Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan came from behind to turn back former world champion Mika Immonen, 8-6, in the finals to be crowned champion of the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters Monday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The Cabagan, Isabela native was down, 3-6, but the match turned Pagulayan’s way after Immonen’s illegal break, wherein he pocketed a ball but failed to carry two other balls past the headstring.
From there, Pagulayan cleared the table to gain the momentum he needed for a comeback.
The win awarded Pagulayan the $20,000 top purse, and more importantly, gave the flamboyant 28-year-old Filipino his first title of the year.
“This was like winning the World Championship for me. I’ve always wanted it but I’ve finally broken the ice,” said a jubilant Pagulayan, a stalwart of Puyat Sports and member of the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).
Pagulayan had to beat stablemate and former world No.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante, 8-4, in the semifinals to arrange a showdown with Immonen.
Immonen, meanwhile, won over WPA World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi of Taiwan, 8-4, in the other semis pairing.
Immonen settled for the runner-up purse of $10,000, while Bustamante, who won the tournament in 1998 and 2001, took home $5,000, the same amount received by Ko.
Pagulayan and Bustamante will be joined by Efren “Bata” Reyes as they compete in the Predator International 10-Ball Championship starting Tuesday also in Las Vegas.