Several Strickland position errors allowed Luat to build a quick 3-0 lead. Strickland took advantage of several return mistakes by the former Pro Billiards Tour world champion to tie the match at 4-4. His inability, however, to make a ball on the break helped keep the match close, with ties at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8. Strickland forged a 9-8 lead, then pocketed the 9 on the break to reach the hill, 10-8.

With no shot at the 1 on the ensuing break, Strickland relinquished the table to Luat, who pulled to within a game at 10-9. But Luat missed a difficult cut on the 1 ball along the rail in the 20th game, and Strickland, rallying the crowd to his favor, polished off the match.

"I played a good match," said the 39-year-old five-time world champion. "I made a few mistakes, but that happens sometimes. The key is that for Luat to beat me, I need to make more mistakes than him, and he makes mistakes. Strickland was part of a contingent of players politicking for a change in the placement of the rack prior to the final two quarterfinal matches. With the corner ball dropping consistently in the previous match, Taiwan's Fong-Pang Chao obliterated Australian Johl Younger, 11-1. "We made sure the break wasn't too easy," offered Strickland, who almost paid the price for his efforts. "You want different breaks, so that one player just can't walk away with the match."

As for the Sunday matchup with Paez, with $15,000 assured the loser, Strickland expressed surprise at the success of his opponent. "I can't believe Morro is still in this," he said. "He must be playing well, but he makes a lot of mistakes. If he does that to me, I might just bury him. But, hey, he could win too."

Quarterfinal No.3 - July 8

Earl Strickland (USA) def. Rudolfo Luat (PHIL) - 11-9