Salvas became the second player to cheat sudden death in the single-elimination, eight-player tourney when he stopped a travel-battered Kunihiko Takahashi, 7-4. Salvas, who plays like he's late for dinner, didn't seem to be fazed by the shot clock. "I think the time clock is good for me," he said before the match.

The time clock - and freshman jitters - were a little harder on Australian newcomer Leon Hogg from South Australia. The 21-year old opal trader opened up against '98 Challenge winner Kun-Fang Lee of Taiwan and the two surprised fans by trading misses on the 9 in the first game. The calm and collected Lee finally sunk the recalcitrant money ball, and took command of the match. Although Hogg got to the table several times, the tall rangy Aussie scratched on the break in game two and ran afoul of the time clock in game four. Lee sent Hogg home scoreless, 7-0.

In the later sets, Challenge veteran Oliver Ortmann of Germany held off Fabio Petroni of Italy. The young Petroni came back from a 3-0 Ortmann lead to threaten at 5-5, but Ortmann won 7-5.

Finishing up the night's card, defending champ Francisco Bustamante played fearlessly, dazzling the crowd with his stylish combo shots. Johnny Archer, the lone American in the tournament, took the first two games, but would win only one more set as Bustamante combo-ed his way to a 7-3 final and a date with Salvas tomorrow. "I had to play the combination, " he said. "If I play safe, Johnny will win."

First Round
Lee def. Hogg 7-0
Salvas def. Takahashi 7-4
Ortmann def. Petroni 7-5
Bustamante def. Archer 7-3

Semi-Finals:
Lee vs. Ortmann
Bustamante vs. Salvas