By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Carlo Biado yielded to Alex Kazakis of Greece in the semifinals, 10-7, to kiss his title bid goodbye in the 2024 Maldives Open 10-Ball Championship in Male City on Sunday, June 30.
The reigning world 10-ball champion failed to recover from an 8-7 deficit as Kazakis cleared the next three racks to arrange a championship matchup with Estonia’s Dennis Grabe in this $130,000 tournament.
Grabe booked a finals berth after edging Poland’s Konrad Juszczyszyn, 10-6.
Biado waxed hot early by seizing a 3-0 lead before Kazakis answered back with to tie it at 3-all.
Biado briefly regained the upperhand by clearing the seventh rack for 4-3, but Kazakis was quick to recover, grabbing the next three racks to snatch a 6-4 advantage.
Refusing to give up, Biado went on to win two straight racks for 6-all,but the Greek pool player was a tough nut to crack.
After the Filipino’s last attempt at cutting his deficit, Kazakis controlled the match from thereon en route to the win.
It was still a gallant effort for Biado, who was coming off a 10-6 quarters victory over Austria’s Mario He.
Prior to that, he prevailed over Kuwait’s Bader Al Awadi in the Last 16, 10-4; reigning World Cup of Pool champion Johann Chua in the Last 32, 10-8; and Sweden’s Kevin Zarekani, 10-4, in the opening round.
Other Filipinos that include Bernie Regalario, Jeffrey Ignacio, Jonas Magpantay, Michael Baoanan, Sean Mark Malayan and James Aranas also competed but made quick exits.
