Engert Defeats Wu Chia-Ching In A Thriller

THOMAS Engert produced a fine performance to clinch a thrilling win over 2005 World Champion Wu Chia-ching.

Engert had been struggling with illness earlier in the day, but battled to win 8-7 to reach the semi-finals, where he will play Nick van den Berg or Fabio Petroni.

"My throat has been sore, I've had a fever and my nose has been running," said Engert.

"But in pool you have a chance to win. When you play another sport like running you are done but in pool you have an opportunity. 

"The only thing you can do is concentrate and just try to win. This was a very good victory. In the beginning he played well and I didn't get many chances to run out the game.

"Then in the middile it changed and I got a good break and had a chance for a 3-9 combination. That gave me the lead and I thought to myself 'I've got a chance to win'.

"I took my chances and he made a big mistake when he led 7-6 and he had the option of a push out or safety. He played a safety, which I thought he did the wrong way, and he left the 1-ball."

Both players had looked impressive in the opening round as Wu thrashed Canadian Tyler Edey, while Engert did well to beat in-form Tony Drago 8-4.

Engert won the lag but could not convert this advantage as Wu clinched the first rack in this race to eight. In the second, Engert produced one of the best shots of the tournament when he was snookered but produced an amazing escape as the cue ball bounced off four rails.

Minutes later the German was asked to produce another safety but this attempt did not go as well as he left the 2-ball on and Wu sunk it. He lost position going from the 8-ball to the 9-ball but later banked the 9-ball into the bottom left corner after Engert had missed a fine cut that would have made the score level.

It could have become 3-0 soon after but Wu, using the rest, missed an effort at the 8-ball and left it close to the pocket. Engert caught the same ball with a fine cut and then downed the 9-ball to bring it back to 2-1.

A 2-9 combination from the German then quickly brought it level and was clearly going to be a tough match for both players to win.

Engert missed an attempt on the 5-ball into the bottom right pocket and that enabled Wu to claim the fifth rack. The sixth ended in unusual fashion as Engert produced three fouls as he tried to escape from safety traps and that automatically handed the rack to Wu, who now lead 4-2.

The German claimed the seventh and had a chance in the eighth as he had a shot at the one-ball after a dry break from Wu. That made it 4-4.

A fine break from Engert saw the 9-ball hanging over the pocket and a 3-9 combination put him in front for the first time in the match, although his lead only lasted a few minutes as Wu broke and ran through the tenth.

The critical moment came when Wu broke Engert's break with a 5-9 combination before a golden break from Wu took him to the hill on 7-5. Engert, the 2004 World Pool Masters champion, kept his hopes alive by taking the 13th rack but Wu would then be breaking for a place in the last four.

But he did not make it easy for himself as a poor safety on the 1-ball gave the German a chance, which he accepted for the first hill-hill contest of the tournament. Engert had the break and held his nerve by running through the rack for a memorable victory.
 
Player profiles
Wu Chia-ching   Thomas Engert

The ref in this match was Michaela T