After multiple heartbreaks, Johann Chua returned to the top after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi, 13-7, to reign supreme in the 2024 Hanoi 9-Ball Open Pool Championship at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium in Vietnam Sunday, Oct. 13.

With Pin Yi closely trailing behind 8-7 in their race-to-13 collision, Chua caught fire and won five straight racks to take home the title and the $30,000 (P1.7 million) grand prize. 

The 2023 World Cup of Pool king also ended his finals drought this year while also delighting the Filipino fans who were watching live at the venue.

Prior to ruling the Hanoi 9-Ball tilt, Chua outplayed compatriot and multi-tilist Carlo Biado (11-5) in an all-Filipino semifinal while beating Albanian Kledo Kaci (10-6), Jeffrey Ignacio (10-3), Taiwanese Chien Ching-Ju (10-2), and PH’s Jundel Manzon (10-7) along the way.

Jefrey Roda, meanwhile, succumbed to Pin-Yi in the semis but bagged a $9,500 (around P500,000) consolation prize along with Biado.

Roda toppled Vietnamese bets in Luong Van Nam (9-5), Ta Va Linh (9-7) and Phuong Nam Pham (9-4) prior to his semis appearance.

Despite Chua building an early 4-1 cushion, Pin-Yi slowly crawled back and capitalized on the former's miscues to trail by one, 8-7.

Chua then turned the tide and scored five straight to seal the deal.

Meanwhile, other national contenders in James Aranas, AJ Manas, Harry Vergara, Jerson Cumayas, Roland Garcia, Michael Feliciano, Lee Vann Corteza, Michael Baoanan, Marvin Asis, Jaycee Garcia, Bernie Regalario, Jundel Manzon and Raymund Faraon were eliminated in the earlier stages.