The crowds at the World Trade Center have been good throughout with upwards of 1500 people per day coming through the door and local attention has been focused squarely o­n national heroes Chao, Ching-shun Yang and Hui-kai Hsia.

When not playing in the TV arena, the areas around the outside tables have been packed as these three attract the kind of following for pool players that o­nly happens in the Far East.

Elsewhere, the Philippines’ contingent of ten players is assured of a good representation in the knock-out stages with the likes of Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes leading the way.

In an all-Pinoy clash o­n the outside tables, Dennis Orcollo finally laid a ghost to rest as he beat Reyes for the first time ever to head Group 2 but the bad news is that Ramil Gallego is out of the competition after a dismal start.

Top players looking shaky include reigning US Open champion Jeremy Jones, who has it all to do in Group 16. He took a 5 – 0 hammering at the hands of Jose Parica o­n the TV table and needs two wins tomorrow to advance.

Ismael Paez, the 2000 runner-up is also out, having failed to make any sort of impression in Group 3 and Germany’s Michael Schmidt is o­n less than solid ground in Group 4. Finally, another American, Max Eberle is also facing a mountain in Group 14 when play commences tomorrow.

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