Filipino billiards star Efren "Bata" Reyes has regained his status as the top money-maker in the world of pool this year, while newly-crowned world double champion Ronnie Alcano is hot on his heels.

Reyes raked in $2,000 for his ninth-place finish in the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship in the United Arab Emirates recently, to hike his total to $39,350 (P1.95 million).

His collection was enough to snatch the top spot from American Johnny Archer in the Azbilliards.com Money List. Reyes was also the biggest earner in 2006 with a record $644,960 P32.2 million.

Early this year, he brought home $20,000 for winning the Derby City Classic Master of the Table award in Kentucky and the $12,000 for prevailing in the One Pocket Division.

Archer, a former world champion like Reyes, accounted for two titles in the Texas Hold Em Billards in Massachusetts, where he won $25,000 and the Turning Stone Classic in New York that netted him another $8,000.

Alcano moved to fourth spot with $29,000, following his sterling performance in the UAE, where he beat Dennis Orcullo for the crown and the $25,000 prize. Alcano earlier won $4,000 for a runner-up finish in the Korean 9-Ball Open last month.

Five other Filipinos are in the top 20, underscoring the country's dominance of the sport. "This is yet another testament to our continued domination of the sport. The reality is that the Philippines is dominating the billiards industry in all fronts, and with the way things are going on, we're on track for another banner year, maybe better than last year," Ernesto Fajardo, president of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, said.

Another American, George Breedlove, who won the Skins Billiards Championship in Massachusetts, also last month, is at no.3 with $29,100 in his pocket.

Former three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Warren Kiamco is ranked sixth with $19,600, all but $1,600 of it coming from his awe-inspiring sweep of the US Bar Table Championship in Nevada two weeks ago.

He is followed by Rodolfo Luat who has $17,100, while Dennis Orcollo is at no.11 with $14,800.

Former world no.1 Francisco "Django" Bustamante slid to no.15 from no.11 with $10,000, while Filipino pool legend Jose "Amang" Parica is at no.17 with $8,670.

Also in the list are no.5 Niels Feijen ($24,250), no.8 Mika Immonen ($15,250), no.9 John Schmidt ($15,000), no.10 Steve Moore ($14,800), no.12 Jason Miller ($14,550), no.13 Shannon Daulton ($14,350), no.14 Corey Deuel ($11,110), no.16 Rafael Martinez ($9,445), no.18 Billy Palmer ($8,325), no.19 David Gutierrez ($8,130), and no.20 Danny Harriman ($8,050). *CPT

back to top

Peñalosa: I have more power now
Mulo keglers extend lead in K of C tilt
'Reyes regains No. 1 ranking in money list