Biado wins 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championship
FROM being a golf caddy and a high school dropout when he was just a poor, famished and a wide-eyed 13-year-old dreaming big dreams, Carlo Biado, now 40, has gone a long, long way.
And on this one momentous Sunday and under the bright lights of the cavernous Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Mr. Biado added another feat to his long list of accomplishments with an electric 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championships conquest.
Mr. Biado showed little to no mercy against all the rivals he faced, including World No. 2 Fedor Gorst of the United States in the semis and a dazed Naoyuki Oi of Japan, whom the former smashed, 3-1 (4-1, 3-4, 4-2, 4-1), in claiming the crown, the top purse worth $75,000, or a cool P4.2 million, and the title as the best in the sport.
It came just over a month after he reigned supreme in the Chinese Taipei Open in Taipei City.
It was his second world title after he also ruled world nine-ball seven years ago.
That was apart from his other triumphs that included his 2021 US Open victory, three Southeast Asian Games gold medals and a World Games conquest also in 2017.
Most important of all, his triumph completed the Filipinos’ sweep of the two world 10-ball crowns with Chezka Centeno owning the other one after her magnificence in Klagenfurt, Austria in October last year.
Mr. Oi tried to put up a fight though but he couldn’t find his rhythm and was just too befuddled by Mr. Biado’s superb shot making.
When it was over, Mr. Biado raised his fists in jubilation, shook hands with his bedazzled Japanese foe, acknowledged the loud, appreciative crowd including a small but animated group of Filipinos and pointed to the heavens in gratitude for all the blessings he received.
Dreams did come through for him.
Istonia’s Dennis Gray and American Fedor Gorst won the bronze medal while Japan’s Naoyuki Oi is the silver medallist and Carlo Biado the gold medal winner. — Joey Villar