CARLO BIADO: ONE MORE SHOT AT HISTORY

It’s been nearly a decade since Carlo Biado ascended to the pinnacle of world pool. In 2017, the Filipino star captured the World Pool Championship, etching his name into the sport’s history books and delivering a moment of pride for an entire nation.

A year later, he came agonisingly close to defending the title, reaching the final once again. Since then, while the trophy has remained just out of reach, Biado’s fire has never faded.

“To me, the World Pool Championship is everything,” Biado says. “It was always my dream—not just to play in it, but to win it. That victory changed my life, and even now, I still think about it. I remember the moment so clearly. It felt like something out of a dream.”

But the journey to that dream wasn’t easy. Biado had tasted heartbreak before. In 2015, he lost to Ko Pin Yi in the Last 32 —a loss that taught him lessons he would carry two years later.

“When I lost to Ko Pin Yi in 2015, I really felt the pressure. I struggled to play my game,” he admits. “But that match taught me a lot—how to handle nerves, how to be ready for the biggest moments. By 2017, I was still nervous in the final, but I was able to enjoy it. That made all the difference.”

But when the opportunity finally came, Biado seized it with every ounce of composure he had—and with it, a lifetime of memories.

“After making the 8-ball, I just shouted with joy—to release all the tension before pocketing the 9-ball. Then it hit me. I called my family straight after and said, ‘We did it—we won.’ That win wasn’t just mine. My wife has supported me through every tournament. That title belongs to her too.”

Now in 2025, that dream remains alive. The Filipino veteran returns to Jeddah with history in his sights: no player from the Philippines has ever won the title twice. For Biado, doing so would be more than a personal triumph—it would be a moment of national pride for a country with a rich pool legacy.

“After 2017, I told myself—I have to do this again. I have to win it one more time. That’s still my goal today,” Biado says. “To be the first Filipino to win it twice—that would mean everything. It would put me up there with the greats, especially my idol, Efren Reyes. He’s the reason I play. So to achieve something historic like that, it wouldn’t just be for me—it would be for every Filipino who loves this game.”

Last year, Biado was part of Team Asia’s triumphant Reyes Cup side—the first edition of the high-octane team event that saw Asia’s finest take on Team Europe. Biado was led by his idol Efren Reyes, in a moment that reignited his love for the game and his hunger to win on the biggest stage.

“Playing for Team Asia in the Reyes Cup was unforgettable,” he says. “Competing alongside the best players from the continent and being led by Efren—it meant so much to me. That event reminded me how much I love winning, how much I love this sport. It really reignited my hunger.”

This year’s return to Jeddah also holds special significance. The 2024 staging of the World Pool Championship was a watershed moment for the sport in the region, and the scale of the event only looks set to grow.

“The venue in Jeddah last year was amazing,” Biado recalls. “Everything—the arena, the practice room, the atmosphere—was first-class. I felt motivated before every match. And this year, it’s even bigger. That means more pressure, but also more excitement. I know I need to work harder than ever if I want to lift the trophy again.”

In 2017, Carlo Biado fulfilled a dream. In 2025, he returns to Saudi Arabia hoping to relive it—and perhaps even etch his name in the history books once more.