Mukai had been firing in bank shots all week. Pool coach Bert Kinister remarked, "You won't see him draw this. I haven't seen him miss a bank all week." Mukai knew the pockets were not welcoming slam shots. So he played the more conservative stop and lined up for what would be his tournament-winning cross-side bank.

The 9 was off by more than a ball as it collided with the second rail. When the rolling ended, Souquet contained his adrenaline and hit the center of the pocket with his final cut into the side. Souquet's remark after rising from the dead? "It ain't over till the fat lady sings!"

This was a popular stop with the players, due in large part because it was conducted at the Wyndham Casino & Resort in Aruba, the southernmost island in the Antilles. Aruba views pocket billiards as another facet in island tourism and actively seeks to draw visitors from the millions of enthusiasts worldwide. Available o­n the island are tables for pool, snooker, and three-cushion billiards. Active tourists now arrive by air or cruise ship to the possibilities of morning golf, afternoon billiards, and evenings at the blackjack tables or in o­ne of the many clubs. This combination, along with resorts and water sports, creates a series of opportunities unique to Aruba.

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