Source : Match Room Pool Official WebsiteDEFENDING PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool champions China were sensationally ousted from this year's competition on a first day full of upsets.
The Chinese duo of Fu Jianbo and Li Hewen had won this competition twice in its five-year history but slumped to an 8-4 defeat against Switzerland's Ronni Regli and Dimitri Jungo.
Jungo, a former WPA World Junior Champion in 2000, recently claimed the German Open, while Regli is half-Filipino and was cheered on by a large number of local fans at the SM City North EDSA mall in Manila, Philippines.
The Chinese took a 2-0 lead but the Swiss won four on the bounce to take a 4-2 lead before China then made it 5-3.
However, Switzerland, one of only two teams who had to qualify, powered ahead to take three of the next four to book their place in the last 16.
"We're both players who can beat anybody if we have a good day and we also have a good team spirit," said Jungo.
"We're a small country but there have always been good players from Switzerland. It's unbelievable to beat China and we can play good and win the tournament."
Regli added: "It feels amazing and it was a dream of mine to play in a big event here in the Philippines. The last time I was here was 11 years ago but I've never played here before."
The PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool features 32 two-player teams representing 31 nations - hosts Philippines have two sides and the total prize-fund is $250,000 with $60,000 going to the winning pair.
In the other matches, seeded teams Indonesia (16), Spain (8) and Finland (12) lost to Sweden, Korea and India respectively.
Sweden's Marcus Chamat and Thomas Mehtala mounted a stirring comeback as they turned around a 5-1 deficit to record an 8-7 victory over a young Indonesian team.
"At 5-1 down we weren't thinking we were out but just wanted to see what we could do. But then we missed an easy 9-ball and then thought we would be losing if we kept making these mistakes," said Chamat.
"I'm relieved to get through but we have a day's rest and hopefully Thomas and I can practice and get some groove into our game, but if we play like this again then we will be flying home soon."
The Korean duo of Lee Gun Jae and Hwang Young beat Spain's David Alcaide and Francisco Diaz 8-5, while the Indian pair of Raj Hundal and Amar Kang recorded their country's first ever World Cup of Pool victory.
They edged out a Finnish side that included former World Champion Mika Immonen 8-7 in a thrilling contest.
Japan were the first seeded team to advance, despite made a poor start against Croatia. The Asian side lost the opening two racks but quickly recovered to take the match 8-3.
Local heroes Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, who won the trophy in 2006 and 2009, eased into the next phase with an 8-4 victory over Kuwait's Khaled Al Mutaira and Omar Al Shaheen.
The 2011 World Cup of Pool is sponsored by PartyPoker.net, the world's leading online poker school. Cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc, tables by Star Xing Pai and the Official Cue is Predator.
2011 PARTYPOKER.NET WORLD CUP OF POOL (seeded teams in brackets)
ROUND ONE RESULTS - China (1) 4-8 Switzerland, Indonesia (16) 7-8 Sweden, Spain (8) 5-8 Korea, Japan (9) 8-3 Croatia, Finland (12) 7-8 India, Philippines B (5) v Kuwait.
DAY TWO FIXTURES (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7) - (all times are approximate)
12pm - Germany (4) v Australia, 1.30pm - France (13) v Malaysia, 3pm - England (3) v Estonia, 4.30pm - Holland (14) v Thailand, 6pm - USA (6) v Singapore, 7.30pm- Philippines A (2) v Austria.
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