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CHANDLER WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP Cardiff International Arena / Day 8 - Saturday July 8th Quarter Final Results - Comment & Quotes Ismael Paez (Mex) bt Peter Nielsen (Den) 11 - 9 No Flies on Ismael! Live-wire Mexican veteran Ismael Paez wowed the crowds at the Cardiff International Arena this afternoon as he advanced into the semi-finals of the Victor Chandler World Pool Championship with a nerve-jangling display against Dane Peter Nielsen. Paez ran out an 11 - 9 winner in a very tense match and will meet the winner of the Strickland / Luat clash tonight. Nielsen held his own throughout the match but at 10 - 8 down and breaking, he managed to send the cue ball sailing off the table and out of the arena. With ball in hand Ismael dished up and held on to run out in the 20th and final rack. Paez, who appears to be a hyper-energetic bundle of nerves, had the sell-out CIA crowd on his side as he danced around the table at breakneck speed. Paez, residing in Los Angeles but initially from Mazatlan, Mexico, seemed to be working on the basis that jumping up and down and waving his stick would greatly increase his chances of the ball going in the pocket. Ismael's concentration was such that when huge fly landed on his nose mid-shot, he paid no attention, much to the merriment of the crowd. Commenting afterwards Paez was modest in his achievements, " I didn't know what time I was playing and then Ernesto Dominguez told me I was on in five minutes. I had no practice, no dinner, no nothing and though I won I didn't play good. " That fly landed on my nose and I looked at him, he looked at me then I played the shot. If I played another 50 tournaments, that could never happen again! " I believe I can win this Championship because you know, everytime I play in a foreign country for the first time, I win! I won the Japanese Open in 1989 from a field of over 200 players, and in 1998 I won in Spain on the Eurotour on my first visit, so maybe the same thing can happen in Wales. " I've got a lot of fans out there now. The people here really enjoy and understand the sport and I like to entertain them, that is my business. I don't care who I play in the semi-final because what is important is how I play. " I'm guaranteed $15.000 which is good . I need to pay off my credit card! " For Peter Nielsen, it was a big disappointment after brilliant wins over American players Jeremy Jones and Allen Hopkins: " It was a good game and I felt good in there but I needed some rolls which didn't come. There were two breaks where I scratched on one and went off the table on the other. " Sure I feel bad but Ismael is funny to watch and I wish him well. Hopefully I can look forward to playing in the Mosconi Cup in December." send by luke.riches |