By Kristel Satumbaga
Reigning titlist Carlo Biado advanced to the semifinals of the 2018 WPA World 9-Ball Championship with another gritty win Wednesday in Doha, Qatar.
After the tournament’s one-day respite on Tuesday, the 35-year-old La Union native returned fully motivated as he outsted former world champion Wu Jiaqing of China, 11-9, in the Round of 16 and Wu Kun Lin of Chinese Taipei, 11-4.
The triumphs arranged Biado a semifinal meeting with United States’ No. 1 pool player Shan Van Boening, who blasted Great Britain’s Chris Melling, 11-5, and Chinese Taipei’s Chang Jun Lin, 11-8.
Biado held his composure against Jiaqing until the Chinese scratched his cue ball while down by 9-8. The Filipino took that advantage to win two of the next three racks to prevail.
Against Kun Lin, Biado cruised to a 6-0 lead and dictated the tempo throughout.
The Final Four is being played at presstime in a race-to-11, alternate break format. The other semifinalists pit Germany’s Joshua Filler against Greece’s Alexander Kazakis.
The championship round will be a race-to-13, alternate break format with the winning player pocketing the US$40,000 top purse.
Biado seeks to become the first player since Earl Strickland 27 years ago to win back-to-back titles.
