Ignacio captures Japan Open 10-Ball crown

JEFFREY "King Cobra" Ignacio on Monday became the third Filipino cue artist to win another billiards title in less than five days after Rubilen Amit and Johann Chua clinched championships last week. During the finals of the men's 10-ball final of the 37th Japan Open, Ignacio defeated Taiwan's Lin Tsung-Han, 8-3, to clinch the tournament's championship that has a prize of $9,400. The Filipino defeated two hometown hopefuls in the tournament — at the round of 16 on Sunday, he defeated Kohki Sugiyama in a close finish, 8-7, while in the final four, he won over Satoshi Kawabata, 7-5, before heading to the final. Kawabata and Hayato Hijikata settled for a third-place finish in the tournament. Meanwhile, in the women's event, Taiwan's Wang Wan Ling was named the champion after defeating fellow countryman Liu Shin-mei. On Monday night, after his win, Ignacio thanked fellow champions Amit and Chua, who won their respective tournaments before him. "Thank you to my inspirations here, to the recent World Champion Rubilen 'Bingkay' Amit, who inspired me with your never-give-up attitude, and especially to you, Brother Johann Chua, whose consistency is truly motivating," he wrote on his Facebook page. Amit was the 2024 Massé WPA Women's World 9-Ball Champion on Wednesday, while Chua clinched the championship of the Zen and Yuan8 Open on Friday. Amit is headed to Shanghai for the Pudong WPA 9 Ball China Open. "Thank you for your prayers and continued support. I am truly blessed and grateful to be able to compete and do what I love," she wrote.