Both
China sides lead the way into the Final 16 at the 2014 World Pool Team
Championship in Beijing.
After three days of round robin group play, in
which 25 teams from all over the globe dueled in a veritable cavalcade of
8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball, the 2014 World Pool Team Championship has been
whittled down to the Final 16.
All matches from here through Saturday will be
single elimination, and you can bet your last Chinese Yuan that the tension
and drama levels inside the Tongzhou Lhue High School arena in Beijing will be
thick and hot. For not only are the teams playing for $300,000 in prize
money-with $80,000 going to the winning side— they are also competing for
national pride. There’s something about wearing your country’s flag and having
the backing and support of your fellow countrymen and teammates that takes
this sport to a whole other dimension.
Leading the way in terms of support will be both China sides, both of whom
completely waltzed through their group unscathed all week. But while the
Chinese squads are certainly formidable on paper, they both have had
absolutely no competition in their groups.
Each China side had what could be considered the easiest draws in the event.
Now, however, that will all change. And while China 1—with Li He Wen, Wu
Jiaqing, Chu Bing Chia, Han Yu, and Chen Siming-- and China 2—with Liu Haitao,
Dang Ching Hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiaofang, and Liu Shasha-- will probably advance
at least to the quarters and perhaps further, it all comes with a caveat that
other teams won’t have to deal with. The pressure from the home fans placed on
both China teams will be massive.
The one team that won’t have to deal with that problem are the defending
champions, Chinese-Taipei. The Taiwanese, featuring a powerhouse lineup of
Chang Jun Lin, Ko Pin Yi, Hsu Kai Lun, Fu Che Wei, and female player Chou
Cheih Yu, have been untouchable all week here in Beijing. They are playing in
that quiet, smooth style that carried them to the title two years ago in this
very same arena. Today in their last match of the group stage, the Taiwanese
went up against Korea, which was fighting for survival. Although Taiwan was
already guaranteed a spot in the Final 16, they showed no mercy on the Ga
Young Kim-led Koreans, winning the six-match showdown easily, 5-1.
Another
team that looks unbeatable right now is the Philippines. Dennis Orcollo, Lee
Vann Corteza, Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit have all the winning experience in
the world to see themselves to the winner’s circle on Saturday. And they have
been all business so far this week. Today the Philippines went up against a
very formidable Poland side and basically toyed with the Poles, winning in a
rout 6-0.
The Philippines could be looking at a potential quarterfinal matchup vs.
Chinese-Taipei. Everyone and their brother expects the Philippines to get past
Indonesia on Thursday. Chinese-Taipei, though, will have to buckle down as
they will be banging heads with a very strong Austrian team.
Great Britain, featuring Daryl Peach, Chris Melling, Karl Boyes and Allison
Fisher, have the fully loaded talent and moxie to make a serious run. Against
Germany today, the Brits looked their usual top class and won the match 4-2,
although both sides were guaranteed a spot in the Final 16 no matter who won.
The Brits will play Vietnam in the Final 16 and are heavily favored to advance
to the quarter-finals. There they will probably meet up with China II which
plays heavy underdog Sweden. Great Britain vs. China II promises some serious
fireworks should it come to pass, as it most probably will.
One team that has flown under the radar but can definitely win this event is
Japan. The Japanese are easily the loosest squad in this event, laughing and
enjoying themselves on every shot. It has served them well in the past as they
went all the way to the finals here two years ago before losing to
Chinese-Taipei. Japan goes into their Final 16 match with the USA a big
favorite. The Americans squeaked into the Final 16 and haven’t played up to
standard yet this week.
The winner of Japan-USA will play the winner of Germany-Russia, which will be
a very close match up.
