Dutch foils Haya, gains 9-ball final

MANILA, Philippines - Dutch Neils Feijen put an end to Filipino qualifier Elmer Haya’s amazing run in the 23rd WPA world 9-ball championship, hacking out an 11-7 victory over the Abu Dhabi-based Phl bet to advance to the finals at the Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar last night.

Feijen pounced on the miscues of the relatively inexperienced Haya in the crucial stretch to prevail In their dispute for a spot in the championship round, writing off the bid of the last Phl bet standing in the $200,000 tournament.

The 37-year-old Haya was in the thick of things, trailing at 7-9 but a bungled shot on the 1-ball in the next rack virtually sealed his doom, allowing Fiejen to clean up and eventually secure the clincher in the 18th rack.

Fiejen was to meet Austrian Albin Ouschan, 11-7 winner over Taiwanese Chang Yu Lung, in the showdown for the crown.

Haya, who had actually spent his own money to fly to Doha to participate in the tough qualifiers, was the lone Phl survivor in the grueling meet that saw fancied Pinoy masters fall one after the other, some of them quite early in the competition.

For this finish, Haya earned $7,500 and but just the same trumpeted his entry as a new force to reckon with in the pool.

Earlier, Haya dispatched fellow qualifier Johann Chua, 11-8, in an all-Filipino quarterfinal showdown Thursday.

Feijen secured a semis slot at the expense of world no. 2 Filipino Carlo Biado, 11-7. Chang Yu Lung, the reigning China Open titlist, dominated American Shane Van Boening, 11-8, while Ouschan prevailed over  Chinese Li He Wen via the same scoreline to set up their own Last-4 duel.

Ouschan had earlier shut the door on Filipino Antonio Gabica, the 2013 runner-up, with a pulsating 11-10 escape act in the Round-of-16. Gabica, who coaches the Qatari national team, got the hill first at 10-7 but committed a late mistake that gave Ouschan a chance for a steal.

“When I was down, 10-7, I was sitting in my chair and I was saying to myself, ‘just make one or two mistakes and I will take you down.’ I was so nervous those last few racks,” the Austrian said.