Top billiards bets Carlo Biado, Johann Chua and James Aranas led the Filipinos’ storm in the Hanoi 9-Ball Open Pool Championship after taking down their respective rivals to advance to the Last 64 in Vietnam on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Things looked great so far as 18 out of the 64 players represent the Philippines in the 256-player field of the six-day tournament that offers a mouth-watering $200,000 (around P11.5 million) prize pool – $30,000 (P1.7 million) for the grand winner.

Leading the pack is Biado, the WPA 10-Ball and Ho Chi Minh 9-Ball champion as he outlasted Chinese Taipei’s Wang Chih-yung (9-4), Sun Yi Hsuan (9-6), and Spain’s Salvador Garcia (9-2) in the first round.

He will now tussle against Albania’s Besar Spahiu in the Last 64.

Chua, for his part, who is battling compatriot Jundel Manzon as of press time, whipped Vietnamese Luong Van Nam (9-5), Ta Van Linh (9-7) and Phuong Nam Pham (9-4).

Meantime, Aranas was relegated to the losers' bracket but managed to come back with a 9-4 victory over Vietnam’s Do Van Khai to claim his Last 64 spot where he battles former world champion American Fedor Gorst.

The 2023 World Cup of Pool title holder humbled Singapore’s Aaron Leigh Ko, 9-4, and fellow Filipino Jesson Marabi, 9-6, in his first two games yet stumbled to another PH bet in Jefrey Roda, 9-5.

Other PH cue artists who are advancing to last 64 are Jefrey Roda, Jundel Manzon, Jeffrey Ignacio, Raymund Faraon, Jerson Cumayos, Bernie Regalario, AJ Manas, Jaycee Cordova Garcia, Marvin Asis, Michael Baoanan, Lee Van Corteza, Roland Garcia, Harry Vergara, Michael Feliciano, and Patric Gonzales.