting had to play her first round match and handily defeated Singapores Tan Bee Yen, 7-2 in match aired on local TV.
All the women players will be in action in the evening sessions.
The China Open continues through Sunday June 12. The men are competing for $162,800 , and while the women will fight for $112,800 .
To see the complete and up to date brackets from the day?s first session, please visit www.wpa-pool.com and click the live scoring link.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ted Lerner, WPS Media Officer.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
Mon, 07 Jul 2025