By MARK REY MONTEJO
Two-time World 9-Ball titlist Carlo Biado and Johann Chua shoot for slots in the knockout stage against their respective foes in the 2025 US Open Pool 9-Ball Championship at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City Thursday, Aug. 21 (Philippine time).
The 41-year-old Biado hopes to use his 9-6 triumph over German Boris Ivanovski as an extra motivation when he collides with the dangerous Luong Duc Thien of Vietnam.
Determined to add the event to his growing collection of titles, Biado has fired a stern warning to those who would dare to cross his path with a 9-1 demolition of Canadian Jason Munro in the opener.
Chua, on the other hand, looks to extend his winning streak against compatriot Roland Garcia with both players eyeing a berth in Round of 64.
The 2023 World Cup of Pool winner previously took down American Floro Ritarita (9-5) and Dutch Quinten Pongers (9-7), while Garcia beat Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Baabad (9-4) before he escaped past Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Po Cheng (9-8).
Chua, 33, has been on a roll since his flawless stint in the Battle of the Bull in Virginia last weekend where he overpowered legendary American Shane van Boening, 13-8, to win the event.
Aside from Biado, Chua, and Garcia, Marvin Asis, Bernie Regalario, Jefrey Roda, and Roberto Gomez are still undefeated in the 256-man tournament which offers $100,000 (around P5.7 million) grand prize to the champion.
While others have lighter assignments, Asis and Gomez are expected to face rough sailing with the former taking on WNT No. 3 Singaporean Aloysius Yapp, while the latter challenges German Joshua Filler.
Just like Yapp and Filler, Spanish Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Albanian Eklent Kaci, and Taiwanese Ko Ping Chung are also doing great in the five-day event after hurdling their first two assignments.
Meanwhile, other Filipino bets in Michael Baoanan, Lee Vann Corteza, Patric Gonzales, Harry Vergara, Charles Vergara, Baseth Mocaibat, Glen Facun, and Mark Muir were relegated to the loser’s bracket after dropping their previous games.
