Biado wins back-to-back World Pool titles

Two Filipino players, Carlo Biado and Bernie Regalario, have advanced to significant stages of the 2025 World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Carlo Biado secured his place by defeating last year's champion Fedor Gorst, 15-13, on Saturday night (early Sunday morning in Manila), becoming the first Filipino to win back-to-back World Pool Championships and earning a top purse of $250,000.

Biado, who immediately headed home after his victory, expressed that family is his biggest trophy. He earlier defeated Bernie Regalario, 11-3, in an all-Filipino semifinal match and is now eyeing his second consecutive title after winning it eight years ago.

The victory marks Biado as only the seventh multi-time World Pool champion alongside Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Chao Fong-Pang, Thorsten Hohmann, Fedor Gorst, and Efren 'Bata' Reyes.

Biado's historic win highlights the resurgence of Filipino talent in the sport after a gap since Efren 'Bata' Reyes won the title around three decades ago.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino congratulated Biado for keeping the country's winning tradition alive, and the POC is committed to providing guidance for athletes like him.