Kiamco off to big start in Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Warren Kiamco, fresh from his victory in the US Annual Bar Table 8-Ball division in Nevada, sets out for another title bid as he blanked American Jim Smith, 8-0, at the start of the Masters 10-Ball Championships at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake Virginia, USA.

Kiamco’s one-sided triumph set up the ace Filipino cue master against Dennis Hatch, also of the US, in the second round action of the week-long event which features some of the world’s leading players.

Another Filipino bet, Jundel Mazon, repulsed American Shaun Wilkie, 8-6, but will face a tough rival in former WPA World 9-Ball champion Johnny Archer of the US in the next round. Archer demolished Masafumi Mochizuki of Japan, 8-3.

Former world 9-ball champion Alex Pagulayan won by default over another Filipino Jose Parica. Pagulayan will next play Brian Brekke of the US, who beat fellow American Jerome Rockwell, 8-5.

Kiamco is coming off a big win in the 18th Annual US Bar Table Championship at the Sands Regency Hotel in Reno, Nevada, USA, copping the US Bar Table Event’s all-around crown.

Earl Strickland of the US and John Morra of Canada also won their respective matches while Mika Immonen of Finland drew an opening round bye.