I predicted the KO train from Taiwan would derail the Filipino players.
Congrats to the KOs. And to Biado for 2nd place.
Congrats to the KOs. And to Biado for 2nd place.
KO - World Champion
- Thread starter HawaiianEye
- Start date
Congratulations to KO PIN YI from Chinese Taipei ! Well-Deserved And congratulations to Carlo Biado for winning 2nd runner up
1st runner up is second place. Second runner up is 3rd place
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what is 2nd runner up then ?
Ko is def.the World champ
proud to be Greek cause among other things Alex not the lion but Kazakis at 10-10 miss an easy 7 and lost to Ko
the who is who from all around the world was there(only SVB was not there)so if this kind of competition is not a world championships then what is?
proud to be Greek cause among other things Alex not the lion but Kazakis at 10-10 miss an easy 7 and lost to Ko
sorry I made a typo 2nd runner up is 3rd place.
It would've been really strange if at least ONE Filipino did not make it to the finals, since a million of them were entered in it. Kiamco still got it! Can't believe he can still play this good with all these world champions, I think he will be playing longer than Efren.
He is a beast. I personally think he's the best 10b player on earth. He seems to be unshakable . Congrats to both.
Didn't little KO finish pretty good also?
This one is the real one - wpa world champion, not the DP Promotions international world champion lmao
Big Bro KO beat baby ko in the semi's 11-2. Til that point baby ko didn't have any losses.
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Efren dropped out for death of his sister, Pac-Man withdrew, and Wu could not get in because of visa issues.
WU
is the best player IMO!!! Plus, youngest world champion EVER!!!
KD
WU
is the best player IMO!!! Plus, youngest world champion EVER!!!
KD
Anybody who disagrees about this 10-ball title can discuss it with Pacman..
...then they can find out what 'KO' really means....
+1 Well said. I agree with that assessment
He just keeps getting better. I remember when I first watched him win World Series of Pool (no, that was not a real World title LOL but the purse was about same as this $40K) some years ago. He was already elite and famous for his break then. When interviewed, he said he wanted to be better player and win World title. Since then has won 2 All Japan and just keeps getting better- better safety, better mental game, a more complete player.
What is scary is that as demonstrated in this tourney he has many gears, has many tools in his arsenal and has an amazing ability to adapt and adjust within matches, In final v Biado, he built 9-2 and suddenly his break deserted him and Biado staged comeback winning next 6 racks to get to 8-9. Ko looked flustered and down and you think OMG he is melting down. But no when it came his turn to break, he composed himself , focus took his time and took tough shots if necessary and just run out under extreme pressure. I have seen this many times. Aside from Ronnie O, I do not know of any other player who takes tough shots with other non playing hand.
He just has that inner confidence to take on adversity that separates him from others- probably also why he is such a good clutch player
This World title will push him to another level. The first one is always the hardest and after that I will not be surprised if he collect World and major titles for doorstops.
Cos really, he is just 25 and if he does continue playing for next 10 (that is if he does not settle down and use his degree to get job in private sector), I do not see anyone around his age who are close to his level if he keeps getting better- aside from his little brother and maybe Jeff Ignacio . I mean the elite guys now are mostly all 30+Anybody who disagrees about this 10-ball title can discuss it with Pacman..
...then they can find out what 'KO' really means....
Good one. The KOs and Manny will get along fine.
http://www.wpa-pool.com/web/index.asp?id=17&pagetype=event_news&eventid=236&eventnewsid=215
KO FINALLY FULFILLS THE DREAM
By Ted Lerner
WPA Press Officer
Taiwan's Ko Pin Yi wins his first ever world title by capturing the 2015 World 10 Ball Championship with a dramatic 11-9 win over the Philippines Carlo Biado.
(General Santos City, Philippines)--He’s always had plenty of promise. Now’s he’s reached the promised land.
Ko Pin Yi, who twice in the mid-2000’s won the World Junior championship, today fulfilled the dream that everyone in the pool world knew was just a matter of time, capturing his first world title, the 2015 World 10-ball Championship, with a hard fought and dramatic 11-9 win over the Philippines Carlo Biado.
A pool prodigy since his mid-teens, the 25 year old Taiwanese star has finally conquered the very best of the pool world, and now that he has his first world crown, nobody is in any doubt that he will soon grab plenty more. All week at the SM City mall in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, Ko displayed his amazing skills, combined with the kind of bottle and nerve reserved only for the greats. In the final against Biado, Ko spent the first half of the match putting on a pool masterclass. But when the Filipino mounted a furious fight back, Ko sucked up the almost unbearable pressure and fended off his surging opponent in a dramatic conclusion to finally reach the mountain top.
For Biado, despite the disappointment of coming so close to glory, his showing throughout the week, and especially in the final, showed that this 31 year old Filipino has clearly arrived in the circle of pool’s elite. On the verge of being routed by Ko, Biado pulled up his boot straps and nearly pulled off what would have been one of championship pool’s greatest ever comebacks. Biado keeps getting better with every passing year, and pool fans now know it’s only a matter of time before he too wins a world crown.
Both Ko and Biado began what would be a back breaking day for both of them in the quarterfinals which lagged off at 10:30am. Biado seemed to have the harder route, first outclassing China’s tough Liu Haitao in the quarters, 11 – 7, then routing David Alcaide in the semi-finals, 11-2. Biado’s semis performance was nothing short of electrifying and he looked primed for prime time as, up until that moment, Alcaide had been surging through the field.
Ko, who was clearly in top form all week, outlasted Taiwanese veteran Yang Ching Shun in the quarterfinals, 11 – 7. In his next match, however, he came up against his very own younger brother, Ping Yi, the 19 year old prodigy who had just routed Filipino veteran Warren Kiamco 11 -3 in the quarter final.
The all-Ko semi-final was a complete anti-climax as the elder Ko waltzed to victory, 11 – 2, in a match where the younger sibling didn’t really seem to care. No matter really as the matchup between Ko Pin Yi and Biado represented a potential classic showdown. Here were two of pool’s finest young talents, both in search of their first world title, about to do battle for one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
The alternate break final began at 4pm in front of a huge pro-Biado crowd, who were packed not just around the small TV table arena but also all over the upper floors of the busy mall.
Ko didn’t waste any time getting loose as he spent the first few racks putting on a show. The Taiwanese played amazing pool, taking on and making long, tough pots, executing clever finesse shots, completing difficult clears and showing that he has pool’s best break shot by consistently parking the cue ball dead in the center of the table. In just about 20 minutes, Ko led 4 – 0.
Biado finally stemmed the tide by breaking and running rack 5, but then Ko stepped up and returned the favor. Biado took that hit and gave one back of his own, breaking and running again to make the score 5 – 2.
Ko seemed impervious to any fight back, though, and when Biado made several mistakes in the next three racks, Ko simply pounced and soon led 8 -2. Then in rack 11, the Taiwanese potted a highly difficult full table bank on the three, all the while screwing the cue back in position for the 4-ball at the opposite end of the table and a quick clear. Up 9-2 and just two away from the world title, it was clear fans were watching a true master in action.
The next rack featured one of those seemingly innocuous moments that happens in many matches where the pool gods decide one player has had enough good fortune for the day. With just four easy balls left on the table, and a world title all but penciled in, Ko lost his concentration and missed an easy cut shot on the green 6-ball. He quickly lost the rack and the entire momentum.
Imbued with a new lease on life, Biado began the fight back. He broke and ran to make it 9-4. Ko scratched on the next break and Biado freewheeled the clear to cut the lead to 9-5. Biado then sank four balls on the break and soon trailed by just three. In the next rack Biado potted a long jump and ran the colors to make the score 9-7. When Biado broke and ran the next rack to move within one, Ko looked like he had a family of overweight gorillas sitting squarely on his back.
At this point the pressure in the arena, and specifically on Ko, seemed unbearable. Ko was visibly shaken and had to stand back several times before he could even execute the break shot. The Taiwanese, though, sank three balls on the break and held his nerve with a highly difficult clear to move within one of victory.
Ko then looked to have the title in hand after a dry break from Biado. But again Ko stumbled on a makeable 6-ball, and as the crowd gasped in delight, Biado stepped in to make the score 10-9.
Looking like he was barely able to hold the cue, Ko stood up gave it one last go. This time he proved his championship credentials by potting four balls on the break. Still shaky, Ko settled himself and carefully picked off the remaining balls to win his first ever world championship.
Afterwards a beaming Ko admitted he had let his concentration lapse. But he also said that the dramatic finish gave him a much bigger sense of accomplishment.
“This is my first time being a world champion so of course I’m very very happy,” Ko said through an interpreter. “When I was up 9-2 I was thinking that I was going to win so I just relaxed. That was my mistake. When the score became 9-5, that’s when I really started to feel the pressure. For the next few racks he kept winning and I had to tell myself to calm down. I took some deep breaths and just tried to relax. I made a few very difficult shots near the end so I’m very happy with the result and that I was able to pull through. I think it’s actually better this way. Of course I would have liked to win 11 – 2, but to be under that kind of pressure and to still win, that make it much better.”
For Biado, the narrow loss in a world championship final left the Filipino visibly dazed. But he took comfort in the fact that his epic fight back in front of his fellow Filipinos clearly left a lasting impression.
“It’s OK that I lost but I’m happy that I played really well in the second half of the match. In the first half my break was bad. I was a bit tired because this was my third match of the day. When I was down 9-2 I thought I had no chance but then when he missed the 3-ball, I thought to myself that maybe I still have a chance and I can come back. When the score was 9-5 I really felt that he was the one under pressure. Then when I made it 9-7, I knew he was really under pressure at that time. Then he missed the 6-ball and I got that rack to make it 9-8 and I said to myself, ‘maybe this time I can get this.’” But you know Ko Pin Yi is the best player in Taiwan. You can’t ever underestimate him.
“It’s OK, that’s part of the game. This was a great experience for me. This was my first time to play in the finals of a world championship and the crowd here they know that I fought my heart out and tried my best. So I’m’ just happy and proud that I was able to make that comeback and show them what I got.”
For winning the 2015 World 10-ball Championship, Ko Pin Yi received $40,000. Carlo Biado took home $20,000. The total prize fund was $200,000.
**The 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship took place at the SM Mall in General Santos City, Philippines from February 15-21 and was sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool and sponsored by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
To view the brackets please CLICK HERE
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com.
Finals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 – 9 Carlo Biado(PHI)
Semi Finals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 -2 Ko Ping Chung(TPE)
Carlo Biado(PHI) 11 -2 David Alcaide(ESP)
Quarterfinals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 - 7 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 11 – 3 Warren Kiamco(PHI)
David Alcaide(ESP) 11 -9 Johann Chua(PHI)
Carlo Biado(PHI) 11 - 7 Liu Haitao(CHN)
KO FINALLY FULFILLS THE DREAM
By Ted Lerner
WPA Press Officer
Taiwan's Ko Pin Yi wins his first ever world title by capturing the 2015 World 10 Ball Championship with a dramatic 11-9 win over the Philippines Carlo Biado.
(General Santos City, Philippines)--He’s always had plenty of promise. Now’s he’s reached the promised land.
Ko Pin Yi, who twice in the mid-2000’s won the World Junior championship, today fulfilled the dream that everyone in the pool world knew was just a matter of time, capturing his first world title, the 2015 World 10-ball Championship, with a hard fought and dramatic 11-9 win over the Philippines Carlo Biado.
A pool prodigy since his mid-teens, the 25 year old Taiwanese star has finally conquered the very best of the pool world, and now that he has his first world crown, nobody is in any doubt that he will soon grab plenty more. All week at the SM City mall in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, Ko displayed his amazing skills, combined with the kind of bottle and nerve reserved only for the greats. In the final against Biado, Ko spent the first half of the match putting on a pool masterclass. But when the Filipino mounted a furious fight back, Ko sucked up the almost unbearable pressure and fended off his surging opponent in a dramatic conclusion to finally reach the mountain top.
For Biado, despite the disappointment of coming so close to glory, his showing throughout the week, and especially in the final, showed that this 31 year old Filipino has clearly arrived in the circle of pool’s elite. On the verge of being routed by Ko, Biado pulled up his boot straps and nearly pulled off what would have been one of championship pool’s greatest ever comebacks. Biado keeps getting better with every passing year, and pool fans now know it’s only a matter of time before he too wins a world crown.
Both Ko and Biado began what would be a back breaking day for both of them in the quarterfinals which lagged off at 10:30am. Biado seemed to have the harder route, first outclassing China’s tough Liu Haitao in the quarters, 11 – 7, then routing David Alcaide in the semi-finals, 11-2. Biado’s semis performance was nothing short of electrifying and he looked primed for prime time as, up until that moment, Alcaide had been surging through the field.
Ko, who was clearly in top form all week, outlasted Taiwanese veteran Yang Ching Shun in the quarterfinals, 11 – 7. In his next match, however, he came up against his very own younger brother, Ping Yi, the 19 year old prodigy who had just routed Filipino veteran Warren Kiamco 11 -3 in the quarter final.
The all-Ko semi-final was a complete anti-climax as the elder Ko waltzed to victory, 11 – 2, in a match where the younger sibling didn’t really seem to care. No matter really as the matchup between Ko Pin Yi and Biado represented a potential classic showdown. Here were two of pool’s finest young talents, both in search of their first world title, about to do battle for one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
The alternate break final began at 4pm in front of a huge pro-Biado crowd, who were packed not just around the small TV table arena but also all over the upper floors of the busy mall.
Ko didn’t waste any time getting loose as he spent the first few racks putting on a show. The Taiwanese played amazing pool, taking on and making long, tough pots, executing clever finesse shots, completing difficult clears and showing that he has pool’s best break shot by consistently parking the cue ball dead in the center of the table. In just about 20 minutes, Ko led 4 – 0.
Biado finally stemmed the tide by breaking and running rack 5, but then Ko stepped up and returned the favor. Biado took that hit and gave one back of his own, breaking and running again to make the score 5 – 2.
Ko seemed impervious to any fight back, though, and when Biado made several mistakes in the next three racks, Ko simply pounced and soon led 8 -2. Then in rack 11, the Taiwanese potted a highly difficult full table bank on the three, all the while screwing the cue back in position for the 4-ball at the opposite end of the table and a quick clear. Up 9-2 and just two away from the world title, it was clear fans were watching a true master in action.
The next rack featured one of those seemingly innocuous moments that happens in many matches where the pool gods decide one player has had enough good fortune for the day. With just four easy balls left on the table, and a world title all but penciled in, Ko lost his concentration and missed an easy cut shot on the green 6-ball. He quickly lost the rack and the entire momentum.
Imbued with a new lease on life, Biado began the fight back. He broke and ran to make it 9-4. Ko scratched on the next break and Biado freewheeled the clear to cut the lead to 9-5. Biado then sank four balls on the break and soon trailed by just three. In the next rack Biado potted a long jump and ran the colors to make the score 9-7. When Biado broke and ran the next rack to move within one, Ko looked like he had a family of overweight gorillas sitting squarely on his back.
At this point the pressure in the arena, and specifically on Ko, seemed unbearable. Ko was visibly shaken and had to stand back several times before he could even execute the break shot. The Taiwanese, though, sank three balls on the break and held his nerve with a highly difficult clear to move within one of victory.
Ko then looked to have the title in hand after a dry break from Biado. But again Ko stumbled on a makeable 6-ball, and as the crowd gasped in delight, Biado stepped in to make the score 10-9.
Looking like he was barely able to hold the cue, Ko stood up gave it one last go. This time he proved his championship credentials by potting four balls on the break. Still shaky, Ko settled himself and carefully picked off the remaining balls to win his first ever world championship.
Afterwards a beaming Ko admitted he had let his concentration lapse. But he also said that the dramatic finish gave him a much bigger sense of accomplishment.
“This is my first time being a world champion so of course I’m very very happy,” Ko said through an interpreter. “When I was up 9-2 I was thinking that I was going to win so I just relaxed. That was my mistake. When the score became 9-5, that’s when I really started to feel the pressure. For the next few racks he kept winning and I had to tell myself to calm down. I took some deep breaths and just tried to relax. I made a few very difficult shots near the end so I’m very happy with the result and that I was able to pull through. I think it’s actually better this way. Of course I would have liked to win 11 – 2, but to be under that kind of pressure and to still win, that make it much better.”
For Biado, the narrow loss in a world championship final left the Filipino visibly dazed. But he took comfort in the fact that his epic fight back in front of his fellow Filipinos clearly left a lasting impression.
“It’s OK that I lost but I’m happy that I played really well in the second half of the match. In the first half my break was bad. I was a bit tired because this was my third match of the day. When I was down 9-2 I thought I had no chance but then when he missed the 3-ball, I thought to myself that maybe I still have a chance and I can come back. When the score was 9-5 I really felt that he was the one under pressure. Then when I made it 9-7, I knew he was really under pressure at that time. Then he missed the 6-ball and I got that rack to make it 9-8 and I said to myself, ‘maybe this time I can get this.’” But you know Ko Pin Yi is the best player in Taiwan. You can’t ever underestimate him.
“It’s OK, that’s part of the game. This was a great experience for me. This was my first time to play in the finals of a world championship and the crowd here they know that I fought my heart out and tried my best. So I’m’ just happy and proud that I was able to make that comeback and show them what I got.”
For winning the 2015 World 10-ball Championship, Ko Pin Yi received $40,000. Carlo Biado took home $20,000. The total prize fund was $200,000.
**The 2015 MP Cup World 10-ball Championship took place at the SM Mall in General Santos City, Philippines from February 15-21 and was sanctioned by the World Pool & Billiard Association(WPA), the world governing body of pool and sponsored by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
To view the brackets please CLICK HERE
Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/wpaworld9ballchampionship
The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa
For more information you can also visit the WPA website at www.wpapool.com.
Finals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 – 9 Carlo Biado(PHI)
Semi Finals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 -2 Ko Ping Chung(TPE)
Carlo Biado(PHI) 11 -2 David Alcaide(ESP)
Quarterfinals
Ko Pin Yi(TPE) 11 - 7 Yang Ching Shun(TPE)
Ko Ping Chung(TPE) 11 – 3 Warren Kiamco(PHI)
David Alcaide(ESP) 11 -9 Johann Chua(PHI)
Carlo Biado(PHI) 11 - 7 Liu Haitao(CHN)
Bitterness?