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Southeast Asian Games multiple gold medallist Lee Vann ?The Slayer? Corteza of the Philippines yesterday bowed to defending champion Mika ?The Iceman? Immonen of Finland, 11-8, in the losers' brackets and wound up as the best Filipino finisher in the 34th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship held at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.
The Davao City native Corteza, playing under the banner of businessman/ sportsman Jonathan Sy of the rising Negros Billiards Stable, earlier defeated Kim Davenport of the United States, while Immonen, also a former World 9-ball ruler, crushed Stevie Moore, 11-5, to arrange a showdown with Corteza.
Despite the loss, Corteza didn't go home empty-handed as he pocketed a consolation prize worth $7,000 (roughly P3.4M) after settling for fourth overall in the $200,000 tournament which attracted 256 of the world?s best cue masters.
Ralf ?Kaiser? Souquet of Germany, the reigning World 8-ball ruler, nipped the last American left in the event, Donnie Mills, 11-10, in the winners bracket to advance to the race-to-13 championship round.
Souquet, earlier beat Corteza, 11-7, in the winner brackets while Mills subdued countryman Rodney ?Rockets? Morris, 11-9.
Immonen and Mills, will dispute the last final slot in the losers? side with the survivor taking on the unbeaten Souquet for this year's US Open 9-ball title and the $40,000 top prize. The second placer will bring home $15,000 while the third placer will receive $10,000.
Other Filipino bets who saw action in the five-day event include ex-US Open 9-ball finalist Ronato ?Volcano? Alcano who is also a former double world champion, Jose ?Amang? Parica, Marlon ?Marvelous? Manalo, Warren ?Warrior? Kiamco, Ramil ?Bebeng? Gallego, Roberto ?Pinoy Superman? Gomez and Al Lapena.
