Biado, Kiamco head cue artists’ strong start in World 9-ball tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Carlo Biado and veteran Warren Kiamco led the charge as five Filipinos kicked off their bids on a winning note in the group stage of the WPA World 9-ball Championship Saturday night at Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Biado, the fourth-ranked cuemaster in the world, played true to form and nipped Bruneian Fahad Kahlat, 9-6, in his first outing in Group 8 while the No. 5 Kiamco immediately flexed his muscle with a 9-2 annihilation of Norwegian Vegar Kristiansen over in Group 5.

Johann Chua, a quarterfinalist last year, edged Qatari Ali Obaidly, 9-7, in Group 6 while Oliver Medenilla stormed to a comfortable 9-2 beating of another local bet, Mohana Obaidly in Group 5, and Raymond Faraon trounced South African Francois Ellis in Group 4, 9-3.

The opening-day victors moved one win away from securing spots to the knockout Round of 64.

Fancied Lee Van Corteza bowed to Russian Ruslan Chinanov, 6-9, for a bad start in Group 7. Francisco Felicilda suffered the same fate in Group 12, bowing to defending champion Niels Feijen, 4-9, in a match where he actually led in the early goings, 3-0.

Qatar-based Pinoy Amir Rota also failed to hurdle his opening assignment, dropping a 4-9 decision to Finnish star Mika Immomen.

However, Corteza, Felicilda and Rota still have one more chance in the losers’ side of their respective groups to salvage a place in the KO stages.

Meanwhile, former world titlist Dennis Orcollo (Group 13), Jeffrey Ignacio (Group 15), and Antonio Gabica (Group 16) were slated to make their debuts Sunday  night.