By MARK REY MONTEJO
Johann Chua showed why he’s being hailed as the heir apparent of the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes by downing British Jayson Shaw, 9-6, to advance to the knockout stage of the 2023 European Open Pool Championships at Hotel Esperanto in Fulda, Germany on Thursday, Aug. 10.
The pride of Bacolod started hot, racing to 3-0 and 5-1 leads which he highlighted with a golden break in the 6th rack to the wild applause from the gallery.
But the former World Blackball champ Shaw refused to be intimidated, threatening at 7-5 after making his own three-rack streak.
But it proved to be his last gallant stand as Chua won two of the last three racks to advance to the next round of the event offering $30,000 to the champion. The losing finalist in the $200,000 event will bring home $15,000.
James Aranas, Chua’s partner in winning the World Cup of Pool, was not fortunate, losing to American Shane Van Boening, 9-6.
Chua, however, won’t be the lone Filipino in the KO stage as Anthony Raga continued to impress, this time, taking scalp of Dutch Neils Feijin, 9-3.
Chua’s triumph set him up a clash with Cong Thanh Nfuyen of Vietnam while Raga will lock horns with Poland’s Mateusz Sniegocki.
Aranas took home a $500 as a consolation prize.
The Euro Open is a ranking event where players can earn points for a chance to secure slots in Team Europe that will face Team USA in the 2023 Mosconi Cup on December 6-9 in London, England.
