Biado stuns Gorst to bag World Pool Championship

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The crown jewel of nine-ball has been claimed by a Filipino.

What a run. Hands down, Mr. Carlo Biado.

During the highly anticipated World Pool Championship held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Filipino pool star Carlo Biado defied the odds, dethroning defending champion and world No. 1 Fedor Gorst, 15-13, in the grand final stage on July 27, 2025.

Biado not only reigned supreme during the most prestigious tournament but he also made history after becoming the first Filipino to become a two-time World Pool Championship winner.

The 41-year-old pool maestro transcended into the sport when he captured his first World Pool Championship golden trophy in 2017. Eight years later, Biado just reached Mt. Rushmore status when he pulled off an insane campaign on the global level.

To set up the championship match against Gorst, Biado first had to get past the hurdle against his kababayan, Bernie Regalario, one of the most promising future aces of the Philippines.

Biado showed the tricks of the trade and proved that experience is the best edge in the tournament, taking down Regalario in a convincing fashion, 11-3.

The upcoming finale pitted Biado against the reigning king of nineball, and popcorn and champagne immediately popped when both pool stars exchanged counter runs to deliver an epic championship show.

Biado struck first and dominated the table when he built an enormous 9-2 lead, courtesy of his tremendous shot selection and sleek use of the banks in the corner pockets.

Just when Biado thought that he had already put a stamp on the race-to-15 finals clash, Gorst answered back during the 12^th rack and completely changed the complexion of the match with a jaw-dropping 7-0 run to equalize the affair at 9-all.

After Biado missed some gimmies, Gorst capitalized on those moments and cleaned the table seven straight times to turn the title showdown into a hill-hill battle.

However, a missed opportunity from Gorst midway through the 19^th rack gave Biado a new lease on life, and he didn’t let it slip away to gain some breathing room with a 10-9 advantage.

Biado continued to break well and stick to his shooting pattern, moving two racks away in materializing his nine-ball dreams.

Another spoiler from Gorst put the crowd on their feet when he managed to stay alive and tie the match at 13-all, but Biado swept all the remaining five balls in the 27^th rack to take a 14-13 lead.

Biado maintained his efficient striking in the 28^th and final rack after a sweet break that spread the last seven balls in his desired locations. Without any sweat, “The Black Tiger” played positional pool and left nothing on the table.

Seconds after sweeping the last rack, Biado pumped his fists thrice and climbed to the table he dominated during the last six days.

Congratulations, champ Carlo! PHL pool on top!