The World Pool Championship had long enjoyed a high profile ever since the event's inception many years back. However, there was a bigger buzz hovering on the Cardiff International Arena for last week's 2003 edition, with a total prize-money of $300,000, as Tony Drago (picture) was delighting the audience with some quick-fire rapid play.
At first, the Malta snooker pro struggled to get used to the different surroundings and just managed to qualify from his group and join the last 64. Three upsets from seven matches did not better his odds at that stage as his two snooker colleagues - world champion Mark Williams and the renowned Steve Davis - had easily qualified.
Then Williams and Davis bowed out but Drago, applying all his talent and speed on the table, made it all the way to the semi-finals only to be ousted by Toronto-based Alex Pagulayan on Saturday night. He was surprised to reach the last four but now has a different opinion of the nine-ball game.
"If you would have told me two weeks ago that I would reach the semi-final I would have said you were kidding," he said.
"I'm going to be playing this game more and more and I would like to start playing a few tournaments in the USA.
"I'm also going to the Mosconi Cup this year whether I'm playing or not because that is some event."
The Mosconi Cup has been a top pool event since its birth in 1994. The USA have won the trophy almost each year since then.
Along the years, Team Europe included players like Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan, the legendary Alex Higgins and even female pro Allison Fischer.
On Saturday, Pagulayan triumphed 11-6 as Drago was unable to get into his usual flowing style.
With the score standing at 10-6, however, controversy reigned as referee Nigel Rees called a foul on Drago after he allegedly touched the 8-ball with his hand during his cueing action.
TV replays suggested there was no contact but the decision was made and Pagulayan cleared up to earn a spot in the final against Germany's Thorsten Hohmann.
It was the third successive match a refereeing decision had a vital impact on the final rack of a Pagulayan match after Rodney Morris was called for leaving his cue on the table and he was also awarded the chance to replay a shot again against Shin-Young Park after a young spectator moved around the table.
"Rules are rules and it's a shame but the balls were still tough for me to make," Pagulayan said.
Drago, who earned $17,500 for his exploits in Cardiff, was bitterly disappointed with the call from referee Rees.
"What a shame to go out like that. I am absolutely gutted. I have been playing snooker for 20 years calling fouls on myself and I could never sleep if I knew I had cheated. I never touched that ball," he said.
"Who knows what would have happened? It would have been 10-7 with me breaking and even though I would have been second favourite, in 9-ball that deficit can easily be overcome.
"In a few days I will still be happy with what I have achieved over the past week, but this has left a sour taste in my mouth.
"I'm disappointed but at the end of the day these things happen in sport."