Drago Fires Into Masters Last 8

2003 PartyCasino.com World Pool Masters champion Tony Drago looked in devastating form as he surged past Germany’s Thomas Engert to make his way into tomorrow’s quarter final line up.

8-3 was the final score but a burst down the home straight saw the Maltese potter take the final three racks in a matter of minutes.

“I felt a bit shaky even when it went to 4-2 but when I won that next rack I felt comfortable, said Drago after the match.

“He made a couple of mistakes but I didn’t really give him a chance. It won’t be easy but I believe I can win this tournament again – I’m a better player than in 2003.

Drago won the lag and put a ball down on the break but scratched trying a 1/4 combo. Engert though, missed a pot whilst trying to break up a cluster and from there the Malteser ran out to secure the opener.

Engert scratched himself, this time on the break, and with ball in hand Drago ran the table to go into a two rack lead.

Drago though missed the one ball, cueing awkwardly with the rest, but Engert himself came unstuck, overdrawing the cue ball to leave himself hooked. However, a stunning short jump shot pocketed the pink 4 and salvaged the rack for Engert.

Engert broke and ran the next to get to two racks apiece before Drago returned the compliment by doing the same in the fifth to reassert his lead. Engert again hooked himself on the 4 ball in the next and his failed attempt to play safe gave Drago the chance to run out which he accepted with aplomb.

With no realistic pot on the 1 ball, the Maltese potter played an excellent safety. The European No.1 though, fouled trying to extricate himself from it and with the table spread out and with ball in hand, Drago moved the score to 5-2.

Engert wasn’t finished though and he held his break to reduce the deficit to just two racks. Drago however, produced one of his double quick trademark run outs in the next to go to 6-3.

The final stages were a bit of a Drago-induced blur as the Maltese speedster cleared up the last two racks to seal a quarter-final berth.