Carlo Biado in the inaugural WPA Players Championship. Photo from WPA website (wpapool.com).
MANILA, Philippines— A possibility of an All-Filipino final in the WPA Players Championship looms after Filipino cue artists Carlo Biado and Johann Chua entered the semifinals of the inaugural tournament in Las Vegas.
Both players face Taiwanese competitors in the semifinal with Biado facing off against Chang Yu Lung and Chua tangling with 2015 US Open champion Kevin Cheng.
Chua survived another thrilling encounter, overcoming Greece’s Nick Malaj for a come from behind 10-9 win in overtime of the round of 16. He easily beat Vietnam’s Duong Quoc Hoang, 7-3, to book a ticket in the final four.
World no. 3 Biado, meanwhile, also needed the extra time to beat Yang Ching Shun of Taiwan, 8-6, in the round of 16 before tripping USA’s Shane Van Boening with a convincing 7-4 win to advance.
Earlier, Chang ousted another Filipino bet James Aranas, 8-6 then knocked out hall of famer Ralf Souquet, 7-5, to advance to the semi.
The semifinal will be played in a race to nine, alternate break format.