EFREN “Bata” Reyes narrowly missed out on a spot in the round of round of 64, bowing to Karl Boyes of Great Britain, 9-8, on Wednesday in the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Doha.
It was Reyes’ second loss in the event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association. The 1999 champion lost in the main bracket to Jeong Young Hwa of South Korea.
After leading 5-4, Reyes fell back to 8-6 but forced the match into a hill-hill. The Filipino billiards legend, however, lost in a battle of safeties in the final rack.
Ramil Gallego, Warren Kiamco, Francisco Felicilda, and Lee Vann Corteza, meanwhile, survived the one-loss side and clinched berths in the final 64.
Gallego beat Michel Bartol of Croatia, 9-3, in Group 4, while Kiamco won over Frailin Guanipa of Venezuela, 9-8, in Group 6.
Felicilda won over Ali Obaidly of Qatar, 9-6, in Group 12 and Corteza beat Omran Salem of United Arab Emirates, 9-4, in Group 16. Dennis Orcollo, Antonio Gabica, Carlo Biado, Raymund Faraon, Johann Chua, Jeff De Luna, and Elmer Haya earlier claimed berths in the knockout round.
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