Philippines’ Orcullo, Kiamco and Gomez to bid for Asia’s first World Straight Pool Championships in US

Philippines’s No. 1 billiards player Dennis Orcullo will be joining compatriots Warren Kiamco and Roberto Gomez in the Andy Cloth 75th World Tournament (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Former world billiards champion and now the Philippines’s No. 1 player Dennis Orcullo will be joining compatriots Warren Kiamco and Roberto Gomez in the Andy Cloth 75th World Tournament of 14.1 on July 13-19 in New York City, USA.

According to a message sent Tuesday by Dragon Promotions top man Charles Williams, the Filipino trio will be fighting for Asia’s first gold in the oldest billiards event in its 75th production.

Williams said that, as usual, a star studded field is expected this year at Steinway Billiards Cafe, which is once more hosting this world class event.

Williams reported the competitive trio of Filipino champions is seeking to make history as no other Asian country has had as much success as the Philippines.

Former 14.1 bronze medalist Orcullo, quarter-finalist Kiamco and the debut of World 9-Ball silver medalist Gomez will seek to unseat the Europeans and Americans and do what no Asian has done before in 102 years by becoming World Straight Pool champions.

Orcullo came close with a bronze in 2007, with Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante both receiving silver medals in other attempts for the elusive gold.

The three players will have to play six matches each in the first stage of the championship.

If they qualify in their respective groups, they will advance to a double elimination knockout stage.

If they advance again, they qualify for the final stage of 16 players in a single knockout stage, but with longer match races.

The finals will be a race to 300 balls made first, which could take as long as 6 hours.