Django finally rules World 9-Ball

MANILA, Philippines - Francisco “Django” Bustamante finally pocketed the one that mattered most in billiards – the World 9-Ball crown – beating former champion Kuo Po-cheng, 13-7, in the finals of the 2010 World Pool Championship at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar Tuesday.

He also took perhaps the richest prize staked in world pool – $36,000 or P1.65 million, putting the power-breaking Filipino in the elite circle of world 9-ball champions that included compatriots Efren “Bata” Reyes and Ronnie Alcano.

“By finally winning the world 9-ball, which is every pool player’s dream, I can now say that I am a complete billiards player,” said Bustamante in Filipino.

Bustamante, the former world No. 1, trounced compatriot Antonio Lining, 11-5, in their semifinal clash to arrange a showdown for the crown with Kuo, who nipped Johnny Archer of the US, 11-10, in their own side of the duel.

Kuo settled $18,000 while Lining and Archer took home $10,000 each for reaching the Final Four.

The world 9-ball feat was Bustamante’s fifth championship this year. He was a member of Team Asia that routed Team Europe last January 17 in Brunei in the Asia vs Europe Challenge Match.

Bustamante then defeated Reyes to capture the Japan Open title in Tokyo then dominated the field to bag the inaugural World Professional Billiard League (WPBL) championship in Winnipeg, Canada last month.

He also crushed Archer, 5-2, in the finals of the Mc Phillips Station Casino tournament.

But the world 9-ball title has eluded Bustamante for years although he came close to pulling off what could have been the most emotional win in the sport when he decided to continue to play in Cardiff, Wales in 2002 following the sudden death of his daughter.

He actually considered forfeiting his matches but was prevailed upon to stay on by his wife, who said their daughter would have wanted him to continue the fight.

He did. But the emotional strain was simply too much for him to overcome as he eventually lost to Earl Strickland but won the hearts of every pool fan in the world.