Mika Immonen, a veteran of the PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters, has finally made it through to the final following a tactical match over Taiwanese teenager Ko Pin-yi which saw the Finn emerge a 8-4 winner.
The dry break was a con stan t factor through the match and safety play dominated throughout. They shared the first eight racks as neither player could assert themselves. Increased confidence from Immonen, coupled with a wilting Ko, saw the Finn dominate the closing stages for the win.
A millimeter perfect lag gave Immonen the break but no balls fell and Ko fluked the 1 ball into the centre pocket, kicking off the top rail. It set up a run out as he took the opening rack. A dry break from Ko allowed Immonen to run out to level the score before Ko cashed in on a fruitless break from his opponent to regain the lead. A fourth dry break allowed Immonen back to the table but he missed a bank off the side rail on the 1 ball. Ko missed it down the rail to give Mika a chance and he duly took it to square the match up at 2-2.
Once again the break shot delivered no balls and the unsmiling Ko negotiated the table to once again regain the lead at 3-2. At last a player made a ball in the break, as Ko dropped the 5 ball. The 2 ball obscured the 1 so Ko pushed out. Both players exchanged safeties before Immonen missed the 1 ball into the corner pocket and left it on for Ko.
The assured Taiwanese looked composed as he ran through the balls for a 4-2 lead. He made two balls off the break in the next but missed the 1 ball trying to squeeze it by the 8 ball, rail first. Immonen grabbed the opportunity to clear, including a magnificent long pot on the 8 ball off the rail, drawing all the way back down table for perfect position on the 9 ball.
Another dry break handed the onus back to Ko and he tied Immonen up in a snooker. The Finn jumped out of trouble but left it on for Ko. He pocketed the 1, 2 and 3 before making his first unforced error as he missed an easy 5 ball. Immonen took full advantage to level the score at 4-4. Another dry break gave the table to Ko and the young Taiwanese pushed out to a jump shot. Immonen put him back in but Ko’s effort left the 1 close to the 9 and Immonen made a 1/9/8 combo to stay at the table.
He played a tight snooker and Ko scratched as he escaped to give Immonen ball in hand. He duly cleared the table to take the lead for the first time at 5-4. Three balls off the break gave Immonen a great chance to increase his lead and he completed the first break and run of the match to take a 6-4 lead.
He couldn’t capitalise on it though as he broke dry, but Ko was starting to show nerves for the first time in the tournament and a poor safety left the ball on for Immonen and he gained in confidence to clear and move to the hill at 7-4. Two balls on the break for Immonen and the lowest numbered ball lying over the corner pocket gave Immonen a great chance for victory and he seized the moment to run out for the win.