Biado makes history with second World 9-ball crown

CEBU, Philippines — Carlo Biado has done what no Filipino has ever accomplished before - two championship crowns in the world’s ultimate stage of 9-ball billiards.

Biado edged past defending champion Fedor Gorst of Russia, 15-13, in a nerve-rackling finale to rule the 2025 World Pool Championship on Saturday night (early Sunday morning Philippine time) at the iconic Green Halls in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Biado pocketed $250,000 (P14.29 million) for topping one of the sport’s most prestigious and high-stakes tournaments.

Not only that, the 41-year-old Biado also etched his name into history books as the first Pinoy cue artist to clinch the World 9-ball title twice. The pride of La Union first topped the annual tilt eight years ago in Doha, Qatar.

“I’m over the moon - I still can’t believe I’m a two-time World Champion. It means everything to me. I’m so proud to bring this trophy home to the Philippines,” said Biado in a report by matchroompool.com.

Biado, a three-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champion and gold medalist at the 2017 World Games in Poland, kept his composure after losing a huge 9-2 lead.

Gorst knotted the count at 9-9 and then at 13-all but Biado, capitalizing on the Russian’s costly scratch off a jumpshot in the 27th rack, swept the next two frames to seal a momentous triumph.

“This final is something I’ll remember forever,” said Biado, who reigned supreme in the World 10-ball Championship just last year. “Fedor is one of the best in the world - when I was leading 9-2, I still couldn’t relax because he’s a monster on the table. But today, I stayed focused, stayed calm, and maybe had a little luck on my side too.”