🇹🇼 Ko Ping Chung is the 2026 Duya Golden Nine Champion after completing his run through the nine-day tournament in Malaysia with a victory over 🇵🇭 Oliver Jay Villafuerte in the championship match.
Ko takes home the RM80,000 top prize, approximately US$19,800, while Villafuerte earns RM30,000 (approximately US$7,400) for his runner-up finish.
The Philippines also placed another player inside the Top 4, with 🇵🇭 Johann Chua finishing third and earning RM15,000 (approximately US$3,700). 🇨🇳 Chen Si Ming completed the Top 4, taking home RM8,000 (approximately US$2,000).
Ko Ping Chung Takes the Title
Ko Ping Chung was one of the major names still standing when the tournament entered its single-elimination phase.
His path eventually brought him into a Last 8 showdown with his older brother, 🇹🇼 Ko Pin Yi, where the younger Ko prevailed, 90–59, to advance to the semi-finals.
There, Ko Ping Chung ended the run of Johann Chua to book his place in the championship match.
Waiting on the other side was Villafuerte, who had put together an impressive run through the knockout stage. Villafuerte defeated 🇻🇳 Mau Tram, 72–44, in the Last 8 before getting past Chen Si Ming in the semi-finals.
That set up the championship match between Ko Ping Chung and Villafuerte, with the Chinese Taipei star ultimately claiming the title.
Strong Philippine Campaign
The Philippines began the tournament with 11 players, with eight surviving Stage 1 and moving into the 128-player second stage.
Seven Filipinos then made it through Stage 2 and into the 64-player single-elimination bracket:
- 🇵🇭 James Aranas
- 🇵🇭 Paolo Galito
- 🇵🇭 Johann Chua
- 🇵🇭 Baseth Mocaibat
- 🇵🇭 Dennis Orcollo
- 🇵🇭 Abdulrauf Rufino Domrang
- 🇵🇭 Oliver Jay Villafuerte
By the Last 16, the Philippine contingent had been reduced to four players — Chua, Villafuerte, Galito and Mocaibat.
Chua and Villafuerte continued all the way into the semi-finals, guaranteeing the Philippines two places inside the tournament’s Top 4.
Villafuerte ultimately went one step further by reaching the championship match, while Chua secured third place.
2026 Duya Golden Nine Championship Top 4
| Finish | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | 🇹🇼 Ko Ping Chung | RM80,000 ≈ US$19,800 |
| Runner-up | 🇵🇭 Oliver Jay Villafuerte | RM30,000 ≈ US$7,400 |
| 3rd Place | 🇵🇭 Johann Chua | RM15,000 ≈ US$3,700 |
| 4th Place | 🇨🇳 Chen Si Ming | RM8,000 ≈ US$2,000 |
What You Need to Know
- Ko Ping Chung won the 2026 Duya Golden Nine Championship and the RM80,000 top prize.
- 🇵🇭 Oliver Jay Villafuerte finished runner-up and earned RM30,000.
- 🇵🇭 Johann Chua placed third, giving the Philippines two players inside the Top 4.
- Ko Ping Chung defeated older brother Ko Pin Yi, 90–59, in the Last 8.
- The tournament carried a total prize fund of RM210,000.
The tournament was held from August 25 to September 2, 2026 at O’O+ Billiards in USJ, Malaysia.
The Philippines may have fallen short of the championship, but placing two players inside the Top 4 capped another strong international campaign for the Filipino contingent.