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Final - 19.00 Sunday 21st July
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Earl 'the Pearl' Strickland, the 41 year-old from Greensboro, North
Carolina, has won the 2002 Hasseroder World Pool Championship after
beating Francisco Bustamante 17 - 15 at the Cardiff International Arena.
The match was a thriller with neither player being more than three racks
ahead at any time but it was the Pearl who came on strong down the home
stretch to take the title, his third WPA World Championship. Bustamante,
who had suffered severe personal tragedy earlier this week, when he
learned of the death of his baby daughter, lead for most of the match but
Strickland gamely stuck with him as neither man could get sufficient
momentum to run racks at a time. The balls so often ran awkwardly after
the break and there were an incredible four scratches and one jump off the
table during the match.
The CIA was packed to the rafters for the eagerly anticipated clash
between the tourney's two in-form cueman but instead of an explosive rack
stringing fest, it turned out to be a cagey tactical battle.
Strickland's safety play throughout was exemplary and he escaped from
Bustamante's safeties with some quality kick-shots. However, every time
Strickland seized the initiative his ensuing break shot failed to deliver
the goods. Strickland grabbed the initiative when 15 - 13 down and looking
in danger, as Bustamante scratched on the break as the pool gods frowned
on him. That gave the Pearl the chance he had been praying for and
Bustamante never won another rack. In the next Busta got back to the table
but Earl had too much in the safety department for him. The final two
racks of the match saw Strickland complete very difficult run-outs and
when the final 9-ball dropped Earl jumped onto the match table and started
pumping his fists.
Strickland picks up a cheque for $65,000 whilst Bustamante wins $30.000.
Earl the Pearl; I'm Proud of Myself
Earl Strickland, never short of a word or two, was in effusive mood as he
talked about his third WPA World Championship win. Addressing the post
match press conference, Earl covered all aspects of the match;
"Boy, when he had me 11 - 8 I was starting to get worried but I
was always thinking that if I can get a roll, then I can get in it. I also
knew that if he hit me with a three or four rack package, it would be all
over.
"The breaks were going all over the place and I changed my break cue
during the match. Francisco was making the cue ball work for him more than
me and I certainly took my eye off the ball when it flew off the table.
"Throughout the match my safety game was ideal though, very good. I
thought I kicked very well too. I was a little fortunate at times but
you've got to know when to kick hard and when to kick easy.
"I didn't watch when Bustamante was at the table, I just covered my
eyes and tried to stay composed. When I was watching I was trying to wish
him to make a mistake but when you watch it never works.
"But every time I got back to the table for a shot I got out, but I
really believe that the key to victory was that he didn't hit me with
something large. That was the key.
"I played some quality outs - at 10 - 7 down in particular. Tell me
how big that was? At 15 - 15 I almost didn't get out there and the
pressure was unbelievable but I was thanking the Lord that he didn't hit
me with a barrage especially when I was 11 - 8 down.
"Every game I won when I was behind was critical and I played very
well in tough situations. In the last rack I had a scary shot on the
2-ball.
"I wanted to play a safety and I normally don't think too long but
these guys are the greatest kickers in the world and I could lose the
match if the shot wasn't perfect. So in the end I thought that if I can
pocket it, I can win.
"I didn't sleep well last night, maybe four or five hours and I felt
a little groggy today. This afternoon, I watched the Open on TV, lazed
around and rested. I ate five hours or so before the match because I
wanted to be a hungry fighter.
"At 41 I may not get that many chances at big tournaments like this
because this is the greatest title you can win in the billiard world.
"To come here and win the World Championship is some achievement and
I am very proud of myself as an American."
Django: My Time Will Come
Beaten finalist Francisco Bustamante believes he still has it in him
to become World Champion and insists he will be back next year for another
shot at glory.
Django had led for the majority of the final against Earl Strickland but
the American took his chance when he trailed 15-13 and rolled off four
straight racks to take the title.
But Bustamante, who had suffered great personal tragegy during the week
with the death of his baby daughter Murial, was magnanimous in defeat.
"I can accept it when I lose - I just shake the guy's hand and get
on with it. I haven't played many World Championships, only five or six,
and I hope my time will still come.
"Earlier during the day I had thought about what it would be like to
be called world champion, what it would mean to my family and to the
people at home, and when I came in to the building I was thinking I could
win.
"Second place isn't bad and I would like to dedicate it to my
daughter. I hope she is well where she is.
"It's hard to accept losing after being ahead for so long but Earl is
a good player and although he probably talks too much, I had no problem
with his behaviour during the game.
"When I was 2-1 up I had a chance to win the rack but I missed the
6-ball and that let him back in when I could maybe have won some more
racks.
Bustamante added that he had thought the match was his when he stood just
two racks from victory. "He came back well but I knew that when I
was 15-13 up if I would have made a good position I would have won.
"But I scratched and he came back and I can accept that. Now I will
go and play in Las Vegas in August and then in the US Open in September
and hopefully I can come back here next year and win.
