Sure filipino finalist in World 9-Ball championship

A Filipino will enter the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Jeddah after Carlo Biado and Bernie Regalario were paired to contest one of the two finals slots.

The winner of this clash will face the survivor of the other semifinal round duel involving Fedor Gorst of the United States and Kledio Kaci of Albania.

Both the semis and the championship match are happening at press time.

Biado and Regalario took hard paths to make it to the Final Four phase.

Biado topped Chris Melling of the United Kingdom, 11-9, in the Round of 64, Wiktor Zielinski of Poland, 11-8, in the Round of 32, teammate Jeffrey Ignacio, 11-9, in the Round of 16, and Ko Ping Chung of Chinese Taipei, 11-7, in the quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, Regalario whipped Dimitris Loukatos of Greece, 11-7, in the Round of 64, Lo Ho Sum of Hong Kong, 11-7, in the Round of 32, teammate Patric Gonzales, 11-9, in the Last 16, and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain, 11-4, in the quarterfinal.

Whoever reaches the final will already be assured of at least $100,000 (P5.7 million) but the champion will run away with the top prize of $250,000 (P14 million).

The loser between Biado and Regalario will take home $50,000 (P2.8 million).

Apart from Biado, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ronnie Alcano and Efren “Bata” Reyes are the only Filipino pool players who have won this prestigious international title.