Category: Featured

Featured

Is It Time for Matchroom to Break Into Indonesia?

Predator has been making inroads into Indonesia this year with two major events: the recently concluded Indonesia Open events at the start of July and the upcoming Bali PBS events in October. We have long said that Indonesia is part of the “Big Three” pool nations in Southeast Asia, alongside Vietnam and the Philippines. These three countries have a combined population of almost half a … Continue reading Is It Time for Matchroom to Break Into Indonesia?

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Featured

Johann Chua Successfully Breaks the Money Game Myth

In a sport where money games have long been viewed as a rite of passage, Johann Chua’s resurgence on the world stage sends a powerful message—you don’t need to play money games to become great. And for young players especially, that’s a game-changing lesson. After winning the 2023 World Cup of Pool with James Aranas, Chua hit a rough patch. He struggled to reach the … Continue reading Johann Chua Successfully Breaks the Money Game Myth

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Featured, Tournaments

Matchroom Announces the First-Ever WNT Philippine Open. Here’s why this is BIG for the Philippines?

It’s official! The WNT Philippine Open is happening this October at Gateway Mall in Quezon City—marking the first time a Major World Nineball Tour ranking event will be held in the country! Here’s why this is a massive moment for Philippine pool: A huge stage for local talentFor decades, the Philippines has been hailed as one of the most talent-rich countries in the world when … Continue reading Matchroom Announces the First-Ever WNT Philippine Open. Here’s why this is BIG for the Philippines?

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Featured

It’s Time for the Philippine Billiard Federation to Wake Up

With neighboring nations like Vietnam and Indonesia rapidly developing their pool scenes, the level of talent in their regions is rising just as fast. It’s no longer a foregone conclusion that a Filipino will take the title just by showing up. Take the recently concluded tournaments in Indonesia, for example—the Orca 10-Ball International Open and the Borneo International Open were both won by Indonesian players: … Continue reading It’s Time for the Philippine Billiard Federation to Wake Up

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Featured

Southeast Asia is Now the Hotbed For World-Class Pool Tournaments

With the announcement of the Indonesia International 10-Ball Open being included under the Predator Pro Billiard Series (PBS)—set to take place in Jakarta on July 11–15—it’s becoming clearer that major tournament organizers are shifting their focus to Southeast Asia. PBS had earlier announced the World 10-Ball Open to be staged in Vietnam this coming September 20–28. Meanwhile, WNT tournaments such as the Peri Open and … Continue reading Southeast Asia is Now the Hotbed For World-Class Pool Tournaments

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Featured

Can Zhao Xintong Make The Leap to Pool?

Zhao Xintong’s World Snooker Championship run wasn’t just a victory — it was a phenomenon. Over 150 million fans in China tuned in to watch him lift the trophy. That’s the kind of attention most cue sports can only dream of. So here’s a thought: instead of bringing in YouTubers or social media personalities for promotional matches, why not invite Zhao to compete in a … Continue reading Can Zhao Xintong Make The Leap to Pool?

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Featured

A Champion in Every Sense – Robbie Capito Returns to Defend His UK Open Title

Robbie Capito is set to defend his UK Open championship this coming May 6–11. While he represents Hong Kong, he’s a full-blooded Filipino — and it’s not hard to root for this young man. Still as humble as ever, Robbie is one of those players who’s always a pleasure to interact with: polite, respectful, and someone who stands for all the right things, both on … Continue reading A Champion in Every Sense – Robbie Capito Returns to Defend His UK Open Title

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Featured

Pieface and Jaackmaate are Playing in the UK Open – But Does Anyone Really Care?

There’s no question that pool needs to grow. The fan base is getting older, and for the sport to stay strong, it has to reach younger audiences. That’s why it’s good to see Matchroom trying new things — including adding well-known internet personalities into the mix. At the upcoming 2025 UK Open, two social media stars — Pieface and JaackMaate — will be part of … Continue reading Pieface and Jaackmaate are Playing in the UK Open – But Does Anyone Really Care?

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Featured

Meet Ameer Ali – Pool’s Lesser-Known Elite Player

Ameer Ali, a professional pool player from Iraq, who is currently the #2 highest ranked player in the world in the FargoRate rankings. With a staggering rating of around 850, he now sits just behind Joshua Filler—surpassing many of the sport’s most recognized names. And yet, to most fans, he’s still a complete mystery. Based in the Middle East, Ameer Ali has made a name … Continue reading Meet Ameer Ali – Pool’s Lesser-Known Elite Player

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Featured

Drowning Out the Noise

Recently, Vietnam’s star player Dương Quốc Hoàng shared a poignant post on social media about the weight of expectations, the sting of criticism, and his unwavering resolve to keep playing despite it all. Billiards, unlike any other sport, has one of the highest variances in performance. You can go deep in a tournament, rack up impressive wins, and then get eliminated with just one or … Continue reading Drowning Out the Noise

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