World Pool Masters : Orcollo in final 4; Reyes out

Source : Mark Giongco INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino world No.1 Dennis Orcollo wasted little time in disposing of Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung-lin Sunday and barged into the semifinals of the 2011 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters at The Block in SM North Edsa, Quezon City.

Orcollo was almost impeccable with his precision pocketing and well-placed safety shots that had Taiwan’s top bet planted in his seat majority of the match.

In tip-top form, Orcollo gave the crowd something to cheer about after countryman Efren “Bata” Reyes lost to England’s Darren Appleton, 5-8.

The 32-year-old cue artist Orcollo capped the short match with four break and run-outs including a tough table in the seventh rack where he needed to thinly cut the nine-ball that crawled down the pocket.

Orcollo will face the winner between Germany’s Ralf Souquet and compatriot Lee Van Corteza.

Corteza turned back Huidji See of the Netherlands in the first round while Souquet gutted out an 8-7 triumph over Mika Immonen of Finland.

Meanwhile, out-of-form Efren “Bata” Reyes fell in the hands of England’s Darren Appleton, 5-8, at The Block in SM North Edsa.

The 57-year-old Reyes showed his age as he failed to pocket easy shots and committed crucial errors including an illegal break–leading to a one-nine combination by Appleton that sealed the win.

The crowd’s darling, Reyes moved to within 4-5 after falling behind by three racks in the fifth.

But Appleton, the 2009 winner of the event, showed great resolve as he even gave Reyes a dose of his own medicine with a couple of trick shots.

Reyes, perhaps the most celebrated pool artist in the history of the sport, showed signs of life with his impeccable safety shots that included a shot where he squeezed in the cue-ball in between the red three and the rail to the delight of the fans.

However, Reyes failed to seize the opportunities with his poor preparation from one ball to the other.

Orcollo will get his hands full against Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jung-lin even as Lee Van Corteza will clash with multi-titled German Ralf Souquet with the winner advancing into the semifinals on Monday.