Briton rules world 10-ball; Pulpul fourth

Great Britain’s Darren Appleton brought down Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chia Ching, 13-11, yesterday to crown himself the first World 10-Ball champion at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Appleton used a strong start to seize control then held on with a steady game to finish off his rival and pocket the top $100,000 purse.

Wu, the 2005 World 9-Ball and 8-Ball champion, fought back from 5-10 and 9-12 deficits to close in at 11-12. But the Taiwanese ace sputtered with a dry break on the 24th rack, enabling the 32-year-old Appleton to hang on and win his eighth straight match for the championship.

“It was a rough five years for us, this victory is for my parents back home,” said Appleton, who raised his stick in triumph then celebrated his biggest triumph in tears.

Wu settled for runner-up worth $40,000, ruing his failed bid to add the 10-ball crown to his earlier victories in the 8- and 9-ball.

“Maybe next year,” said Wu through an interpreter.

Demosthenes Pulpul, whose run of victories was snapped Saturday, failed to recover from his setback to Wu and fell to Neils Feijen of the Netherlands, 8-11. He settled for fourth place finish worth $15,000 (P705,000).

The 23-year-old Pulpul, from Cagayan de Oro City, thus emerged the top Filipino performer in the week-long event.

“Hindi na masama (It’s not that bad),” said the soft-spoken Pulpul, who was never given a chance to finish big here.

The 31-year-old Feijen, who lost to Appleton, 9-11, in the semis after blowing a 9-7 lead, earned $25,000.