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Source: Francis Santiago, mb.com.ph
-- A six-man Philippine team tries to make history when it competes in the 1st World Team Pool Championship on January 30 to February 7 in Hannover, Germany.

Double-world champion Ronnie Alcano will banner the all-male team seeking to earn the distinction of being the first champion country in the tournament that stakes $400,000 (P19.2 million) total purse.

Joining Alcano are current world No. 4 Lee Van Corteza, Dennis Orcullo, Marlon Manalo, Warren Kiamco, and Antonio Lining.

World Pool-Billiard Association president Ian Anderson, who was in Manila early this month for the biennial meeting of WPA officers, said the World Team Championship will be the first of its kind and the highest team tournament in the world.

“It’s the first time it’s going to be held anywhere,” the Australian executive said.

The tournament will mark the first time that three disciplines – the 8-Ball, the 9-Ball and 10-Ball – will all be played at the same time in a single event.

“Each country will most likely field in their best players in the tournament regardless of number and gender,” Anderson said. “For example, Jasmine Ouschan is Austria’s best player now, so don’t be surprised if you see her represent Austria. So is the 16-year-old Chinese who won the World 9-Ball title recently in China.”

More than 250 professional players from 50 nations are expected to see action, including the Mosconi Cup champion team from the United States composed of Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, Oscar Dominquez, who already confirmed participation.

Mika Immonen of Finland and Ralf Souquet of Germany, the current world No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, have also confirmed their attendance.

Corteza was runner-up to Immonen in this year’s 2nd World Ten Ball Championship at the World Trade Center in Pasay City while Alcano recently won a gold medal in the Laos Southeast Asian Games.

Orcullo, a former world No.1 player, ruled the Predator 10-Ball Challenge in the United States this year by beating Souquet.