By MARK REY MONTEJO
Veteran Christian Perez added another feather to an already decorated cap after beating Mark Anthony Opada, 5-1, in an all-Filipino finals in the Cosmo Malaysia Open Darts Championship in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Perez, 43, proved once again his sharpness and grace were potent as before as he gave Opada a reality check in their best-of-9 title duel.
It was the second time that the pride of Koronadal City reigned in the said event after winning his first in 2018 where he dispatched compatriot Paolo Nebrida.
He also bagged a decent champion’s purse as well as recognition anew in the Malaysia-based competition where several elite marksmen across the region also took part.
Before capturing the crown, Perez demolished Indian Mohan Kumar-Goel (4-0) in the Last 32 before he toppled Japanese Tsukasa Moritani in a similar fashion in Final 16.
Perez, the World Darts Federation’s No. 3 in Asia, bested England’s Harry Miles then he pulled off a 4-3 semifinal win over fellow Philippine bet Aris Quijano.
Earlier this year, Perez impressed on his European trip after conquering the 2025 Target Darts Scottish Open and Isle of Man Open.
