Pagulayan Eases Into Masters Final

ALEX Pagulayan strolled into the final of the 2006 PartyCasino.com World Pool Masters with an emphatic 8-1 semi-final victory against Raj Hundal.

The 2005 Masters champion took an early lead but Pagulayan won eight successive racks as he qualified for his first ever Masters final.

A delighted Pagulayan said: “That’s the best I have played all tournament.

“The second rack was crucial and when I won that one it really gave me the strength to go on and win. Raj was a bit unlucky but that was my game. I’m looking forward to the final and I really feel I have a chance of winning.”

Pagulayan won the lag but then missed a shot at the 1-ball and later made another error off an attempted shot to let Hundal in and he accepted the chance to move into an early leg.

The second rack was one of the longest of the competition so far after Hundal scratched off the break. After that the supporters were treated to a fine exhibition of safety and tactical play as both players successfully escaped from potentially rack-losing situations.

Hundal nearly moved 2-0 ahead as he almost got a slice of fortune but the 9-ball was left hanging over the top left pocket. However, Pagulayan now had an opportunity that he took to bring the score back to 1-1.

In the next rack a terrible miss on the red 3 from Hundal that hit the knuckle of the middle pocket put Pagulayan in and the Canadian/Filipino player made it 2-1.

Hundal broke in the fourth and potted two balls but missed an attempted bank on the 1-ball as Pagulayan again took full advantage to go two racks up for the first time in the match.

Pagulayan broke and ran through the fifth rack, although he made the shots on the 8-ball and 9-ball more difficult than they should have been but he recovered well with two fine shots along the rail to go 4-1 ahead.

A 2-9 combo moved Pagulayan further into the lead and left Hundal facing an uphill task to reach his second successive final.

It became 6-1 soon afterwards as Pagulayan ran through the seventh and Hundal’s mood failed to improve when he had no clear shot after his break in the next. A long-pot on the 1-ball from Pagulayan saw Hundal spend more time in his seat as his opponent reached the hill in complete control with a 7-1 lead.

With Pagulayan breaking in the ninth rack, he had a spot in the final within his grasp and made no mistake to go within one match of the $20,000 top prize.