MANILA – Filipino pool sharks Carlo Biado, Roland Garcia, Arman Cagol, and Jayson Nuguid got off to a blazing start, posting victories in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Open 9-Ball Championship on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at the Power Break Billiard Hall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Biado, fresh from winning the prestigious US Open Pool 9-ball Championship in September at the Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, blanked Mohamad Eiljeffrey, 9-0.
Garcia who also won the Wichita Ten Ball Open and Oklahoma 9 Ball Open both held this year in the United States, beat Hussain Ali of UAE, 9-4.
The Dubai-based Cagol, on the other hand, subdued compatriot Jordan Banares, 9-5, while the Abu-Dhabi-based Nuguid edged countryman Carlo Raymundo, 9-7.
“We hope to perform well in this event,” Cagol who hails from Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, and a house Pro in Good Play Billiard hall in Dubai, said.
“The first round is one of the toughest rounds in any tournament. It usually sets the tone of how you’re going to perform,” Nuguid, a tournament manager/organizer in Power Break Billiard Hall in Abu Dhabi, added.
Arnel Bautista, Oliver Medenilla, Aivhan Maluto, and Israel Rota also opened with respective wins.
The double knock-out event, alternate breaks format offers a total pot prize of 46,000 AED (United Arab Emirates dirham) with the champion getting the lion share of 20,000 AED (United Arab Emirates dirham). (PR) – bny
