By MARK REY MONTEJO

World Cup of Pool winners Johann Chua and James Aranas will headline a field of local cast and international stars when the Sharks International 9-ball Open kicks off on July 24.

(From left to right) Chief organizer Hadley Mariano, 2023 World Cup of Pool doubles champion Johann Chua and James Aranas.

Chief organizer Hadley Mariano said the staging of the event is pointed toward the revival of the sport's popularity in the country which was once a global powerhouse.

"Nabubuhay na yung mga younger athletes natin, nagti-train ngayon sila, kasi, may goal na silang attainable," Mariano said in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

"Ipasok dito yung mga international tournaments, once magawa natin iyon magiging madali para sa mga players natin na sumali at pumasok sa world rankings." 

Coming on the heels of the World Cup triumph of Pinoy duo Aranas and Chua earlier this month, Sharks has plans to bring back billiards at the collegiate level and hopefully tap talented players.

"Isa pang advocacy ng Sharks, gusto ko naman maipasok sa collegiate ang billiards, para balang araw, makikita natin. Maka-graduate ng La Salle, Ateneo, kumbaga yung mga athletes natin na di nakapag-aral (ay) maipasok natin sa mga magagandang school. Mabigyan ng scholarship, gaya ng mga basketball player natin." Mariano said.

The 128-man tournament will be held in the newly built The Sharks Great White Arena in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Seeding will be based on rankings of Matchroom's top 64 players who will be scattered in the brackets. Half of the participants are foreigners and the other half will be all Filipinos. 

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. Carlo Biado will be joined by Dennis Orcollo, Ronnie Alcano, Roland Garcia and Django Bustamante.

The tournament offers a $100,000 (P5.5 million) prize pool with a chunk of $30,000 for the champion.