College dropout triumphs over seasoned cue artist in pool tourney

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – In an inspiring display of youthful prowess, a 27-year-old college dropout has clinched the P400,000 cash prize and the championship trophy at the 1st Vice Governor Jeffrey Padilla Ferrer Cup 10-ball open tournament, which concluded on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at SM City here.

Jerson Cumayas, a “pool shark” hailing from Cebu, emerged victorious against Caviteño Jundel Mazon, a 47-year-old seasoned billiards player who was previously crowned the champion at the 1st Mayor Albee Benitez Masskara billiards tournament in 2022, with winnings of P350,000.

Mazon, also known for his triumph in the 2010 Guinness World Series of Pool 10-Ball Challenge, secured the second-place prize of P150,000 in this event.

Cumayas outperformed Mazon in a race-to-11 format in the championship round, with Mazon scoring only 7 points.

“This is just my second championship title,” Cumayas shared with reporters post-tournament. “Consistent practice and prayer have led me to victory,” he explained.

Cumayas recounted how he started playing billiards at age 7 when his father, an Alternative Learning School (ALS) teacher, would bring him along to pool games, rewarding him with money for their wins.

“That sparked my interest in billiards,” he noted.

Recognizing his potential, Cumayas’s father began training him almost daily outside of school hours. Cumayas, however, decided to leave college during his third year as an Information Technology student to pursue a career in billiards, a decision bolstered by the considerable earnings from his match wins, which helped support his family.

Cumayas, the second of two siblings, plans to give the P400,000 prize money to his family. He has two children with his live-in partner.

The billiards tournament, which began on February 12, 2024, saw the participation of 129 pool players from across the country. It was organized by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and businessman/philanthropist Jerry Sy, with total cash prizes amounting to P1 million.

Vice Governor Ferrer stated that the tournament aims to provide enthusiasts with an opportunity to break through and hone their skills further.

“There are many billiards fans in the province, and I myself am an aficionado of the game,” said the Vice Governor.