A) The World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) President Ian Anderson (fifth left), Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) President Mohammed Mubarak Al Ramzani (sixth left), QBSF Secretary General Mohammad Al Nuaimi (third left), QBSF Players Affairs Committee Head Mubarak Hamad Al Khayareen (right) and other officials pose with winner Thorsten Hohmann (back row in black) from Germany and runner-up Antonio Gabica from the Philippines during the annual World 9-Ball Pool Championship final at Al Arabi Indoor Stadium in Doha, yesterday. B and C) Hohmann celebrates after winning the final. D) Gabica is seen during the prize ceremony. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP
BY ARMSTRONG VAS
Doha: Thorsten Hohmann of Germany rallied from behind to defeat Antonio Gabica of the Philippines 13-7 to win the 2013 World 9-Ball Pool Championship at Al Arabi Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
The 33-year-old German, who was behind 3-1 in the initial stages of the final, stormed back to equalise the scores at 4-all and thereafter took full control over the proceeding, winning 12 racks in a row to complete a much deserved win.
Although Gabica, an assistant coach with the Qatar Billiards and Snooker (QBSF) for the last four years, won two racks in the middle and one the fag end, it did not help the Filipino’s cause.
For Hohmann this was his second world title in the 9-Ball category. His last world title came 10 years back in England.
The winner collected a purse of $36,000 while Gabica became richer by $18,000.
Hohmann said winning a straight-pool tournament in the United States last week gave him the confidence in Qatar.
“If you look at my career records I have always won a big tournament after a straight pool win. I flew directly to Qatar after my victory in the US last week. The win in the US gave me enormous confidence,” said the German.
“I was never in doubt, I always believed I could win this,” he added.
Hoff explained after his victory: “Although I lost my first match, I knew that I could do it, I lost the first match as I could not practise here and I suffered on account of the jet lag but with each match I got better and better. It feels proud to win the title and the victory in Qatar means a lot to me.”
The German had a dream run after his first loss and he stayed focused and won some close matches against former world champions Denis Orcollo and Francisco Busmante.
Gabica, for whom this was his first final of a world championship, admitted that he lost focus after a mistake in the fourth game, which affected his concentration.
“My preparation for the game was not good, I slept for only four hours. I could not get any sleep as the thought of playing was playing on my minds. I committed a mistake in the initial stages which took my focus from the final and therafter I committed three illegal breaks and lost focus and I could not come back,” admitted Gabica, who was backed by QBSF for the championship.
“Hohmann played a great game and he deserved it,” said Gabica, who spent four years with Hohmann from 1996 to 2000 playing and practising pool in Germany.
Earlier, in the semi-finals, Gabica defeated Karl Boyes of England with a masterful performance, winning seven straight racks, to win 11-6 to advance to the final.
In the other semi-final, Hohmann came up with a clinical finish to beat Carlo Biado of the Philippines, 11-4 .
THE PENINSULA
