Alcano yields 9-ball title

Ronnie Alcano swept his way to the finals but failed to erupt in the game that mattered most, as he bowed to fellow former world champion Mika Immonen, 13-7, in the titular match of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship yesterday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

It was a sorry loss for the 35-year-old stalwart who won all his first eight matches, including an 11-6 trouncing of Immonen in the Final Four.

The pool star from Finland bounced back from that setback by holding off another Filipino Warren Kiamco, 11-9, in the losers’ bracket, before pulling the rug from under Alcano to become the 23rd player to hoist the coveted crown among 238 cue artists from around the world.

Immonen also pocketed the $40,000 top purse, while Alcano settled for the second prize worth $20,000 for the second straight year. He was also the runner-up of this tournament last year, losing to American Shane Van Boening in the finals.

“Sayang,” uttered Alcano, a member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines and Senate President Manny Villar’s Team Villards. “My game was going great but I didn’t have good breaks and my opponent had a good look a the ball.”

In the finals, Immonen won the lag and quickly raced to a 6-0 lead. After Alcano pocketed his first rack, the Finn, runner-up to Corey Deuel in 2001, uncorked a 4-1 run for a commanding 10-2 lead and never looked back, repulsing each of Alcano’s attempt to rally.

The loss means Alcano is title-less since he ruled the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship in March last year. He also failed in his bid to become the third Filipino to win the US Open after fellow former world titlist Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994) and Alex Pagulayan (2005).

“Better luck next time,” added Alcano, whose next tournament will be the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bacolod leg setNov. 13-16 in Bacolod.

He will have a chance to get back at Immonen as they will be on opposite sides in the Q.C. Invasion:Quezon City-Philippines vs the World Grand Billiards Showdown, a tournament pitting eight of the top Filipino pool masters against a selection of international stars slated on Dec. 2-4 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Kiamco, who won 11 consecutive matches before succumbing to Immonen, took the third-place honor and the $10,000 cash that goes with it.

Sent into the one-loss side after the third round, Kiamco managed to stay alive and closed in on the crown by posting a win after another, including against reigning world 9-ball champion Darryl Peach, Lee Van Corteza, former US Open titlist Nick Varner, reigning World Cup of Pool winner Rodney Morris and former world champion Johnny Archer.