MANILA, Philippines - Taiwanese rising star Ko Pin-Yi shocked tournament top seed and world No. 1 Dennis Orcollo, 8-6, in the semifinals and went on to win the Guinness World Series of Pool 10-Ball Championship in Jakarta yesterday.
He later defeated 2007 US Open 9-Ball champion Shane Van Boening of the US, 10-4, for the crown and the top $41,000 purse.
Ko stunned Orcollo by taking the first three racks, including a pair of run-outs, and sustained his solid performance to beat the most fancied player in the fold.
The Taiwanese actually missed on a 2-3 corner pocket shot in the fourth rack, enabling Orcollo to cut the deficit. But Ko came through with a magical two-rail kick shot on 2-8 to seize a 4-1 lead.
Orcollo got back into contention with break and run-outs in the sixth and eighth racks and completed a routine clean up job off an exposed safety from Ko in the seventh to even things up at four.
But it turned out to be the best that Orcollo could get as Ko took four of the next six racks to clinch the victory.
“I just kept cool and kept believing I had a chance. I am very fortunate that luck has been on my side the whole week,” said Ko.
and I am extremely happy with my game right now,” said Ko.
But it turned out to be the best that the Orcollo could get as Ko took four of the next six racks to clinch the victory.
“I just kept cool and kept believing I had a chance. I am very fortunate that luck has been on my side the whole week and I am extremely happy with my game right now,” said Ko.