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RESULTS: CHINESE TAIPEI 5-8 POLAND, JAPAN 4-8 HOLLAND
TEAM POLAND produced another great performance at the SM Mall North Annex in Manila as they took down the fancied Chinese Taipei side by 8-5 to book a spot in Saturday's PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool quarter-finals.
The dynamic duo of experienced Radoslaw Babica and very solid up-and-coming Mateusz Sniegocki had too much for the lacklustre duo of Yang and Lai, who had no real sparkle throughout and looked there for the taking.
By contrast, the two Polish players, both hailing from Poznan, looked a very tight unit in parts and seemed to be enjoying the centre stage experience.
"We practice a lot and we played good. But there was a lot of pressure for us in this match and we made some mistakes but we still advanced and I'm glad we're winning," said Sniegocki.
In a dour encounter, Holland made their way to Saturday's quarter-final stages at the expense of Japan at the SM Mall North Annex where they will now meet Germany.
The Dutch pairing of Niels Feijen and Nick van den Berg seemed to take every second available from the shot clock as they methodically worked their way around the table accumulating the racks as they kept Japan at bay.
The opening stages were fairly level as the teams kept it tight at 3-3 but the ultra-prepared Dutch team, with former Mosconi Cup coach Johan Ruijsink in their corner, cashed in on some lax play from the Japanese to move into a 5-3 lead.
With some flag waving fans in the audience, Satoshi Kawabata and Hayato Hijikata, gave them something to cheer about when they took the next to keep themselves in it.
That was to be their final contribution to the game as the Dutch took the next three games to book their last eight spot.
"It should be an exciting match against Germany because they're both good guys and great players and ex World Champions," said Feijen.
"It could be a huge advantage that we play like this a lot in practice and if we do it right we come out on top tomorrow," added Van den Berg.
MINUTE-BY-MINUTE LIVE BLOG
QUOTES: NIELS FEIJEN (HOLLAND): "Playing Germany next in the quarter-finals should be an excellent match as both Ralf (Souquet) and Thorsten (Hohmann) are good guys, great players and both former World Champions so it should be good."
NICK VAN DEN BERG (HOLLAND): "It will just be another match and we've been practising hard together and working on the break a lot so that will be a huge advantage for us."
6.18pm: Holland become the sixth team to qualify for the quarter-finals after seeing off a spirited challenge from Team Japan. FINAL SCORE: JAPAN 4-8 HOLLAND
6.10pm: They do just that as van den Berg pots the 9-ball and the scoreboard shows 7-4.
6.07pm: Feijen and Van Den Berg move closer to the target by winning the next and when Kawabata scratches in the next, Holland should go to the hill.
6.03pm: A jump shot on the blue 2 by Feijen gets a round of applause as the ball disappears into the pocket.
5.55pm: Japan's fans, armed with flags and looking dangerous, are in a good mood at the end of the ninth rack as the Japanese side reduce the deficit to one.
5.47pm: Kawabata's attempted table-length bank on the 7-ball goes horribly wrong and for the second successive rack Japan gift the Dutch a rack.
5.42pm: A Japanese error brings the Dutch back to the table and the sixth seeds do what they have to and make it 4-3.
5.35pm: Japan win the next two racks the scoreboard shows 3-3.
5.23pm: Van den Berg's two-rail escape is partly-successful. He connects with the ball, but leaves the 1-ball on.
5.22pm: Kawabata leaves a tight trap for the Dutch as the 1-ball is on the bottom rail and the cue ball is tucked up behind the 9-ball on the top rail.
5.20pm: Holland run through the fourth and move 3-1 in front.
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5.15pm: Anyway, back to the pool and Japan have a chance after Holland lose position but Kawabata comes unstuck with only the 7 and 9-balls left on the table. Holland finish the job and lead 2-1.
5.12pm: Fashion fans will be interested to know that a local is sporting a turquoise, purple and orange shell suit. I'd like to say it's beautiful. But, er, I'd be lying. Still, a welcome addition to the World Cup and good to see the shell suit make a welcome return to television screens for the first time since 1994!
5.09pm: A Japanese scratch in the early moments of the third gives Holland a chance to retake the lead.
5.07pm: It has been near flawless pool from all four players so far. This could be a good one! Japan take the second. 1-1.
5.02pm: It gets tougher for Holland as Van Den Berg's break is an illegal one as Japan get their first shot of the match.
5.00pm: Holland win the lag, produce a fine break and it is a very comfortable and routine run out for an early lead. Holland will be very happy if the rest of the match is this easy. 1-0.
4.55pm: The second match of the afternoon session is between the Japanese team of Hayato Hijikata and Satoshi Kawabata and Dutch duo Nick Van Den Berg and Niels Feijen. Holland triumphed 8-3 over Vietnam in the first round, while Japan overcome Croatia 8-6 after being 6-3 behind.
QUOTES: MATEUSZ SNIEGOCKI (POLAND): "We practice a lot and we played good. But there was a lot of presure for us in this match and we made some mistakes but we still advanced and I'm glad we're winning."
4.45pm: Poland claim a fantastic victory. At times it was not thrilling from both sides but that will not matter one bit to Sniegocki and Babica. They advance into the last eight and will meet either Russia or Philippines A. FINAL SCORE: CHINESE TAIPEI 5-8 POLAND
4.38pm: Yang's hard work is immediately ruined by Lai who misses the ball. Yang later tries a flash bank shot on the 1-ball, similar to his last effort, but lightning does not strike twice and Poland are a few pots away from the quarter-finals.
4.37pm: They don't finish the job at the first opportunity as they have to push out from the break but Lai's attempted bank shot on the 1-ball does not make it into the pocket. However, yet again things go wrong and Sniegocki has to play safe. He does so very well as the cue ball is tight behind the 8-ball close to the side rail. However, a fantastic one-rail escape from Yang not only hits the 4-ball but pots it as well.
4.32pm: Poland win the 12th and could wrap up victory in the next as they will be breaking.
4.26pm: That prediction proves correct as Chinese Taipei plod along through the rack. They may not be the most entertaining or charismatic of teams but they are certainly an effective one. Chinese Taipei are one behind. 6-5 to Poland.
4.20pm: Lai is at the table in the 11th and produces a good safety thay has Babica reaching for his jump cue. But it is a terrible result as he misses the pot and leaves a shot on the blue 2 into the right side pocket. The Polish lads should get comfortable in their chairs. They could be there for a while.
4.16pm: An error-strewn rack finally ends in favour of Poland. They now lead 6-4 but need another two for victory.
4.10pm: There have been few mistakes in this match, up until this rack. It appears no side wants to win the rack as every player is making errors. There is a tense atmosphere here in The Annex in the Sm City North Mall a both teams look to secure a quarter-final spot.
4.05pm: But they let in Poland, although not for long as Sniegocki misjudges a safety attempt. Then later in the same rack Babica misses a potable red 3.
4.00pm: Chinese Taipei are called up for an illegal break in the next, although Yang did not think it was and was about to play his next shot when told by referee Cielo Lopez that the break had not counted as three balls were not pocketed or went past the headstring. Poland fail to capitalise as Babica misses a shot at the red 3 and this could soon become 5-5.
3.57pm: They get unlucky in the next as a dry break brings Chinese Taipei to the table. Few balls have been missed so far by either side. Chinese Taipei run out from there but look stone-faced as they win the rack but now trail 5-4. They'll be smiling inside, I'm sure.
3.52pm: Chinese Taipei get an opportunity in the eighth rack but fail to take it as Yang scratches. Poland, who are playing as well as anyone in this tournament so far, now lead 5-3 and look a handful for anyone.
3.43pm: It is a match of high quality as both sides are spending long periods at the table. Poland, who were trailing 3-1, win another two racks in quick succession for their third in a row and now have a 4-3 lead.
3.36pm: A rare error from Chinese Taipei as Yang Ching-shun misses a pot at the 2-ball and that proves crucial as Poland pull one back.
3.32pm: Chinese Taipei, ruthlessly and machine-like, storm through the next two racks in quick succession. This pairing of Yang Ching-shun and Lai Chia-hsiung could take some stopping if they get into their stride. 3-1 to Chinese Taipei.
3.27pm: Sniegocki, who enjoyed a flawless performance in his first match, misses his first ball of the 2009 PartyCasino.net World Cup of Pool as the 4-ball stays out of the pocket. That leads to Chinese Taipei equalising to make it 1-1.
3.20pm: Poland's Radoslaw Babica and Mateusz Sniegocki take the opening rack in this latest race to eight contest.
3.15pm: The afternoon session on day four begins with Chinese Taipei and Poland.
Poland looked hugely impressive in their 8-0 demolition of Belgium, while Chinese Taipei were not at their best in an 8-6 success over Singapore.
