Naoyuki Oi displayed a spectacular performance to complete an 11-3 rout of Indonesian surprise package Irsal Nasution and become the Carabao International Open champion in Jakarta.
Former Helsinki Open champion Oi doubled his World Nineball Tour ranking title tally in the Indonesian capital, clinching the $20,000 top prize and regaining his spot inside the world’s top 20 on the nineball rankings.
Japan’s Oi compiled eight break and runs and a title-winning golden break in an empathic victory over former Indonesian World Cup of Pool regular Nasution, who received limited opportunities against a formidable opponent somewhere near the peak of his powers.
European Open runner-up Oi dropped a mere five racks in routine victories over Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Alghamdi and Meynard Tippard of the Philippines to qualify for the last 64, where he whitewashed Genesis Ouano 10-0.
He needed comebacks from 8-6 and 7-5 behind to beat Indonesia’s Ismail Kadir and Chinese Taipei Open runner-up Ronel Nalaunan, defying five break and runs from the latter, while his campaign also involved more commanding wins over Paolo Gallito and Marvin Asis.
Nasution, meanwhile, endured defeat during the double elimination phase at the hands of World Championship semi-finalist Bernie Regalario, although he exacted revenge on that loss in the semi-finals after notable hill-hill wins over Sean Malayan and Oliver Szolnoki.
Once an Indonesian World Cup of Pool regular and on the team that defeated Germany’s Ralf Souquet and Thorsten Hohmann in 2015, Nasution followed in Albert Januarta’s footsteps and became the second Indonesian to reach a WNT ranking final.
Elsewhere, US Open champion Aloysius Yapp was amongst the early round casualties following defeats to Pakistan’s Mubashir Raza and Indonesia’s Ismail Kadir, while Indonesian number one Januarta also departed following an 8-7 defeat to Luong Duc Thien.
Top seed Carlo Biado was beaten 10-8 in the last 64 by Ronel Nalaunan, while Robbie Capito and Duong Quoc Hoang exited in the last 32, prior to third seed Johann Chua’s 10-3 defeat to Bernie Regalario in the quarter-finals.
The World Nineball Tour ranking tournaments resume with the inaugural Pattaya Open in Thailand from March 2-6 following Premier League Pool, which takes place from February 19-22 in Florida.
