Dutchman brings 10-Ball title back to Europe

MANILA, Philippines - The Netherlands’ Huidji See topped the 2011 World 10-Ball Championship yesterday, completing the feat by stopping a Chinese rival that dashed the title hopes of hometown bets in the final day of the event at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

See walloped Fu Jianbo, 11-8, to become the third European to rule the World 10-Ball event, earning $60,000 for his feat.

The Dutchman eased out Tony Drago of Malta, 9-4, in the quarterfinals then bundled out Yukio Akakariyama of Japan, 9-6, early in the day.

Fu broke the hearts of the hometown crowd as he beat out Lee Van Corteza, 9-8, in a thriller of a battle in the quarterfinals, then crushed Carlo Biado, 9-5, in the semifinals.

The Chinese, however, failed to go all the way to the top. He settled for second place and the $30,000 purse that went with it.

The 30-year-old See became the third European to win the event, following the footsteps of Englishman Darren Appleton (2008) and Finnish Mika Immonen (2009).

Biado ended up the Filipino top finisher as he stunned former world champions Ronnie Alcano, Daryl Peach of Great Britain and Dennis Orcollo to make the semis.

“I wasn’t able to sleep well because of excitement. I felt the pressure reaching this far in a tournament of this magnitude,” said the 27-year-old pride of Rosario, La Union.

Biado earned $15,000, the biggest purse in his young career.

“I was really hoping to win it for my family and countrymen as well. I didn’t get it but I’m still proud of what I’d achieved,” said Biado.

The Filipino hardly got his game going against Fu, falling in a deep 1-8 hole from which he failed to recover.