JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Naoyuki Oi of Japan has claimed the title at the first-ever Carabao International Open, defeating local favorite Irsal Nasution in a decisive 13-3 victory.
The victory marks Oi’s second World Nineball Tour (WNT) ranking event title, following his win at the Helsinki Open in 2024. The tournament, a Gold Grade WNT event, was held from February 4th to 8th at the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition in Jakarta.
A One-Sided Finale
The final match, a race to 13, showcased a masterclass in offensive pool from the Japanese veteran. Oi opened the match with a break-and-run and maintained total control, storming to an 11-0 lead. His initial run included eight break-and-runs, leaving Nasution with few opportunities to approach the table.
Nasution, a veteran Indonesian cueist known for his appearances in the All Japan Championship and as a finalist in the 2010 Guinness World Series of Pool, managed to claw back three racks following a scratch and a rare miss by Oi. However, the comeback was short-lived.
In the 15th rack, a missed 5-7 carom attempt by Nasution allowed Oi to clear the table and reach the hill at 12-3. Oi sealed the championship in dramatic fashion in the following rack, delivering a “Golden Break” (break ace) to end the match.
Following the victory, Oi celebrated by standing atop the table to acknowledge the enthusiastic Jakarta crowd.
Tournament Results Summary
Champion: Naoyuki Oi (JPN)
Runner-up: Irsal Nasution (INA)
Semi-finalists: Marvin Asis (PHI) / Bernie Regalario (PHI)
Naoyuki Oi’s Path to Victory
- Final: Won 13-3 vs Irsal Nasution (INA)
- Semi-Final: Won 11-3 vs Marvin Asis (PHI)
- Quarter-Final: Won 10-8 vs Ronel Nalaunan (PHI)
- Last 16: Won 10-4 vs Paolo Gallito (PHI)
- Last 32: Won 10-9 vs Ismail Kadir (INA)
- Last 64: Won 10-0 vs Genesis Ouano (PHI)
