Filipino pool aces Johann Chua and Jefrey Roda humbled their respective rivals to set up an all-Filipino Final 16 clash in the 2024 US 9-Ball Open Championship at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey Friday, Aug 23 (Manila Time).

Chua blanked Japanese Naoyuki Oi, 10-0, and toppled USA's Jeremy Jones, 10-6, in Round of 64 and 32, respectively, en route to his Last 16 showdown against Roda, who is playing for the first time on American soil.

Roda, on the other hand, decimated Polish Wiktor Zielinski (10-2) then survived compatriot Jeffrey Ignacio in their hill-hill collision (10-9) to inch closer to the grand winner’s purse of $50,000 (roughly P2.8 million) in the 256-field competition.

Michael Baoanan barged as well after disarming German Ralf Souquet (10-8) and eliminating fellow Filipino Lee Vann Corteza (10-7).

He set up a daunting Round-of-16 task against two-time World Pool Masters champion Spanish David Alcaide.

Though Chua, Roda and Baoanan were assured of P250,000 each, the goal remained for the triumvirate to become the fourth Philippine cue artist to win the prestigious tourney after billiard legend Efren “Bata” Reyes (1994), Fil-Canadian Alex Pagulayan (2005), and Carlo Biado (2021).

Unfortunately, Biado yielded to American tormentor Skyler Woodward, 10-7, in the final 32.

Prior to his elimination, the 2017 World 9-ball champion collected the scalps of Lithuania’s Pijus Labutis (10-4), Venezuela’s Jerry Arvelaez (9-1), and USA’s Robert Hart (9-1).

Marvin Asis, Michael Feliciano, and Bernie Regalario were annihilated as well.

A new king will be crowned in this year’s edition as defending champ Ko Ping-Chung of Chinese Taipei was booted out by American Fedor Gorst, 10-6, in the Last 64.