2008 Pool Masters fixtures announced

THE draw for the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters has been made.

Defending champion Thomas Engert (Germany, right) will be taking part in the opening match of the tournament against Rodney Morris (USA).

The event, which is one of the most prestigious in the pool calendar, will be staged at The Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, from Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11.

This is the first time in the competition's 16-year history that it will be staged in America and 16 of the world's best players will be vying for the $62,000 prize fund.

England's current World Champion Daryl Peach has a tricky looking opening round match against 2001 World Champion Mika Immonen (Finland), while the other English players - Mark Gray and Imran Majid - meet Alex Pagulayan (Philippines) and Shane Van Boening (USA) respectively.

Mosconi Cup team-mates Tony Drago (Malta) and Niels Feijen (Holland) will play each other in Round One, while there will be an intriguing encounter as veteran Ralf Souquet (Germany) is up against 18-year-old World Junior Champion Ko Pin-yi (Chinese Taipei).

The other ties will see Francisco Bustamante (Philippines) meet Bruno Muratore (Italy) and Corey Deuel (USA) against Masters newcomer Christian Reimering (Germany).

"With four World 9 Ball Champions, six US Open Champions and a host of other title-holders in the field, I believe this will be the toughest ever World Pool Masters," said Barry Hearn, chairman of event promoters Matchroom Sport.

"We will have winner breaks, race-to-eight matches on the toughest equipment and it will take a series of fantastic performances over the three days to lift this prestigious trophy."

On Friday evening the World Pool Trickshot Masters will be taking place at the same venue with six leading players entertaining the crowd with a variety of tricks and stunts.

2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters
Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11
The Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

Competitors
1. Francisco Bustamante (Philippines), 2. Corey Deuel (USA), 3. Tony Drago (Malta), 4. Thomas Engert (Germany), 5. Niels Feijen (Holland), 6. Mark Gray (England), 7. Mika Immonen (Finland), 8. Ko Pin-yi (Chinese Taipei), 9. Imran Majid (England), 10. Rodney Morris (USA), 11. Bruno Muratore (Italy), 12. Alex Pagulayan (Philippines), 13. Daryl Peach (England), 14. Christian Reimering (Germany), 15. Ralf Souquet (Germany), 16. Shane Van Boening (USA)

Schedule (seeded players in brackets)
Friday, May 9
Afternoon session.
Round One
1pm - (1) Thomas Engert (Germany) v Rodney Morris (USA)
2pm - Mark Gray (England) v Alex Pagulayan (Philippines) (8)
3pm - (5) Francisco Bustamante (Philippines) v Bruno Muratore (Italy)

Evening session
World Pool Trickshot Masters (featuring six players)

Saturday, May 10
Afternoon session
Round One
1pm - Imran Majid (England) v Shane Van Boening (USA) (4)
2pm - (3) Ralf Souquet (Germany) v Ko Pin-yi (Chinese