Fourth Seed Pagulayan Crashes Out

Filipino Alex Pagulayan crashed out of this year’s 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship as he lost a hill-hill thriller to Taiwan's seasoned Lee Kun-fang.

It was a bitter disappointment for Pagulayan’s army of home fans who gathered around TV Table Two at the Philippine International Convention Center, but the charismatic 2005 US Open champion can only have himself to blame following some lackluster performances.

An 8-2 win over limited Argentinian Gustavo Espinosa got Pagulayan, the competition’s fourth seed, off to a good start but he then slumped to a shock 8-2 defeat against the dangerous Li-He-wen of China.

That made today’s match a do-or-die affair and on-form Pagulayan, who won the World Championship in 2004, was expected to win. However, Lee had other ideas and he always maintained the pressure leading 4-1, 5-3 and 6-4 before ‘The Lion’ came back at him.

The encounter levelled up at 7-7 and with the Taiwanese player at the table he delivered his best break of the match, spreading the balls across the table. He held his nerve to run out and take his place in the last 64 at Pagulayan’s expense.

“I had no luck on the break and the balls didn’t run for me,” said Pagulayan. “It was the same in last night’s match but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”