2008 PartyPoker.net World pool Masters First Round Match-Ups Announced

Matchroom Sport can announce the draw for the 2008 PartyPoker.net World pool Masters which will be staged at The Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, from Friday, 9 to Sunday, May 11.
With 16 of the finest players in the world competing, there are no easy rides with eight race-to-eight, winner-breaks first round matches.
Defending champion Thomas Engert (Germany, right) will open proceedings as he squares up against Rodney Morris, one of the three Americans in the field.
This is the first time in the competition’s 16-year history that it will be staged in the USA and the players will be competing for a $62,000 prize fund, with the winner receiving $20,000.
US Open winner Shane Van Boening faces experienced former Mosconi Cup player Imran Majid of England, while Corey Deuel is up against Euro Tour veteran Christian Reimering of Germany.
England’s current World pool Champion Daryl Peach has a tricky looking opener against 2001 World Champion Mika Immonen (Finland), while countryman Mark Gray, the European No.1, faces a daunting prospect against the classy Alex Pagulayan.
Mosconi Cup team-mates Tony Drago (Malta) and Niels Feijen (Holland) will play each other in Round One, while there will be an intriguing encounter as five-times Masters champion Ralf Souquet (Germany), meets 18-year-old World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan.
The final opening round match will see Filipino legend Francisco Bustamante meet Bruno Muratore of Italy.
I believe this is the highest quality field that we have had in the Masters and looking at the first round matches, it is impossible to pick eight winners.” said a spokesman for event promoters Matchroom Sport.
All the players will have to be at the very top of their games to progress and we are all looking forward to some exciting matches over three days of intense competition.
On the Friday evening the World pool Trickshot Masters will be taking place at the same venue with six leading players entertaining the crowd with a variety of tricks and stunts.

Tickets Session Times
Friday 1pm: $10 - general admission, $25 - VIP
Friday 7pm: $5 - general admission, $10 – VIP (Word pool Trickshot Masters)

Saturday 1pm: $10 - general admission, $25 – VIP
Saturday 7pm: $10 - general admission, $25 – VIP

Sunday 1pm: $15 - general admission, $30 - VIP
Sunday 7pm: $20 - general admission, $40 - VIP

All tickets are available from: www.playbca.com (http://www.playbca.com)
The Players

1. Francisco Bustamante (Philippines), 2. Corey Deuel (USA), 3. Tony Drago (Malta), 4. Thomas Engert (Germany), 5. Niels Feijen (Holland), 6. Mark Gray (England), 7. Mika Immonen (Finland), 8. Ko Pin-yi (Chinese Taipei), 9. Imran Majid (England), 10. Rodney Morris (USA), 11. Bruno Muratore (Italy), 12. Alex Pagulayan (Philippines), 13. Daryl Peach (England), 14. Christian Reimering (Germany), 15. Ralf Souquet (Germany), 16. Shane Van Boening (USA)

The Draw

Rnd 1
Q-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final

1. T. Engert v R. Morris
9. W1 v W2

2. M. Gray v A. Pagulayan
13. W9 v W10

3. Bustamante v Muratore
10. W3 v W4

4. I. Majid v Van Boening
15. W13 v W14

5. R. Souquet v Ko Pin-yi
11. W5 v W6

6. T. Drago v N. Feijen
14. W11 v W12

7. C. Deuel v C. Reimering
12. W7 v W8

8. M Immonen v D. Peach

2008 PartyPoker.net World pool Masters

Final Names Added to Starting Line Up

The final names have been added to the players’ roster for the forthcoming 2008 PartyPoker.net World pool Masters which takes place during the BCA National 8-ball Championships at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, May 9 to May 11.
Filipino superstars Francisco Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan have confirmed their attendance as have top-rated Europeans Ralf Souquet (Germany) and Niels Feijen of Holland.

With 16 players in the field competing for the $62,000 prize fund, event promoters Matchroom Sport believe they have assembled the strongest line-up yet in the 16 year history of the event.

“With four World 9 ball Champions, six US Open Champions and a host of other title-holders in the field, I believe that this will be the toughest ever World pool Masters,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn.

“With winner breaks, race to eight matches on the toughest equipment, it will take a series of fantastic performances to lift this prestigious trophy,” he added.

Other recent confirmations include 2001 US Open Champion Corey Deuel and the quartet of stars recently qualified from the Euro Tour.

They are England’s latest 9 ball sensation Mark Gray, Germany’s dangerous Christian Reimering, up-and-coming Italian Bruno Muratore and 2006 Mosconi Cup competitor Imran Majid (England).

World Junior Champion, the 18 year-old Ko Pin-Yi of Taiwan, cemented his credentials to a Masters spot at the weekend by coming from 14-4 down to beat Dennis Orcollo 15-14 and take the Brunswick Thailand 9-ball Open.

Elsewhere, 2003 Masters Champion Tony Drago won the Paris Open at the weekend, his first Euro Tour title, after three losing finals.

The 2008 PartyPoker.net World pool Masters field

Daryl Peach (ENG)
Thomas Engert (GER)
Mika Immonen (FIN)
Tony Drago (MLT)
Shane Van Boening (USA)
Rodney Morris (USA)
Francisco Bustamante (PHI)
Alex Pagulayan (PHI)
Ko Pin-ye (TPE)
Niels Feijen (NED)
Ralf Souquet (GER)
Corey Deuel (USA)
Mark Gray (ENG)
Christian Reimering (GER)
Bruno Muratore (ITA)
Imran Majid (ENG)

PartyPoker.net World pool Masters 2007

Ralf Souquet will begin the defence of his PartyPoker.net World pool Masters title against Mosconi Cup team-mate David Alcaide.
Souquet, who has won the Masters a record five times, faces a tough first round encounter against Spaniard Alcaide in the opening match at the Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee, Holland.
These two players know each other well as they were part of the near-miss European Mosconi Cup side that played America in Rotterdam last December.
The Masters, one of the most prestigious events on the pool calendar, will be held from June 8-10 and features 16 top players from around the world, including reigning World Champion Ronnie Alcano (Philippines) and current European No.1 Niels Feijen (Holland).
Each match will be played in a race-to-eight, alternate break format with a 45-second shot-clock. The prize fund totals $62,000, with the winner pocketing $20,000, while first round losers take home $1,500.
The Draw
Friday, June 8 (all times are CET)
Round One
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
1. Ralf Souquet (GER) v David Alcaide (ESP)
2. Naoyuki Oi (JPN) v Oliver Ortmann (GER)
3. Li He-wen (CHN) v Pat Holtz (SCO)
Evening session (begins at 7pm)
World pool Masters Trickshots - featuring Rob Mollien (NED), Jasmin Ouschan (AUT), Oliver Ortmann (GER), Stefano Pelinga (ITA), Vincent Facquet (FRA)

Saturday, June 9 – Round One
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
4. Imran Majid (ENG) v Niels Feijen (NED)
5. Wu Chia-ching (TPE) v Tyler Edey (CAN)
6. Tony Drago (MLT) v Thomas Engert (GER)

Evening session (begins at 7pm)
7. Nick van den Berg (NED) v Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
8. Fabio Petroni (ITA) v Ronnie Alcano (PHI)

Quarter-final
9. Ralf Souquet or David Alcaide v Naoyuki Oi or Oliver Ortmann

Sunday, June 10 – Quarter-finals
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
10. Li He-wen or Pat Holtz v Imran Majid or Niels Feijen
11. Wu Chia-ching or Tyler Edey v Tony Drago or Thomas Engert
12. Nick van den Berg or Jasmin Ouschan v Fabio Petroni or Ronnie Alcano

Evening session (begins at 7pm)
Semi-finals
13. Winner of match 9 v winner of match 10
14. Winner of match 11 v winner of match 12

Final
15. Winner of match 13 v winner of match 14