MANILA, Philippines – Carlo Biado kicked off his title-retention bid in the US Open Pool Championship with aplomb after picking up a pair of dominant wins in Atlantic City on Monday, October 10.

Biado thwarted Serbia’s Nikolin Dalibor via a 9-1 rout before he eased past Russia’s Kristina Tkach in an identical 9-1 thrashing to advance to the winners qualification round of the 256-man field.

Up next for Biado is Filipino-born Joven Bustamante, who is representing the United States, on Wednesday.

“It is a good start for me. I need to prepare for the next rounds. I’m excited for this event. I need to defend my crown,” said the 38-year-old.

Biado made history last year when he became the first Filipino to win the US Open Pool Championship since Efren “Bata” Reyes achieved the feat in 1994.

Showing nerves of steel, Biado came back from the dead in the losers’ bracket on the way to setting up a championship showdown with Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp.

The former nine-ball world champion needed to complete another fightback for the last time as he overhauled a five-rack deficit in the finale, stunning Yapp in a dramatic 13-8 win.

Biado, though, is not the only Filipino who is vying for the title this year, with compatriots Johann Chua, Lee Vann Corteza, Roberto Gomez, Roland Garcia, and Jeff de Luna also competing.

The champion will take home the top prize of $50,000 (nearly P3 million). – Rappler.com