Django settles for 2nd, bows to UK star

WARSAW Poland – Steve Knight of England collected his first major international trophy Sunday as he ran out a 7-1 winner over Filipino ace Francisco "Django" Bustamante to take the Victor Chandler World Pool League championship.

Knight, the UK’s No. 1 player, collected a check for $12,000. Bustamante took the runner-up check for $7,000.

Knight advanced to the finals by beating Jim Rempe, 7-5, in the semifinals.

Bustamante, the Germany-based Puyat Sports star, booked his berth in the final with Knight by cruising to a 7-2 victory over Ralf Souquet of Germany in the other semifinal match.

Bustamante won the leg and proceeded to win four racks on the run, with Souquet visiting the table just once. When Souquet did get his chances, he made errors and a brief comeback was thwarted when Bustamante took the score to 6-2.

Souquet had an opportunity to save the match as Bustamante made an uncharacteristic miss, but left the 4-ball in the clear and Django took full advantage to win the match, 7-2.

Commented Souquet: "After the first rack, I knew I wasn’t going to win. Don’t ask me how! Francisco hadn’t been playing well throughout the tournament but tonight he played very well indeed."