World champs head Phl Open 10-ball field

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning world champion Dennis Orcollo heads a star-studded cast of players vying for top honors in the Philippine Open 10-Ball Championships which gets going April 7-11 at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City.

Meanwhile, a five-day qualifier will be held starting today at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City to accommodate the big number of local players seeking berths in the tournament proper of the world ranking tournament which features the world’s leading players and offers rich prizes.

Organizers of the event said 30 countries will be represented and 200 players will dispute the championships in the men’s (64-player draw) and ladies divisions (32-player draw).

Others who have confirmed their participation are Mika Immonen of Finland, world women’s 10-ball champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, and Fu Xiao-Fang, world women’s 9-ball titlist.

Also in the fold are Ga Young Kim of Korea, winner of the recent Amway Cup for women in Taipei; former world champions: Ralf Souquet of Germany; Darren Appleton of Great Britain; local ace Ronnie Alcano; former US Open titlist Shane Van Boening of the US and former women’s world champion Allison Fisher of Great Britain.