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Francisco Bustamante of Philippines in action against Mario Morra of Canada during the Stage 2 of the World 9-Ball Pool Championship at Al Arabi Indoor Hall in Doha yesterday. Bustamante won 9-5. RIGHT: Ali Al Obaidly of Qatar lines up a shot during his match against Manuel Gama of Portugal. Gama won 9-3. The Qatari players who feature in Stage 2 are Bashar Hussain, Mohammedd Al bin Ali, Abdulatif Al Fawal, Khamis Al Obaidly, Ali Al Obaidly, Mohd Al Buainain, Mohanna Al Obaidly, Waleed Majed, Israel Rota and Antonio Gabica. The Stage 2 has 128 players competing for the top prize and have been divided into 16 groups of 8. Players play a double elimination format, race to 9, alternate break. The top four players in each group, two from the winner’s side, and two from the loser’s side, will advance to the round of 64. The winner of the 2013 World 9-ball Championship will receive $36,000. The runner-up will take home $18,000. The total prize money is $250,000. The event is sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and is contested by players from 43 countries. The Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation has signed an agreement with WPA by virtue of which Qatar have the right to host the championship till 2017. Pictures by: Kammutty VP
