Orcollo rules World Pool League Luat takes first runner-up honors at 31st US Open 9-Ball Championships

Top Filipino cue artists Dennis Orcollo and Rodolfo "Boy Samson" Luat nearly pulled off a twinkill in major international competitions.

Orcollo vanquished Holland's Niels Feijen, 8-5, in a very entertaining championship match to win the 2006 PartyCasino.com World Pool League crown on Sunday night at the NOT Building in central Warsaw, Poland. It was Orcollo's first major title in his career.

On the very same night at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, Luat bowed to John "Mr. 400" Schmidt, 6-11, in the final of the 31st US Open 9-Ball Championships.

They both received US$20,000 for their feats.

Orcollo, who played well throughout the three-day, six-man tournament, joined his fellow Pinoys Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante as well as the likes of Jim Rempe, Rodney Morris and Thosten Hohmann as winners of the coveted invitational trophy.

Feijen won the lag and deftly cleaned up the table to set the early pace, but Orcollo, who looked very confident moving the cue ball around the table, swept the next racks, to take a 3-1 lead.

Feijen fought back with finesse to forge a 3-all deadlock, but Orcollo capitalized on the Dutchman's errors to reach the hill at 7-5.

In the next rack, Orcollo was forced to push out as the 1 ball was blocked out by the 8.

With a kick shot on the 1 ball the only option, Feijen put him back in and Orcollo left a very tough long pot on the 1 ball for the Dutchman.

Feijen missed it and the 27-year-old shotmaker from Surigao City nicely caromed the 1 in off the 9. Lady luck smiled at Orcollo as as the 9 ball rolled over the middle pocket leaving the 2 in easy position for the combo.

Orcollo then made the most out of the opportunity as he sealed the match using a 2-9 combination.

"I'd like to thank the Filipino community in Warsaw for coming out and supporting me. This victory is very, very big for me, I can hardly speak. I'd like to dedicate this win to the people of the Philippines," a very ecstatic Orcollo told azbilliards.com.

In Chesapeake, Luat started strong only to crumble as the fight progressed.

An early scratch by Schmidt sent off Luat to an early 2-0 lead.

Schmidt went on to tie the match at 4-all. Two break and runs and more safeties vaylted Schmidt to a 7-4 edge.

Schimdt allowed Luat to take only two of the last six racks to ice the match at 11-6.

"I'm so excited-this is the biggest event in America. I went to the losers' side and was discouraged, but with each match it looked a little more do able," Schmidt.