Philippine Open Final Four: Germany Vs The Philippines

When the Philippine Open started a few days ago, there were so many pool luminaries who had the credentials and experience to make it all the way to the top.

No one expected it to be a showdown between two countries.



The Philippines vs Germany Round 1

Ralf Souquet is acknowledged as one of the best players in the world. The German pool master is also well known to Filipino fans  as a cool customer, a cerebral player who beats with you positioning and precise shotmaking.

Antonio Lining, on the other hand, is a player who seems unable to get out from under the shadow of other great Filipino players. He's had his share of successes but none which have catapulted him into the ranks of Efren "Bata" Reyes, Francisco "Djanggo" Bustamante, Dennis Orcullo, Ronnie Alcano and the like.

This match up will be about nerves. The first one to go dry or miss an easy shot will probably be eliminated.

The Philippines vs Germany Round 2

Thorsten Hohmann is another well known German pool player but one who wasn't supposed to play in this year's Philippine Open. Hohmann already committed to another tournament in the US when the call from the Philippine Open organinzers came. Hohmann reluctantly turned down the Philippine Open invitation only to be informed later that his US tournament has been canceled. Hohmann called up the Philippine Open organizers to inform them of his availability...except that all slots had already been taken. The Russian Ruslan Chinakhov pulled out due to an illness and Hohmann got a call asking him to fly in. The German flew in and he has now landed in the tournament's Final Four.

And then we have Carlo Biado. The former golf caddie is the Cinderella story in this tourney, upsetting big name after big name in his dream run to the Philippine Open semifinal round. There is not much known about this upstart but I have a feeling we may know more about him if he makes it to the Finals of the Philippine Open.

My fearless prediction: Lining wins over Souquet but Hohmann wins over Biado.

More on this story, here.