INDONESIA walked the tightrope in subduing India, 8-7, while unseeded Russia stunned No. 12 Canada, 8-4, as the race to unseat the Philippines kicked off on Tuesday in the 2010 World Cup of Pool at the Midtown Wing of the Robinson’s Place in Manila.

No. 8 China also sent a strong message in the tournament by routing Belgium, 8-2, and No. 9 Italy tripped Korea, 8-6, as the top-seeded Philippine tandem of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante were to start their title defense against a Thai pair on Tuesday night.

It was a big comeback for 16th-seeded Indonesians Muhammad Zulfikri and Ricky Yang, who trailed at 5-0 at the onset only to send jitters down the spines of Raj Hundal and Dharminder Singh Lilly to escape with the victory. India also lost, 8-3, to Indonesia last year.

The Russians also had to work their way around the Canadians. They trailed 4-0 but went on the hill first.

“We were so nervous at the beginning and they [Canadians] played well. But we were just waiting for a mistake, they made one and we took two racks,” said Russian Konstantin Stepano.

“We gave them the play again but they didn’t take it and made a stupid foul (when Canadian Jason Klatt’s shirt touched a ball) and that was the main moment of the match,” added Stepano, whose partner Ruslan Chinakhov also lived up to the challenge in their opening match.

Klatt was paired with John Morra, a World Cup first-timer.

A total of 32 pairs are competing in the tournament that offers $60,000  to the winning pair. Reyes and Bustamante won the inaugurals in 2007, but were ousted the next year, before regaining the crown in 2009.