Chua cops 2017 All Japan 10-Ball crown

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SOUTHEAST Asian Games bronze medalist Johann Chua outclassed compatriot Jundel Mazon, 11-2, to rule the 2017 All Japan 10-Ball Championship held in Hyogo, Japan.

Chua had an awesome start displaying superb pocketing control to nail a 9-1 lead. Mazon tried to mount a comeback by scoring another rack for a 2-9 score.

But Chua smothered his foe’s attempts to recover to secure the victory.

It was Chua’s second All-Japan 10-Ball Championship title after dominating the 2015 edition of the event sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association and organized by the Japan Pool-Billiard Association.

Chua finally won a crown this year after settling for runner-up honors in the 2017 Super Billiards Expo Players Championship, and third place finishes in the World Pool SeriesHigh Rock Challenge, World Pool Series-Molinari Players Championship and Inaugural Scotty Townsend 10-Ball Championship.

The 22- year old rising star made it to the finals by ousting Hsieh Chia-Chen of Taiwan in the first round ( 11- 8), Kasper Kristoffersen of Germany in the second round ( 11- 1), Asano Masato of Japan in the Round-of16 ( 11- 4), teammate Jeffrey Ignacio in the quarterfinals (1110) and China’s top player Liu Hai Tao in the semifinals (11-2).

Mazon secured a spot in the championship round with victories over Katsuji Teruya of Japan in the opening round (11-10), Ko Seng Ann of South Korea in the second round (11-5), and Taiwanese players Ko Ping-Chung in the Last 16 (11-6), Cheng Yu-Hsuan in the quarterfinals (11-10) and Chang Yu-Long in the semifinals (11-8).

Chua and Mazon will be seeing action next in the 2017 Annual Joy Cup Masters Chinese 8Ball qualifying tournament to be held at the same venue.

Joining them are fellow Filipinos Warren Kiamco, Lee Vann Corteza, Antonio Lining, legendary cue masters Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Carlo Biado, Raymund Faraon, Mark Mendoza, Ramil Gallego, Elvis Perez and Hushley Jusayan.