Vintage Django ousts world No. 1 Gorst, reaches PH Open Last 32

October 24 ------ FRANCISCO "Django" Bustamante turned back the hands of time, stunning world No. 1 Fedor Gorst to move on to the Last 32 of the Philippines Open Pool Championship at Gateway Mall in Cubao. The Team Asia captain engaged in a hill-hill encounter against the world No. 1 and missed on the 8 in the corner pocket in the clincher, but the American also flubbed his shot at the 9, paving the way for Django to take the deciding rack. It followed up Bustamante’s 10-1 rout of Costa Rica's Esteban Robles a day prior in an impressive performance for the 61-year-old.

Efren “Bata” Reyes, though, skipped participation from the tourney as he was under the weather, paving way for the Last 32 clash between Carlo Biado and Reyes Cup MVP AJ Manas. “The Magician” was supposed to take on the reigning world champion in the first session of the day but excused himself from participating.

Manas got through to the next phase with a 10-4 victory over Dennis Po, while also clinching a spot in the Last 32 after his opponent no-showed. Online sensation Jaybee Sucal also crashed out of the Last 64 after falling to Spain’s David Alcaide, 10-9. The 16-year-old fan favorite missed his corner shot on the 8 as the world No. 16 cleaned out the table to book his place in the Last 32. Roland Garcia also eliminated German cue legend Ralf Souquet, 10-6; Anton Raga got the better of Baseth Mocaibat, 10-8; and Bernie Regalario bested Edgie Geronimo, 10-5 in their Last 64 matches. Johann Chua, meanwhile, suffered a shock exit after a 10-8 loss to Yves Cabrito in the first round on Wednesday.

Already advancing to the Last 32 were Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (10-7 vs. Jerico Banares), Jayson Shaw (10-3 vs. Ronel Nalaunan), Jonas Souto (10-6 vs. Kunihiko Takahashi), Pijus Labutis (10-7 vs. Emmanuel Delgado), and Mickey Krause (10-9 vs. Jordan Legaspi). On the other hand, bowing out in the Last 64 were Moritz Neuhausen, who succumbed to a 10-4 loss to John Vincent Vicedo; James Aranas, who lost to Jerwin Capili Samia, 10-6; and Jeffrey de Luna, who fell to Eric Navarrete, 10-9.

Source: spin.ph