BACOLOD City – This city’s Johann “Bad Koi” Chua etched his name in Philippine billiards history after fending off a furious late rally by compatriot Anton Raga, 11-9, to become the first Filipino champion of the Philippines Open Pool Championship on Saturday at Gateway Mall in Quezon City.
Chua overcame a late surge by Raga, who threatened to erase a commanding early deficit, to capture the championship in the tournament’s second edition since its introduction in 2025.
The historic triumph also capped an impressive campaign for Chua, who defeated fellow Filipino billiards standouts Carlo Biado and Jeffrey Ignacio on his way to the championship round.
Chua appeared headed for a comfortable victory after dominating the early exchanges and racing to a commanding 5-0 advantage.
However, Raga refused to go down without a fight, winning six of the next eight racks to narrow the deficit to 7-6 and turn the championship showdown into a tightly contested battle.
With his early advantage nearly wiped out, Chua regained control by capturing the 14th and 15th racks to stretch his lead to 9-6.
Raga’s comeback suffered another blow when he failed to execute a shot before the shot clock expired, allowing Chua to move within a rack of the championship at 10-7.
But Raga mounted one final charge, claiming two consecutive racks to close the gap to 10-9 and keep his title hopes alive.
The decisive moment came when Raga scratched on the break, giving Chua the opportunity he needed to finish off his compatriot and seal the hard-fought 11-9 victory.
The championship marked a historic achievement for Chua and Philippine billiards, with the Bacolodnon cue artist becoming the tournament’s first homegrown champion.
The 2026 Philippines Open Pool Championship featured a total prize pool of US$125,000 and concluded with two Filipino contenders battling for the prestigious title./PN
