The 2025 Philippines Open came to a close inside the Gateway Mall 2 Activity Center, wrapping up two exciting weeks of world-class billiards that also featured the Reyes Cup. Organized by Matchroom Pool in partnership with Puyat Sports, the event brought together top international players and local talents, giving fans an unforgettable experience and putting the spotlight back on the Philippines as one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Spain’s David “El Matador” Alcaide captured the inaugural Philippines Open title with a dominant 13–3 victory over Finland’s Arseni Sevastyanov in the final. From start to finish, Alcaide showed composure and experience, controlling the pace of the match with clinical precision. At 46 years old, he proved that he remains one of the most consistent and respected players in the world. His last major win came in 2023 at the European Open, where he defeated Anton Raga, and now, two years later, he’s back on top.
For Arseni Sevastyanov, the tournament marked a major breakthrough. The young Finnish player impressed fans with his calmness and skill under pressure, most notably in his thrilling hill-hill semifinal win over Jayson Shaw. After falling behind 5–8, Sevastyanov battled back to level the match, missed a key 6-ball at 10–9, and then took advantage when Shaw missed the 9-ball in the final rack. It was one of the most dramatic matches of the event and a clear sign of Sevastyanov’s growing potential.
Filipino players also made their presence felt. Jeffrey Ignacio reached the quarterfinals before bowing out to Alcaide, while Roland Garcia pushed Sevastyanov to a close 8–11 finish. Bernie Regalario had a strong showing but fell to Robbie Capito, and AJ Manas — fresh off his Reyes Cup Rookie MVP award — gave fans plenty to cheer for despite losing to Shaw in the quarterfinals. Jaybee Sucal, who made his Philippines Open debut, also showed promise and composure beyond his years.
The 2025 Philippines Open wasn’t just about winning titles — it was also about pride, growth, and the strong love Filipinos have for the sport. The energy from the crowd and the quality of play made it a memorable event for everyone who watched. Credit goes to Emily Frazer and the Matchroom team for organizing another top-class tournament. Holding the Reyes Cup and the Philippines Open back-to-back was a major challenge, but they pulled it off impressively.
As the event came to a close, one thing was clear — the Philippines is ready for more international pool action. The players, the fans, and the passion are all here. What’s needed now is stronger support from the government and the local billiards community to help the sport continue to grow. With the success of this event and the rise of young players like AJ Manas and Jaybee Sucal, there’s every reason to be optimistic about the future of Philippine pool.
