Filipino cue artist Carlo Biado has etched his name in billiards history by reclaiming the World Pool Championship title, becoming the first Filipino to win the crown twice. Biado triumphed over defending champion Fedor Gorst, 15-13, in a thrilling final held Saturday night (early Sunday in Manila) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This victory comes eight years after Biado’s first championship win in Doha, Qatar. Despite losing a 9-2 lead and later a 13-9 advantage, Biado maintained his composure to fend off Gorst’s determined comeback, securing his place among the sport’s elite. This win also marks the Philippines’ return to the World Pool Championship after an eight-year drought, with Biado last lifting the title in 2017.
Biado joins the ranks of legendary Filipino champions, including Efren “Bata” Reyes (1999), Ronnie Alcano (2006), and Francisco “Django” Bustamante (2010), but stands alone as the only player to achieve this feat twice.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Biado expressed gratitude to the organizers and supporters, saying, “First, I would like to thank @matchroompool and Saudi Federation for making this event possible.” He also thanked those who helped him, particularly mentioning @marboysbilliardscafe, @thedarkphoenix0428, and @ajmanas.pool.
Looking ahead, Biado is eager to return to the Philippines to spend time with his family, stating, “Now I’m already here at the airport. No time for celebration. My celebration with family is my biggest trophy in life.” He added, “No more long message. It’s time to rest a bit for the Florida Open and US Open.”
The hard-fought victory earned the 41-year-old Biado a top prize of $250,000 (approximately PHP 14.29 million).