Biado captures world 10-ball title

Carlo Biado added another trophy to his collection after winning the 2024 Predator WPA men's world 10-ball championship on Sunday (Manila time) at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Biado, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, beat Naoyuki Oi of Japan, 4-1, 3-4, 4-2, 4-1, to claim his second title after winning the 2024 Universal Chinese Taipei Open last January.

It wasn't an easy win as Biado had to overcome Chang Jun-lin of Chinese Taipei, 4-2, 4-3, 4-1, in the Last 16 before shocking an old foe in Ko Pin-yi of Chinese Taipei, 4-1, 0-4, 4-1, 3-4, 4-1, in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Biado ousted Fedor Gorst of the United States, 1-4, 4-3, 4-2, 4-2, to set up a duel with Oi for the title.

"It's overwhelming. I'm very very happy that I won this match. I finally got the World 10-Ball championship," said Biado, who pocketed a prize money of $75,000 — or roughly P4.2 million.

"When I heard that national anthem, it felt like (crying) tears of joy. I finally won the championship."

With Biado leading the game, 2-1, and up by two racks in the fourth set, 3-1, Oi was unable to punch in two balls off the break.

Then, the Japanese was forced to hit the one ball off the rail, setting up a clean shot for Biado that paved the way to his victory that came at the heels of his runner-up finish to Lee Van Corteza in the Pro Billiards Series Las Vegas Open that earned him $14,000.