World Pool Masters
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
The 2008 World Pool Masters final saw Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan defeat Finland's Mika Immonen 8-6 at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This was Pagulayan's first Masters title, coming after he lost in the 2006 final to six-time champion Ralf Souquet.
The 29-year-old from Cabagan, Isabela competed in the prestigious 16-player field. Pagulayan is known for his entertaining style and humor during matches. His aggressive play style secured the championship in the sport's most elite invitational tournament.
The victory held special significance for Pagulayan at a time when he was dealing with political complications in the Philippines. Senate President Manny Villar filed a resolution commending Pagulayan's achievement and noting his contribution to Filipino excellence on the world stage, placing him alongside legends like Efren "Bata" Reyes in the pantheon of Filipino pool greats.
Pagulayan won the match in a competitive contest. Both competitors demonstrated high-level play throughout the event. For Immonen, the loss came despite his continued excellence in the 9-ball format.
Pagulayan's Masters triumph added to a resume that included the 2004 World 9-Ball Championship and 2006 US Open titles. Days later, he defeated reigning world 10-ball champion Shane Van Boening in a $20,000 winner-take-all race-to-100 exhibition. With this Masters title, Pagulayan became the second Filipino to win the tournament, further highlighting the Philippines' presence in professional pool.
Sources: Matchroom Pool
This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.