Carlo Biado stamped his class over compatriot Bernie Regalario in a masterful, 13-7, victory in the final to claim the 2nd Chinese Taipei Open title at the Hulk Billiards Hall in Taipei City last Friday.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist flexed his muscles early and proved too much for Regalario to handle as Biado pocketed the top purse of $10,000 or around half a million pesos.
Biado’s championship run wasn’t a smooth one though.
The former World Games gold medalist and world 9-Ball champion suffered an early setback after a 4-9 loss to hometown bet Ching Feng Wang in the elimination round, sending him to the loser’s bracket.
But the 40-year-old cue artist clawed his way back into the title race.
Biado vented his ire on Taiwan’s Shun Yang Kao, 8-1, before crushing Singaporean Toh Lian Han, 8-1, and fellow Filipino Jefrey Roda, 8-2, to advance in the playoff round.
He took down Vietnamese Bui Truong An and another home bet Yun Cheng Liu with identical 10-0 results before scoring an upset over No. 1 seed Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain, 10-5.
Biado eliminated Filipino Michael Feliciano, 10-8 in the quarters before booting out another Taiwanese Chang Yu Lung, 11-9, to book a final seat.
Regalario set up a championship match against Biado after a close-shaved, 11-10, escape over Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp in the semis.
He, however, was no match to Biado as he settled for the runner-up purse of $5,000 or roughly P 279,000.
Filipino pool players Johann Chua, James Aranas, Anton Raga, Marvin Asis, Kyle Amoroto and AJ Manas also participated in the 96-man tournament.
