Alex Pagulayan – Philippines

Age -                     27 (Born 25 June ’78)

Based -                 Toronto, Canada and Manila, Philippines

Nickname -            The Lion

Hobbies -               Poker, Basketball and Malls

Cue Used -             Schon Butt, Predator Shaft

Achievements -      2005 US Open Champion. 2004 World Pool Champion. Runner-up 2003 World Pool Championship. Runner-up 2002 US Open. Joss Tour Grand Final Winner. Runner-up 2003 Reno Open,

Following successive final appearances at the World Pool Championship, including winning it in 2004, Pagulayan is now one of the biggest names in world pool and a must-have for any tournament promoter. The entertaining Canadian-Filipino makes any tournament complete and years of hardened gambling on the road have helped make him one of the most feared players out there.

After the heartbreak losing to Thorsten Hohmann at the final hurdle at Cardiff in 2003, he went one better in Taipei the following year, taking down underdog Chang Pei-wei in a superb battle. Since then Alex has gone on to establish himself as a bona fide celebrity in his native Philippines whom he now represents.

In 2005 Pagulayan has had three big wins – the Derby City Classic 10-Ball Ring Game and the SML Entertainment 9-Ball Championship showed he still had the killer touch, but it was his victory over Jose Parica in the US Open final that cemented Pagulayan’s place in the pantheon of modern greats. Although a serious poker player now, pool remains his first love.