CARLO Biado, Johann Chua, and Jeffrey Ignacio were eliminated in the round-of-32 of the 2019 World 9-Ball Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Biado failed to make a return trip to the final after the 2017 champion and 2018 runner-up lost to Billy Thorpe of the United States, 11-10, in the round-of-32.
Chua also dropped an 11-6 decision against Naoyuki Oi of Japan, while Ignacio bowed to Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei, 11-9.
This is the earliest Philippine representatives were eliminated from the world 9-ball tilt sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiards Association (WPA) since the event began being staged in Doha in 2010. That year, Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante won the title.
Since then, Filipinos have been in the final five times, including in 2017 where Biado faced compatriot Roland Garcia for the crown.
Biado, Chua, and Ignacio were also coming off stints in the Southeast Asian Games where they won bronzes in the 9-ball doubles, with Ignacio teaming up with Warren Kiamco for the medal.
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