Foul play? No way!: Biado denies cheating allegations

Carlo Biado strongly dismissed the accusation that he cheated his way to a historic title in the WPA World 9-Ball Championship in Jeddah last week.

Biado, who made history by becoming the first Filipino to win a pair of world titles, denied the claim made by an Albanian cue artist that he was among those who put wax on the cue ball for a smoother roll.

Elden Kaci, who even suggested that those who will be caught should be slapped with a long ban, fell prey to Filipino Patric Gonzales in the Round of 32.

With that, Gonzales joined his compatriots in the Round of 16, including Biado, Anton Raga, Jefrey Roda and James Aranas.

Kaci, however, claimed that there was something fishy behind these victories.

“I lost in the Last 32 against one of the 30 Filipinos in the tournament. There was a weird cue ball. It was all over the place,” Kaci said in a social media post after suffering a 6-11 loss to Gonzales.

“I think the cue ball was waxed real bad, and whoever gets caught doing it should get banned for enough time for their gloves, towel and whatever to get real dry.”

The Albanian added that his complaint has nothing to do with the outcome of his match with Gonzales.

“I’m not complaining because I lost. It’s not my first time, and it’s not going to be my last time losing, that’s for sure,” said the 26-year-old pool wizard who was part of the European squad that got crushed by the Filipinos in the Reyes Cup last year.

“My mind says that the cue ball was playing differently, compared to my previous three matches, where the start of the match plays just fine, and then mid-match until the end, tables and balls play tougher and tougher.”

“Last match I had too many over-draw shots, playing a safe shot, aiming half of the ball with english, and didn’t even hit the ball, missed lots of shots by a mile where english was needed, out of position totally sometimes.”

Biado, in a news conference organized by the Philippine Sports Commission last Friday, dismissed the claim, saying that the Filipinos played fair and square.

“We don’t know if it’s true since there was no evidence that came up,” said Biado, a three-time Southeast Asian Games champion.

That’s up to the player if he or she will even attempt to do it.”

The 41-year-old cue champion said he doesn’t have the time to look back and prove his innocence as he will be preparing for two tournaments in the United States.

Biado will be competing in the Florida Open at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando from 5 to 10 August and the US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City from 18 to 23 August.

Biado is bracing for a tougher tournament in the US Open as he goes up against 255 other pool players.

“The World Championships in Jeddah had 128 players. The US Open will have 256 players and will be the toughest competition I will be joining this year,” Biado said.

“So I really need to train even after my win in Jeddah.”