By MARK REY MONTEJO

One of the biggest billiards tournaments in the world is now set to mount here, as the 2023 Sharks International 9-ball Open begins on July 24 until 29 at its newly built The Sharks Great White Arena in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Johann Chua and James Aranas are slated to headline the field armed with experience after their successful title stint at the World Cup of Pool in Spain and the Bandung 10-Ball Open in Indonesia.

Also expected to compete are Carlo Biado, Dennis Orcollo, Ronato Ronnie Alcano, Roland Garcia and Django Bustamante.

Foreign cue artists expected to see action are Taiwanese siblings Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chung, Chang Jung Lin, Japanese Oi Naoyuki, Russian Fedor Gorst, Robbie Capito and Lo Ho Sum of Hong Kong.

The tournament will be composed of 128 players and will battle in a winner-break format, leaving the Final 64 into a race-to-9 knockout round. The final round will be competed in a race-to-17 format.

According to tournament organizer Hadley Mariano, some big names are likely to participate, however, elites from co-organizer Matchroom Pool have a higher possibility to take part.

The tourney offers a $100,000 (P5.5 million) total prize pool.