Orcollo rules Midwest Open Ring

Filipino cue artists Dennis Orcollo and James Aranas shone in the Midwest Open Billiards Championship at the Michael Billiards in Fairfield, Ohio.

Orcollo ruled the Ring game, while Aranas made the podium of the 9-ball Banks and 10-ball events of the tournament that featured the best players in the world.

The “Robocop” Orcollo, ranked 100th in the world by the World-Pool Billiard Association, edged out Americans Mike Leek and Billy Thorpe to win the Ring game and take the $8,000-prize.

Meanwhile, Aranas, ranked 31st in the world, beat Hunter White in the semifinals but fell to Thorpe in the finals of the 9-ball Banks event.

Aranas, nonetheless, pocketed $2,140 for his runner-up finish.

In the 10-ball event on Saturday (Philippine time), Aranas then took down his compatriot Jeffrey De Luna in the quarterfinals but lost to eventual champion Feder Gorst of Russia in the semifinals.

Aranas co-shared the second runner-up award with American Jesus Atencio, who lost to eventual runner-up finisher Omar Al Shaheen of Kuwait in the other bracket of the semis.