Reigning US Open champion Carlo Biado delivered a shutout win to kick off his title bid in the Abu Dhabi Open 9-Ball Championship at the Power Break Billiard Hall on Tuesday, November 9.

Ending the Philippines’ near-three-decade title drought in the US Open Pool Championship in September, Biado proved to be too good for United Arab Emirates’ Mohamad Eiljeffrey as he nailed a 9-0 win.

Biado is contending for the crown and the grand prize of 20,000 UAE dirhams (around P270,000) in the event that has a total prize pool of 46,000 UAE dirhams (around P620,000).

Other Filipinos opened the tournament with victories as well.

Roland Garcia – the winner of the Wichita 10-Ball Open and Oklahoma 9-Ball Open – pulled off a 9-4 win over Hussain Ali of UAE, while Armand Cagol hacked out a 9-5 triumph over fellow Filipino Jordan Banares.

Like Cagol, Jayson Nuguid picked up a win at the expense of a compatriot as he nosed out Carlo Raymundo, 9-7.

“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” said Nuguid, a tournament organizer at the Power Break Billiard Hall.

Arnel Bautista, Oliver Medenilla, Aivhan Maluto, and Israel Rota also earned wins to start the event.

Bautista outclassed compatriot Jhun Banlasan, 9-4, Medenilla trounced Mohamad Fharaj of Iran, 9-5, Maluto thwarted Abdulla Alnuami of UAE, 9-5, and Rota stymied Mohamad Ali of UAE, 9-5.

The Abu Dhabi Open 9-Ball Championship follows a double knockout format with alternate breaks. – Rappler.com