Once again Filipino billiards master Marlon “Marvelous” Manalo is aiming to bring honor and glory to the country when he competes in the money-rich Million Dollar 9 Ball Shootout slated on August 6-10 at Valley Forge Convention Center in Pennsylvania, United States.
Joining the 30-year-old Mandaluyong-native Manalo in carrying the fight for the Philippine flag are compatriots former world champions Efren “Bata” Reyes and Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, national champion Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza and Santos “The Saint” Sambajon.
“This tournament takes the sport to a whole new level, sana anuman ang mangyari ay Filipino pa din ang magkakamapeon,” said the 2005 World Pool Championships 3rd placer Manalo, who received his biggest paycheck of $100,000 after winning the 2005 Texas Hold'Em Billiards three years ago at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
According to tournament organizer Allen Hopkins, the total pot prize of the Million Dollar 9 Ball Shootout is $1 million with $150,000 going to the winner.
Also competing are reigning World Pool Champion Daryl Peach of England, Guinness 9-ball tour defending champion Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei, Thomas Engert of Germany, Raj Hundal of the United Kingdom, Luc Salvas of Canada, and Dimitri Jungo of Switzerland.
The host country will parade the likes of former world 9-ball titlist Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer and US Open 9-ball winner Shane “The South Dakota Kid” Van Boening, among others.
