2008 World 8-Ball Championship

Ralf Souquet of Germany won the 2008 World 8-Ball Championship at the finals held last Friday in Fujairah City, United Arab Emirates. It is the first World 8-Ball Championship in the career of the 40 years old German pool player, who claimed the World 9-Ball Championship title back in 1996.
 

Two years after losing the World 9-Ball Championship to Ronnie Alcano, Ralf Soquet had prevented the Filipino star from claiming a second World 8-Ball Championship in a row. After a series of 22 games, and a final result of 13-9, Soquet lifted up the trophy and took home a $60,000 worth of check. 

Souquet victory took Alcano, the 2007 World 8-Ball Championship, by surprise. After winning all the way to the finals, Alcano failed to lead in the final match vs. his long time German opponent. After three games of dry breaks on Alcano's side and easy runouts, things have changed and the score now stood on 3-1. On the 5th game, Alcano was almost on the lead with another triumph, but Souquet perfect break on the 6th game increased the gap again. 

The score was 9-5 before the 15th game, when Alcano played the 8-ball on the break and even though he was almost trapped behind his opponent object balls, sidespinning has cleared a way up to the last ball and changed the score to 9-6. Two games later, the score was 9-8, but on the 18th game Alcano missed a complicated bank shot and left an open table to Souquet who counted yet another victory. After Alcano's 9th victory at the 19th game, the Filipino crowd had no more reasons to roar as on the 22nd game Souquet race to 13 ended with a good break and a beautiful runout.