Hiroshi Takenaka – Japan

Age -                     34 (Born 17 January ’72)

Based -                 Hyogo

Nickname -            Samurai

Hobbies -               Pool, baseball

Cue Used -             Zac

Achievements -      2005 Tokyo 9 Ball Champion, 2005 & 2003 Tokyo Open winner, 2005 Seoul Open winner, 2004 Japan Cup winner, 2005 Korea Pro Tour Championship runner-up. Ranked No1 on JBC rankings from 2003 – 2005. 

Playing in his first World Pool Masters is Hiroshi Takenaka, one of the top-ranked Japanese players to have emerged in recent years. With Japan split into two separate associations, Takenaka is the main man on the JBC and with three major championship victories last year, including becoming the first Japanese player to win Tokyo 9 Ball, his time has now come.

Takenaka spent the early part of 2006 honing his play in the USA, and this year’s Masters will be a real test as to where his game is at. The 34 year-old looked to have broken through when he had an excellent World Championship in ’02. He sailed through to the last 16 with some fantastic wins over top class opposition, before he was derailed by Yang 11-7.

ince then he has failed to get out of the group stages at the ‘Worlds’ but his form over the past 12 months  has taken Takenaka to new heights. He faces defending champion Raj Hundal in his opening match and will be quietly confident.