Francisco Bustamante
Bustamante at an event, ca. 2007
Born (1963-12-29) December 29, 1963
Tarlac, Philippines
Sport country Philippines
Nickname"Django"
Professional1990
Tournament wins
World Champion9-Ball (2010)
Medal record
Representing  Philippines

Men's Nine-Ball
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 BusanDoubles

Francisco Bustamante (born December 29, 1963) is a Filipino professional pool player from Tarlac, Central Luzon and the 2010 World Nine-ball Champion,[1] nicknamed "Django", after the lead character of the 1966 film of the same name,[2] and sometimes also called "Bustie", especially in the United States. Bustamante has won over 70 International titles and is considered one of the best pool players of all time.[3][4][5]

Early life

Bustamante is the youngest of eight siblings. He picked up the nickname "Django" because his character and his appearance with a cigarette in his mouth was reminiscent of the movie character of that name. His father made a living through building toilets and planting rice, and Bustamante also worked in these activities. He began working in his sister's pool hall, racking and spotting balls on the tables, and practising alone on the tables after the hall had closed.[6]

Bustamante never completed high school and concentrated on pocket billiards from 10 years of age. After some success in the Philippines, Bustamante moved to Germany where he stayed for over ten years, competing in a number of tournaments in Europe.[7]

Professional career

Bustamante has won titles including the Munich Masters, the German Nine-ball Championship, and the All Japan Championship. With his win in Tulsa, Bustamante became champion of the 1998 Camel Pro Billiards Series year-long point fund. He then finished the season by winning the Columbus 10-Ball Open and becoming the first player to win three Camel titles in one season. His Columbus 10-Ball title completed the first ever Camel trifecta, with titles in each of the three games contested on the Camel Pro Billiards Series: eight-ball, nine-ball and ten-ball. Known for his flamboyant style at the table and behind-the-back shots, Bustamante also holds the world record for having the most powerful break shot.

In 1999, Bustamante finished third in the WPA World Nine-ball Championship after losing to Efren Reyes, who went on to win. A few months later he won the International Challenge of Champions. He won that tournament again three years later.[8]

The next year, Bustamante won the Motolite 9-ball Tournament, an event held in the Philippines, beating Antonio Lining. The victory prize was $30,000, the largest first prize offered in a Philippine-held tournament at that time.

In 2002, Bustamante received a phone call from his wife during the World Pool Championships, informing him that his daughter, who was less than a year old, had died. Bustamante considered forfeiting his contention at the tournament to return to the Philippines, but some people around including fellow countryman Efren Reyes convinced him to go on.[9] On his way to the final, Bustamante beat Antonio Lining in the last 16, Efren Reyes in the quarter finals, and Ching Shun Yang in the semis. In the final, he met Earl Strickland, twice winner of the tournament. After leading for most of the match, Bustamante lost the match 17–15.

Bustamante won the Peninsula Nine-ball Open, Gabriel's Las Vegas International Nine-ball tournament, the IBC Tokyo Nine-ball International, and the All Japan Nine-ball Championship. He also won the Sudden Death Seven-ball tournament, dedicating the victory to his daughter. With this string of victories, he became the AZBilliards 2002 Player of the Year.[10]

Francisco Bustamante (left) and Alex Pagulayan (center) at the 2004 US Open Nine-ball Championship signing autographs.

Bustamante won the World Pool League in 2004, defeating world nine-ball champion Alex Pagulayan.[11] He reached the finals of that event in 2001 but was beaten by Steve Knight.

In 2007, he was undefeated in the United States Pro Tour Championship held at the Normandie Casino in Los Angeles, California.[12]

For 2007, he was ranked #7 in Pool & Billiard Magazine's "Fans' Top 20 Favorite Players" poll.[13]

He competed in the 2008 WPA World Straight Pool Championship where he finished second behind Niels Feijen, becoming the only Filipino player to reach the finals of the event.[14]

In 2010, Bustamante again reached the finals of the World Nine-ball Championship, winning the match and the title against Taiwan's Kuo Po-cheng.[15]

On July 27, 2010, Francisco Bustamante, along with Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, founders of the American Pool Players Association (APA), were elected to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame,[16] and inducted on October 21, 2010.[17] Bustamante was the second player from the Philippines to be inducted, after Efren Reyes.

Titles and achievements

References

  1. ↑ "Bustamante is new king of World 9-Ball Pool - Sports - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News". Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2002 AZBilliards Player of the Year Archived June 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine interview with Bustamante
  3. ↑ Atonibai (March 13, 2022). "Top 10 Filipino Pool Players of All Time - [Updated]". Atonibai. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Best Pool Players Of All Time". Ranker. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Greatest Players of All Time". Billiards and Pool Principles, Techniques, Resources. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ Ted Lerner (October 2010). "One of a Kind". Billiards Digest. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 24, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ Eddie Alinea (July 9, 2010). "Django's win a realization of a lifetime dream". PhilBoxing.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Bustamante wins Challenge of Champions". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  9. ↑ Interview with Francisco Bustamante Archived June 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
  10. ↑ 2002 AzBilliards Men's Player of the Year, Francisco Bustamante Archived November 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
  11. ↑ "Bustamante Takes First League Title". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  12. ↑ Bustamante Wins US Pro Tour Championship at Normandie Casino Archived November 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, AzBilliards.com. Retrieved June 18, 2007
  13. ↑ "The Survey Says...: Pool & Billiard Magazine's 22nd Annual Player and Fan Poll". Pool & Billiard Magazine. Vol. 26, no. 2. Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. February 2008. p. 14. ISSN 1049-2852.
  14. ↑ "Bustamante Headlines Alternates at Predator World 14.1 Championship". AzBilliards.com. August 25, 2008. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  15. ↑ AzB Staff (July 5, 2010). "Francisco Bustamante Wins World Crown". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  16. ↑ Press Release (July 27, 2010). "Francisco Bustamante, Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart Gain BCA Hall of Fame Election". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  17. ↑ AzB Staff (October 21, 2010). "BCA Hall of Fame Inductees Honored". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Derby City Wrap Up - Melling Wins 9-Ball, Busty is Master of the Table". Azbilliards. Azbilliards. January 28, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Derby City Day Eight - Bustamante Wins One Pocket and Takes Master of the Table Lead". Azbilliards. Azbilliards. January 27, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Bustamante Banks A Win". Azbilliards. Azbilliards. January 25, 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  21. ↑ "DCC 2013 Master of the Table". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  22. ↑ "DCC 2013 9B Banks Div". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Southern Cl. 2013 9-Ball Ring Gm". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  24. ↑ "4th Chet Itow Memorial". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  25. ↑ "4th White Diamond 9-Ball". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  26. ↑ "NJ State 10-Ball C'Ship". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  27. ↑ "West Coast Challenge One Pocket Event". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  28. ↑ "West Coast Challenge 10-Ball Event". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  29. ↑ "World 9B C'ship 2010". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Japan Open 2010 Men's Div". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Asia vs Europe Chall. Match". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Chuck Markulis Mem. 2008". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  33. ↑ "World Cup of Pool 2009". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  34. ↑ "42nd All Japan Championship". cuesports.org.tw. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  35. ↑ "DCC 2008 Master of the Table". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
  36. ↑ "Blaze Tour 2008 #14". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  37. ↑ "HTB Jamboree 2007 1P Div". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  38. ↑ "HTB Jamboree 2007 9B Div". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2007.
  39. ↑ "UPA US Pro Tour C'ship 2007". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
  40. ↑ "World Cup of Pool 2006". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2006.
  41. ↑ "Masters C'ship 2005". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2005.
  42. ↑ "All Filipino Billiards Open". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2005.
  43. ↑ "Turning Stone V". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2005.
  44. ↑ "World Pool League 2004". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2004.
  45. ↑ "PP Tour 2004 #11 Open Div". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
  46. ↑ "Challenge of Champions 2003". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2003.
  47. ↑ "Joss Tour 2002-03 #16". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2003.
  48. ↑ "Joss Tour 2002-03 #15". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2003.
  49. ↑ "Joss Tour 2003-04 #2". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2003.
  50. ↑ "Django racks it up anew, captures All-Japan crown". philstar.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2002.
  51. ↑ "IBC Tokyo 9-Ball Int'l 2002". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2002.
  52. ↑ "IBC Tour Munich Open 2003". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2002.
  53. ↑ "Sudden Death 7B 2002". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2002.
  54. ↑ "Gabriels Las Vegas Invitational". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2002.
  55. ↑ "Peninsula Open 2002". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2002.
  56. ↑ "Motolite World 9 ball Chall". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2002.
  57. ↑ "World Pool Masters 2001". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2001.
  58. ↑ "Turning Stone II". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2001.
  59. ↑ "Joss Tour 2001-02 #1". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2001.
  60. ↑ "1st Motolite International 9B C'ship". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Francisco Bustamante". Propool.info. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  62. ↑ "World Pool Masters 1998". Azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013.
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