Advertisement

Immonen leads Finland to World Cup of Pool glory

In a final match that few expected, Finland's Mika Immonen and Petri Makkonen defeated a determined Polish duo of Karol Skowerski and 19-year-old Wojciech Szewcyk 10-8 to win the 2012 PartyPoker.net World Cup of Pool.

The victory came a day after the Finns eliminated the powerhouse Philippines B team of Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante and hours after they out-steadied the USA 9-7 in the semifinals.

The American pair of Rodney Morris and Shane Van Boening lacked the quality to progress, with Morris committing some careless errors, including a miss on the six in the last rack that doomed them.

Poland routed the young Chinese Taipei team of Han En Su and Hsin Ting Chen 9-4 in their semifinal.

Finland becomes the fifth nation to lift the cup, after the Philippines (twice), China, (twice), the USA, and Germany, who won last year's event.

The packed crowd at Robinson's Place Ermita was treated to an entertaining final, as were the millions watching on Solar Sports.

After Finland won the first rack, Poland took the next three, with back-to-back break-and-run-outs.

The Poles should have bagged the fifth but Skowerski scratched on the seven ball, allowing Finland to clean up. They took the next two as well to go 4-3 ahead.

Poland then grabbed four of the next five to build a 7-5 advantage. Rack twelve was won with a terrific 3-9 combination by Skowerski after Szewcyk, who is in his last year of high school, drained a long one ball.

Then Finland won the next two after Poland broke dry and snookered themselves on a four ball to knot the score up at seven-all.

After Makkonen scratched on the break Poland ran out to edge ahead.

In the next rack Szewcyk tried playing safe with the one ball far away and missed it completely, allowing the Finns to level.

Poland looked good in the next rack after Makkonen scratched getting out of a snooker. But the Poles landed awkwardly on a six ball near the rail and near the side pocket. Skowerski tried the angled shot from the short side into the far corner but it clanged off the side pocket point.

Finland cleared for 9-8.

In rack 18 Poland looked like they were set to force a hill-hill decider but Skowerski left Szewcyk on the wrong side for the six ball in relation for position to the next ball. The youngster had to play it with extra spin and power to go around the rails for position, and he missed.

Finland calmly ran out for victory, with Makkonen burying the winning 9 Ball and celebrating with his partner.

It was a high-quality final with both teams finishing with just five unforced errors. Everyone was impressed with Makkonen's composure, Immonen even saying on Facebook that the 24-year old "carried me at times."

Szewcyk was also a revelation, with his spectacular potting and buttery-smooth stroke. The 28-year-old Skowerski provided the guiding hand throughout the Eastern European's fairy-tale run.

Poland were seeded 10th in the beginning of the tournament while Finland were the 16th and lowest seed.

Mika told emcee John McDonald afterwards that he was happy to win, especially since the Finns started the tournament 4-0 down to South Korea.

"We kinda deserve this. And Petri... Im just so proud of him."

The Iceman also expressed to the packed crowd just how much he enjoys it in this country.

"Mahal ko ang Pilipinas. It's always so special to come back here."

Immonen has been staying in the Makati house of his friend, Keith Basso, and Basso told me that Mika has been practicing 5-7 hours a day for this event.

It ends a long dry spell for Immonen, who had not snapped off a big title in many moons, although he did finish second to Dennis Orcollo in last year's Predator International 10 Ball.

The victory is also a coming-out party for Makkonen, who just turned pro.

Finland wins US60,000 for the victory in the event produced by Matchroom Sports.

You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.