By MARK REY MONTEJO
After several heartbreaks, Johann Chua finally hit the mark.
In a dazzling display of power and shotmaking, Chua bludgeoned Chinese Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi, 13-7, to reign supreme in the 2024 Hanoi 9-Ball Open Pool Championship at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium in Vietnam Sunday, Oct. 13.
Protecting a slim 8-7 lead in the race-to-13 contest, Chua refused to blink as he went on to win the five racks to complete his domination in the 256-man tournament and pocket the top prize of $30,000 (roughly P1.7 million) before his adoring fans.
Aside from the cash prize, the 2023 World Cup of Pool king ended his title drought following multiple heartbreaking defeats.
Prior to beating the Taiwanese ace, Chua outplayed compatriot Carlo Biado (11-5) in an all-Filipino semifinal while beating Albanian Kledo Kaci (10-6), Jeffrey Ignacio (10-3), Taiwanese Chien Ching-Ju (10-2), and PH’s Jundel Manzon (10-7) in quarterfinal, last 16, 32, and 64 rounds, respectively.
Biado and Jefrey Roda, who succumbed to Pin-Yi in the semis, consoled themselves by winning $9,500 (around P500,000) each.
He toppled as well Vietnamese bets in Luong Van Nam (9-5), Ta Va Linh (9-7) and Phuong Nam Pham (9-4) in the first stage of the competition that previously ruled by Scottish Jayson Shaw, who booted out by Pin-yi in the quarters.
The other half of notable Ko brothers in billiards, Pin-yi was among the big and happy crowd.
But the sweet smile on their faces eventually banished as the Filipino star started to rattle off one fantastic shot after another to race to 4-1 lead and 7-2 leads.
The Taiwanese managed to close in on Chua after pocketing several tough shots.
But it to proved to be his last gallant act as Chua put on a show of his own – including some astounding safety shot that left the Taiwanese in awe.
