2017 WPA World 9-Ball Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

In the ornate confines of Doha’s Al-Arabi Sports Club, Carlo Biado won his first WPA World 9-Ball Championship with a 13-5 victory over compatriot Roland Garcia. The win came after more than a decade of attempts at the sport’s top prize.

Biado’s path to the title included a second-place finish in the 2015 World 10-Ball Championship, where he lost to Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi. Known as The Black Tiger, Biado had spent 12 years competing globally and preparing for this championship. The 9-Ball victory followed his sustained commitment to professional pool over many years.

The all-Filipino final represented a significant achievement for Philippine pool, with both players advancing through a 128-player field. The tournament used double and single elimination rounds over six days in Qatar’s capital, which hosted the event for the eighth consecutive year.

Several top players failed to reach the final. Defending champion Albin Ouschan of Austria lost in the second round to Taiwan’s Wu Kun-lin, while world number one Chang Jung-lin fell in the first round of the finals to Canada’s John Morra. Biado advanced through the tournament with consistent performances.

The victory was a major moment for both Biado and Filipino pool. At 34, Biado captured a championship he had long pursued and established himself among the sport’s top competitors. He would later win the World 9-Ball Championship again in 2025, becoming the first Filipino to win the title twice. Garcia finished as runner-up in his best World Championship result.

Sources: 2017 WPA World Nine-ball Championship – Wikipedia, Carlo Biado – Wikipedia, WPA Pool

This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.