UNHERALDED Jeffrey Ignacio defeated compatriot Carlo Biado, 11-6, to earn a place in the championship match of the World 9-Ball China Open in Shanghai.
Ignacio’s win over Biado put him in the finals against Chang Yu Lung of Chinese Taipei and gives him a chance at the US$40,000 top prize in the event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association
He defeated Karol Skowerski, 11-8, in the round-of-32, and beat John Morra, 11-8, to win a berth in the quarterfinals.
The Filipino bet stunned former World 9-ball champion Mika Immonen, 11-6, to face set up the match with Biado, who downed Shane Van Boening, 11-4.
Biado, who defeated Dennis Orcollo, 11-10, in the second round, could not overcome Ignacio, who reached the knockout stages via the one-loss side of the bracket in the preliminaries of Group C.
On his way to the finals, Chang defeated Lee Van Corteza, 11-8, in the quarterfinals to end the possibility of an all-Pinoy finals showdown.
In the women’s side, Rubilen Amit lost to Yu Han in the second round, 9-7.
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