By Ronnie Nathanielsz

FORMER world pool champion Alex Pagulayan faces Dutchman Nick van den Berg, the current no. 3 in Europe, in his opening match at the 2009 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from May 8 to 10.

Pagulayan, who defeated Mika Immonen in the 2008 Masters and former world no. 1 Dennis Orcollo, are among 16 of the finest players in the world competing for the top prize of $20,000.

Two members of the victorious European Mosconi Cup-winning side will go head-to-head, while among the pick of the first-round matches sees Tony Drago and Niels Feijen, two of the players who helped Europe win the last two Mosconi Cups, paired together.

Barry Hearn, Matchroom Sport’s Chairman, believes the 2009 Masters could be the best yet.

“Once again the Masters has thrown up a selection of superb first- round games that would require a brave man to pick the winner,” said Hearn. “Pagulayan has the toughest of matches as he opens his defense against dangerous Dutchman Nick van den Berg.”

That will be followed by veteran American Johnny Archer’s first Masters’ appearance since 2004 when he faces Imran Majid.

“Van Boening may well have an easier task this time round when he squares off against young Korean girl Yu Ram Cha, but she can certainly play and the South Dakota Kid will be under pressure. Tony Drago meets Niels Feijen in a match no one would want to predict while five-time Masters champion Ralf Souquet has a potential banana skin as he goes up against rising young Russian star Ruslan Chinakhov,” Hearn said.

Another potentially explosive confrontation sees World Tenball Champion Darren Appleton playing ’05 Masters winner Raj Hundal.

Now representing India, ‘The Hitman’ is as confident as they come, while Appleton is quietly establishing himself as one of the most feared players in the world.

Orcollo goes up against Canadian veteran Alain Martel and in the final match of the first round, US Open Champion and ’08 Masters runner-up Immonen has an unenviable clash with Chinaman Fu Jianbo, a World Cup and Challenge of Champions winner.