Ralf Souquet

Ralf Souquet – MANILA, Philippines – Reigning World Cup champs Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante will represent Asia in the much awaited Asia vs Europe Men’s 9-Ball Team Challenge on January 15 at the Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel in Brunei. Reyes and Bustamante, both playing under Puyat Sports, will be joined by host country’s Teo Chee Soon and Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi and Lu Hui Chan representing Team Asia. The event, which will run until January 17, is organized by the Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association and supported by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. The tournament is also sponsored by GHK Motors Sdn Bhd and sanctioned by Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF). The European team players will be composed of double world champion (WPA 9-ball and 8-ball) Ralf Souquet of Germany, 2008 World Ten Ball titlist Darren Appleton of Great Britain, Ruslan Chinahov of Russia, Nick van den Berg and Niels Feijen of the Netherlands. “I hope to do well in this prestigious event,” said Reyes, acknowledged as one of greatest pool player of all time. He teamed up with Bustamante to win last year’s World Cup of Pool in Manila. A total of US$45,000 prize money will be up for grabs with the team champion getting US$27,000, team runner-up (US$13,000), single match winner US$5,000 and US$500 per match x 10 matches. The Pinoy dynamic duo beat the pair of Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann of Germany, 11-9, in the finals to regain the World Cup they won during the inaugural staging in 2006.