Nor does it help that, as a young European player, you're forced to hear the chiding of hundreds of Taiwanese fans every time you come to the table to shoot against their 9-ball hero.

For Peter F. Nielsen of Denmark, a 24-year-old buck who has breezed through the tournament to this point, he could never prepare for the ire he would draw playing against Fong-Pang Chao, former world champion and Taiwanese billiards superstar.

In front of live TV cameras beaming across the island nation, Nielsen fought Chao's skilled play as much as he had to block out the cheers of derision every time he missed a critical shot. "I had to deal with it every game," said Nielsen, moments after he finally dispatched Chao, 13-10.

Playing on the main table in the old basketball arena, the rafters were filled with Chao supporters who clapped furiously for their player as he refused to bow to Nielsen, who had maintained a four-to-five game for the duration of the match.

Nielsen reached the hill first, and with only a 9 ball separating him from advancing against Johnny Archer in the quarterfinals, Nielsen botched the shot, which caused a major eruption amongst the Taiwanese fans. Players from other tables stopped play to watch the action, as Chao dropped the hanger and broke to pull within one game. Nielsen got back to the table when Chao failed to sink a ball, yet obviously rattled, missed an easy 2, but got a lucky roll that left Chao hooked. Chao scratched trying to play safe, and Nielsen ran easily to the 9.

Once again, the crowd picked up the noise when Nielsen got funny on the 9, forcing him to cut the 9 thinly into the corner. "I wanted to get a straight-in," said Nielsen, "but I was nervous again."

Americans Roger Griffis and Archer paused from their games to watch Nielsen line up his shot. Twice he backed from the table, but on his third crouch, Nielsen drained the 9, which garnered polite applause followed by deafening silence and a quick exit among the locals.