Biado wins 9-Ball Open in Vietnam

FILIPINO cue artist Carlo Biado ruled the inaugural Ho Chi Minh City 9-Ball Open after defeating Austrian Mario He, 13-8, in the final at the Ho Xuan Huong Gymnasium in Vietnam on Sunday. The 40-year-old Biado bagged prize money of $35,000 or more than P1.9 million for ruling the 9-ball game. "Now I'm feeling exhausted, but I'm very happy I won in the finals. Thanks to Mario He for a good game. He's one of the best players in the world. I dedicate this win to my family. This victory is for them," said Biado. This is Biado's third title of the year following his conquests of the World Nine-Ball Tour in Taipei in January and the World 10-Ball Championship conquest in Las Vegas last March. He also became the second Filipino player to win an international title in September after Rubilen Amit seized the Women's World 9-Ball Championship earlier in the month. Biado added this Open title to a boatload of trophies including the 9-ball championship in 2017, World Games title and three Southeast Asian Games gold medals. After getting through stage 1, Biado topped Taiwanese Wang Hu-Hsian, 11-7, in the round of 32. He then knocked off compatriot Valeriano Pajuay in the round of 16, 11-3, and another Filipino shot maker Anton Raga in the quarterfinals. Biado then outlasted Bosnian Sanjin Pehlivanovic in a semifinal hill-hill battle, 11-10, before taking down He in the championship round. The 31-year-old He pocketed $13,000 for his runner-up finish. Semifinalists Pehlivanovic and Greek Alexander Kazakis took home $5,000 each, while quarterfinalists Raga, Taiwanese Wu Kun-Lin, Polish Edward Koyongian and German Ralf Souquet grabbed $3,000 each.