Carlo Biado is now the first Filipino to win the world nineball title twice, edging Fedor Gorst in the finale of the 2025 World Pool Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Carlo Biado drew strength from a pro-Filipino crowd and summoned nerves of steel to overcome defending champion Fedor Gorst, 15-13, and clinch his second World Nineball Championship title in a gripping finale in Jeddah on Sunday (PH time).
Biado, who first won the crown in 2017, became the first Filipino to capture two world nineball titles.
The victory also marks back-to-back world championships for the 41-year-old cue artist, following his 10-ball triumph in 2024.
“I’m so happy because the crowd is more Filipino. I’m so happy that they’re here. They gave me strength to fight in this final game,” said Biado, who delivered another iconic moment in his decorated career, which also includes a US Open win.
It was a rollercoaster of a match. Biado fell behind 0-2 before reeling off nine straight racks to take firm control.
But Gorst, as expected, mounted a furious comeback to tie the match at 9-all, then again at 13-all.
“This final is unforgettable. Fedor is one of the best in the world and he’s a monster on the table,” Biado said.
“I’m worried even when I’m leading. If he gets a break, he can get a monster break and that happened today. I’m just focused on my game even if he came back.”
With the match deadlocked and momentum teetering, Biado regained his rhythm in the final two racks to finish strong and secure the world title.
The win further cements Biado’s place in the sport’s history books, joining legends like Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante —and carving out his own unique legacy as the first Filipino to reign twice in nineball.
—
[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]