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Carlo Biado takes home US Open Pool title

Carlo Biado hoists the US Open Pool Championship trophy after beating Aloysius Yapp in the final. Matchroom Pool
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Carlo Biado placed the Philippines back on the world billiard map after winning the US Open Pool Championship, beating Singaporean opponent Aloysius Yapp in the final, 13-8, at the Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sunday (Philippine Time).

Biado came back from the abyss to give the Philippines its first title in the said tournament since Efren "Bata" Reyes won it all in 1994.

Biado had a solid start to his campaign, taking a 3-1 lead over Yapp.

However, Yapp, who denied an all-Filipino final by beating Dennis Orcullo in the semifinals earlier in the day, looked poise to completely shut the door on the Filipino contingents by winning the next seven racks to open an 8-3 advantage.

A costly Yapp blunder in Rack 12 in which he missed the 9-ball at the corner sparked Biado's comeback, and the latter never wasted the chance by stealing Rack 12 as well as the next nine racks to win the race-to-13 showdown.

The 37-year-old Biado, who took down Naoyuki Oi of Japan in the other semifinal, won US$50,000 (around PHP2.5 million) for ruling the US Open Pool Championship.

"I'm very happy because this event is one of my dreams," said a teary-eyed Biado after the final.

Despite the loss, the 25-year-old Yapp, the first Singaporean to enter the tournament final, will still take home US$25,000 (around PHP1.25 million) for being the runner-up.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno

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