Django advances to last 32

Lone Filipino entry Francisco “Django” Bustamante kept pace with the titans of world billiards with an impressive, 100-67 win yesterday over reigning World 8-ball champion Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany in the World 14.1 Straight Pool Championships at the Hilton East Brunswick, in New Jersey, USA.

The former world No. 1 Bustamante, playing under the banner of Puyat Sports, had already secured his spot in the last 32 because of the win alongside former World Pool champions Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer of the US and Mika “The Iceman” Immonen of Finland.

The undefeated trio have already racked up five wins. Archer stunned compatriot Steve Lipsky, 100-24, in Bracket 8 while Immonen routed Mike Davis of the US, 100-52, in Bracket 7.

Bustamante, who is fresh from winning the Blaze 9-Ball Tour Stop worth $3,053 last August 23 to 24 at the Skyline billiards in Brooklyn, New York, also defeated Americans Tony Robles, 100-39 and Carmen Lambardo, 100-79, Vincent Facquet of France, 100-43, and Martin Kempter of Austria, 100-2, in Bracket 5 in the event hosted and organized by the Dragon Promotions of Charlie “The Korean Dragon” Williams.

Bustamante's remaining assignments are against Dan Wallace and Jonathan Smith of the United States in the group stage.

Other top cue artists playing the event include former World Straight Pool champion Allen Hopkins and Mike Sigel of the USA, Nick Van Den Berg and Neils “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands, Thorsten “The Hitman” Hohmann and Oliver “Machine” Ortmann of Germany, Radoslaw Babica of Poland, Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, Alan Rolon of Puerto Rico and world women's No. 1 Jasmin Ouschan of Austria.