He’s considered as one of the illustrious names in the pool circuit despite his failure to win one of the coveted world titles on offer. Starting this Wednesday, Francisco “Django” Bustamante can affix the words “world champion” to his name.

He’s considered as one of the illustrious names in the pool circuit despite his failure to win one of the coveted world titles on offer.

Starting this Wednesday, Francisco “Django” Bustamante can affix the words “world champion” to his name.

Bustamante, 46, ended a decade of futility when he thumped Taiwanese Kuo Po-Cheng, 13-7, to capture the 2010 World 9-Ball Pool championship on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.

“Sa wakas nakumpleto na din ang pagiging bilyarista natin. Lahat kasi, ito ang pangarap, maging WPA World 9-ball champion,” the Tarlac City native Bustamante said.

Feared for his powerful breaks, Bustamante gave his rival no chance as he came through with one spectacular shot after another to claim the victory and the winner's purse of $36,000 (R1.6 million).

It was a sweet victory for Bustamante, who had tried in vain in the past eight years to get another crack at the prestigious 9-ball title. The last time Bustamante came close to winning the championship was in 2002 when he finished runner up to Earl Strickland, 15-17, in Cardiff, Wales.

That year was probably one the darkest days for Bustamante considering that his daughter died while he was playing in the Round-of-16 against compatriot Antonio Lining.

He got a call from his wife informing him that their less than a year old baby had died.

Disheartened, Bustamante considered going home but stayed as advised by people around him. He went on to win against Lining, Efren “Bata” Reyes in the quarters, Chinese Ching Yang in the semis before losing to Strickland despite leading 15-13 early on.

With his win, Bustamante thus became the fifth Filipino to win a world title after Efren “Bata” Reyes (9-ball, 1999), Alex Pagulayan (9-ball, 2004), Alcano (9-ball, 8-ball 2006-07), and Rubilen Amit (10-ball, 2009).

Overall, it was Django's fourth individual championship this year counting his title conquests in the 23rd Japan Open last March, the inaugural World Professional Billiard League (WPBL) championship in Winnipeg, Canada last month and the Super Series of Billiards title which he won at the expense of Archer.

He was also member of the Team Asia that ruled the Asia vs Europe Challenge Match in Brunei last January.

Bustamante beat Lining, 11-5, in the semifinals while Kuo, who settled for the runner up purse of $18,000, beat American Johnny Archer in the semifinals, 11-10. Lining and Archer went home with $10,000 each.