Mexico's Ismael Paez, Kim Davenport of the U.S. and Germany's Thomas Engert were also three-for-three in the group stage of the 96-player tournament. Each player will play five matches in one of 16 six-player groupings, with the top four finishers advancing through to the single-elimination, 64-player portion of the $250,000 world championship, which is being produced by Matchroom Sports and sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

Among those likely to miss the cut to 64 are Jim Rempe of the U.S. and snooker ace Tony Drago of Malta, both of whom lost their first three matches. The group stage will conclude on Monday. Defending champion Efren Reyes of the Philippines won his first two matches. Title sponsor Victor Chandler, a large betting operation in the United Kingdom, listed Reyes, who earned $60,000 for the 1999 title, as the tournament favorite at 7-2. Germany's Ralf Souquet was listed at 9-2, with Archer 5-1 and Filipino Francisco Bustamante 7-1.