Peach wins in controversial fashion

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ENGLAND'S Daryl Peach is through to the semi-finals of the 2007 Philippines World Championship following a sensational last eight victory against Filipino legend Francisco Bustamante.

The game went all the way to a deciding final rack and there was plenty of drama and controversy as Bustamante, leading 10-9, thought that he had won the match following a 3/9 carom shot.

Welsh referee Nigel Rees though, was not so sure that the 9 ball was not contacted first - a foul shot. He asked the players to wait as the big Filipino crowd began celebrating what they believed to be a victory.

Rees then took an age to consult slowed down television replays before making his call which was a foul shot with the 9 ball respotted and ball in hand to Peach.

The drama  did not end there though as Bustamante struggled to accept the decision and left the arena to seek clarification from WPA Sports Director Thomas Overbeck. The experienced German is the senior rules official at the Championship and he clearly explained the situation.

When play resumed, the Englishman had to refocus as the pandemonium around the table died down but he ran badly out of position. He redeemed himself with a superb cut on the 7 ball under pressure. He then took the 8 and 9 to level the match up at hill-hill.

The crowd were starting to play up as referee Rees tried to control them but Peach delivered a fine break shot under pressure. He ran through the balls but left himself a real tester on the final 9 ball and as he sunk it, the boos rang out.

For Peach, supported by a small but vociferous army of fans, the tears began to flow as the magnitude of his achievement sunk in.

The match had swung distinctly in two directions with Peach cashing in on some Bustamante errors in the early stages to open up a 6-1 lead. The 43-year-old Filipino took two back before allowing Peach another chance.

Blackpool-based potter Peach turned the screws to lead 9-4 but a scratch on the break saw the momentum swing back in Bustamante's favour. He began to claw back the racks, employing the soft break that he has used on all his visits to the main TV table.

Peach sat rooted to his chair as Bustamante reeled off the racks and it all seemed a lost cause. That was until Bustamante's fateful foul which Peach, to his full credit, made the very most of.

Date posted: November 10, 2007

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