UNHERALDED Carlo Biado showed the door to Antonio Lining, the world’s top-ranked player, and towed four more Filipino cue artists in the round-of-64 yesterday of the World 10-Ball Championship at the World Trade Center in Pasay.
The 27-year-old Biado, a caddy outside of pool halls, pulled off a 9-6 victory that sent Lining to his second straight defeat and out of the $250,000 tournament.
“It normally happens in a tournament like this,” said Lining, who was also beaten by Ukraine’s Artem Koschovy, 9-5, on Wednesday.
Demosthenes Pulpul also created a stir when the semifinalist of the inaugural 2009 edition ousted newly crowned Beijing Open champion Chang Jung-lin of Chinese Taipei, 9-5, to join 10 other local players in the money round starting today.
“He (Lin) has the experience but I’m in good shape,” said Pulpul, who came home from Dubai, where he is now based, to try his luck in the competition.
Antonio Gabica, Jericho Bañares and Jonas Magpantay also advanced following hard-fought wins.
Gabica, gold medalist in the 2006 Asian Games, survived China’s Li Hewen, 9-7, Bañares squeezed past Joven Alba, 9-8, and Magpantay pulled off a 9-7 win over Spain’s Carlos Cabello to raise the number of Filipino entries to 11 in the knockout round of 64.
“It’s been almost two years since I left the Philippines and settled in Qatar,” said Gabica, the assistant coach of the Qatar national team, who is here on a two-week vacation.
“I’m glad to be here and it will be a bonus if I make it into the later rounds.”
Gabica swept the 15th rack but had a dry break on the next, providing Li another chance to take the frame. But the Chinese missed the 2 ball, giving Gabica a good angle that allowed him to close out his foe.
The 17-year-old Magpantay bounced back from the losers’ bracket following a defeat to double world champion Wu Jiaqing of China while Bañares, who hails from Tanauan, Batangas, will advance to the knockout stage of this tournament seeking at least a repeat of his last-16 finish in 2009.
“This is my first time here and I think it will be tougher for me in the succeeding rounds,” said Magpantay, who is now assured of his biggest paycheck of $1,000.