Hong Kong’s Robbie Capito “learned a lesson” after his early exit from the Las Vegas Open, but is determined to put on an improved showing at the WPA World 10-Ball Championship, which starts on Monday. Capito crashed out of the prestigious tournament after heavy back-to-back losses, and said he may have distracted by a new sponsorship deal with the Japan-based Kamui Brand, and a series of exhibition matches he played before the tournament started. Wearing a shirt with his new sponsor’s logo, Capito had an opening round bye at his maiden Las Vegas Open, he then beat Daniel Sardoncillo 4-1, 4-3 before losing 4-2, 4-3 to the reigning World 10-Ball Champion Eklent Kaci from Albania. Defeat sent him to the win-or-go-home losers’ half of the draw on Friday, where he lost 4-1, 4-1 to Peru’s Gerson Martinez Boza. “Maybe lots of things going on before the tournament made me lose focus,” he said. “I don’t know what exactly happened, new sponsor, exhibition matches before the competition, just my mind did not feel right. “But that is over, I will take a day off, take my mind off from what’s going on, try to regroup, then back to work.” Hong Kong’s Capito heading into Vegas Open on a high after first US win Capito flew to Florida early last month to launch his professional career and made three podium finishes this month, including finishing first in LA last week, second in Louisiana, and third in Oklahoma Winter Classic, which earned him a new sponsorship. “I feel nice with Kamui, which is big in the world, and most important is my work is recognised,” Capito said. With the 2022 WPA World 10-Ball Championship at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Capito is determined to put up a good fight for the title. A total of 128 players will compete in the US$226,000 tournament, which runs until April 1. Capito expects the same line-up as the Las Vegas Open, which Polish professional Wiktor Zielinski won on Saturday, beating Singaporean Aloysius Yapp 4-3, 4-0 in the finals.