CARLO Biado leads the last seven Filipinos still standing at the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as the crown jewel of nine-ball shifted to its knockout phase.
"The Black Tiger" is expected to carry the torch for the Philippines in the Last 16 as the country seeks its fifth winner of the prestigious trophy.
With him are James Aranas, Anton Raga, Jefrey Roda, Bernie Regalario, Patric Gonzales, and Jeffrey Ignacio - remnants of the 17 Filipino bets in the 128-man field.
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Biado fended off Chris Meiling of the United Kingdom, 11-9, in the Last 64, before escaping Wiktor Zielinski, 11-8, in the Last 32 to keep alive his bid to reclaim the World Pool Championship which he last won in 2017.
He is also seeking to be the first Filipino to rule the tourney multiple times. Efren "Bata" Reyes (1999), Ronnie Alcano (2006), and Francisco "Django" Bustamante (2010) previously won the cup for the Philippines.
But standing in the way of Biado, ranked No. 18 in the world, is fellow Pinoy Ignacio who came out an 11-10 thriller over world No. 2 Aloysius Yapp in the Last 64 and an 11-7 victor over Mieszko Fortunski in the Last 32.
It will also be an all-Filipino Last 16 clash between Regalario and Gonzales, assuring that two Pinoys will make it through to the quarterfinals. Regalario shook off Lo Ho Sum, 11-9, as Gonzales upset world No. 6 Eklent Kaci, 11-6, in the Last 32.
Aranas was in form as "Dodong Diamond" dominated David Alcaide, 11-4, and Mickey Krause, 11-4, to set up the Last 16 matchup against Ko Ping-chung of Chinese Taipei.
Raga also dealt compatriot and world No. 5 Johann Chua a heartbreaking 11-6 defeat in their Last 32 duel to book a date against Ameer Ali of Iraq.
Roda stunned world No. 9 Jayson Shaw of Great Britain with a 11-9 escape to meet Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam, who made it after taking down Marvin Asis, 11-6.
Defending champion Fedor Gorst remains the favorite after blasting Max Lechner, 11-4, in the Last 32 as he drew Mario He of Austria in the next phase.
Other Last 16 matchups include Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain locking horns with Casper Matikainen of Finland and Kledio Kaci of Albania taking on Konrad Jusczyszyn of Poland.
At stake in the tourney is the US$250,000 cash prize awaiting the champion from a record-setting US$1 million prize pool.
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