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Davis Through to Next Stage
Steve Davis, one of the world’s master cuemen through a glittering 28 year career, put another feather in his cap as he beat Italy’s Fabio Petroni to advance to the last 32 of the Philippines World Pool Championship at the PICC in Manila.
The 49 year-old from
Essex
looked in top form as he disposed of the Italian dangerman by a 10-7 scoreline. He now meets local up-and-comer Jharome Pena tomorrow for a place in the last 16 of the $400,000 event.
Things looked bleak for the Nugget early on as Petroni started fast and opened up a handy 4-1 lead.
Davis
though, ground his way back into contention as he took the next four games to steal a 6-4 lead.
Petroni grabbed the next two racks to restore parity before
Davis
put together a string of three to get to the hill at 9-6. In the alternate break format, that is a strong position to be in and although the Rome-based Petroni won the 16th game, the match belonged to Davis and he punched his fist in a victory celebration.
“I’m very pleased to have won that one. He’s a very good player and none of this comes easy, he said.
“I’m playing my way into the tournament and I’m beginning to feel comfortable at the table. This is my eight consecutive visit to the World Pool Championship and my best finish was a quarter final in 2000.
“I don’t profess to be an expert at this game but I’ve played enough of it at the top level over the years to be competitive.
“I don’t know anything at all about Pena but that doesn’t really matter. I’ll just go out there and enjoy myself and see what happens,” he added.
Davis
has played top level 9 ball off and on over the past decade and his outsiders knowledge should not be underestimated.
Another British hope, Hounslow’s Imran Majid, exited the tournament on Table 2 as he took a 10-4 beating from top local gambler
Lee
Van Corteza.
The rangy ‘Van Van’ made it into the tournament via the qualifiers and looks one of a number of tough Filipinos who could make a big impression come the weekend.
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