Deutschland über alles.
In a gripping all-German final, Thorsten Hohmann bested his friend, doubles partner and roommate, Ralf Souquet, to grab the Philippine Open Men's title.
By Bob Guerrero
Thorsten Hohmann and Ralf Souquet love playing in the Philippines for many reasons. On top of the list is not having to stay in a hotel. Our good friends Biboy and Marika Soriano always let them shack up in their home on Santolan during tournaments, and Ralf and Thorsten share the same guest room.
Thorsten, or “Toasti” as he is known to his friends, joked “we were thinking of playing to decide who gets the nicer bed.”
As it turns out Hohmann, from Fulda, and not Souquet, from Manching, will sleep sounder. In a topsy-turvy final match on the Men's Division, Hohmann was ever so slightly better, edging Souquet 11-10 in the Philippine Open Men's Division Final last Monday in the Megatrade Hall 1 of SM Megamall.
Earlier Hohmann had also come from behind in a squeaker to win his semifinal over Liu Hai Tao from China, 9-8. Liu led 8-6 before a scratch and a position error let Hohmann seize the last three racks.
In contrast, Souquet bulldozed Antonio Lining, the only Pinoy semifinalist, 9-0 to set up the dream clash. “Minsan lang ako binigyan ng chance.” moaned Lining. “Ang ganda ng break niya.”
The final itself saw Hohmann sprint to an early 5-2 lead. Souquet then tied it with three racks on the trot, the last on a strange play. Ralf called the 10 ball as it hung by a corner pocket, drew the cue ball off the one into a cluster of balls and saw one of them fortuitously knock the 10 in.
Hohmann led again 7-5 after a break-and-run out and was poised to go 8-6 up until the 2003 World 9 Ball champ rattled a 9 Ball. 7-all.
Souquet also drew level at rack 16 when he left the crowd slack-jawed with a kick-in on the one ball then sensationally potted a thin shot on the 4. He followed that up by busting up a cluster with his shot on the 5 on his way to claiming the rack.
There were more fireworks in the next rack when Thorsten jumped in the one ball from distance with his playing cue en route to grabbing the rack and a 9-8 lead.
But Souquet was far from done. A weak Hohmann safety gifted him rack 18, while in Rack 19 Souquet drained a tough reverse cut on the one and ran out to get on the hill, 10-9.
Toasti seemed to be toast.
In Rack 20 the Kaiser broke perfectly, a rarity for him in a match where he picked up 6 dry breaks. But he botched his shot on the one, leaving himself a thin cut on the two which he missed. Hohmann cleaned up and we were on double-hill, 10-10.
Hohmann would not be denied as made a ball on the break, banked in the one ball and easily cleaned up for victory. His celebration was muted, as an ashen Souquet was left to rue his missed opportunity in the penultimate rack.
Hohmann wins US$30,000 for his work while Souquet settles for US$15,000 and the knowledge that this is his fourth final in recent weeks. (US Masters, Super Billiards Expo, European Championship 8 Ball, and this.)
Souquet has yet to achieve his maiden victory in the Philippines, finishing second now at least three times. He was runner-up to Ronnie Alcano in the 2006 World 9 Ball in CCP and two Decembers ago finished second, with Thorsten, in the World Cup Of Pool.
The ladies division of the event was ruled by Chen Siming, a willowy Chinese teen who overwhelmed seasoned British pro Kelly Fisher, 9-3 in the final. Chen, who only turns 18 in December, displayed wisdom and skill beyond her years in outclassing Fisher.
The highlight of the match came in rack 8, when Chen pulled off one of the hardest shots in Pool, a low inside-English three-rail position play from the 7 to the 8 ball. The knowledgeable crowd applauded it mightily.
Chen brings home US$20,000 while Fisher settles for half of that.
I commentated on that match with Allison Fisher, which was an absolute riot. Her dry British wit is always welcome.
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