ORCOLLO SUCCUMBS TO GERMAN FOE IN WORLD POOL MASTERS FINALS
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Sep 2011
FILIPINO Dennis Orcollo's PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters campaign came to an abrupt end Monday night when he bowed to German Ralf Souquet at the Block Atrium of SM North Edsa Mall.
Souquet beat Orcollo in a come-from-behind victory, 8-5, in the finals and claimed his sixth PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters crown. Souquet received the top prize of $20,000 while Orcollo pocketed the runner-up prize of $10,000.
It was Souquet first major title in the Philippine soil after yielding to Ronato Alcano in the final of the 2006 World Pool Championship and then he and countryman Thorsten Hohmann were narrowly beaten in the final of the 2009 World Cup of Pool at the hands of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante.
"It seems to be my tournament for whatever reason. I've made the final eight times and won six and lost twice. It's not only a dream come true but also the icing on the cake to win it here in the Philippines," said the 42-years-old Souquet.
"It's the fifth final I've played in the Philippines but the first time I've won one, which makes it all the more satisfying!"
The games was tied at 3-all after Orcollo establish a two rack lead at 5-3 winning two consecutive racks.
Souquet is one of pool's premier fighters and he scrapped back into contention at 5-5 and then produced a superb break shot that saw four balls drop and leave him a shot on the lowest ball. From there he cleared to move into a 6-5 lead.
Sensing the momentum was swinging in his favour, Souquet broke and ran the next to reach the hill and put Orcollo under severe pressure. The diminutive Filipino though, had potted his last ball as the clinical German broke and ran the last for a famous victory.
"At the Masters you are playing 15 of the greatest players in the world and it's very tough from the first round on and you have to play at 100 per cent and if you can't do that then you won't win," said Souquet.
"I could've lost all of my matches and the final was my biggest winning margin as I won 8-7, 8-6, 8-7 and then 8-5.
"The Philippines is the country of pool and it's where the sport is such a big thing. There are so many great players like Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Dennis Orcollo, Roberto Gomez and I could go on. It's just so tough to win a tournament here.
"But it's so great here as you have so many great fans that love the sport and the players are treated the way they should be."
On the road to the finals, Souquet edged Darren Appleton of England, 8-7, in the last semi-final seat to arranged a titular showdown with Orcollo , who brought downed Fu Jian Bo of China, 8-4, in other final four match-up. Appleton and Fu, both received $4,000 each for reaching the final four.
Other Filipino who participated in the $66,000 total pot prize event were Reyes, Bustamante and Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza.
PHOTO: Ralph Soquet of Germany celebrates after beating the Philippines' Dennis Orcullo Monday night at the SM North Edsa in Quezon City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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