Chua, Aranas rule World Cup of Pool

VETERAN cue masters Johann Chua and James Aranas ruled the 2023 World Cup of Pool to give the Philippines a record of four titles in the tournament at Pazo de Feiras e Congresos de Lugo, Spain early Monday, July 3 (Manila time).

Chua and Aranas took down Germans Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen in the final 11-7 to make history for the Philippines, which last won the tournament in 2013 when Dennis Orcollo and Lee Vann Corteza ruled the event.

WORLD CHAMPIONS! Johann Chua (left) and James Aranas kiss the trophy after ruling the 2023 World Cup of Pool at Pazo de Feiras e Congresos de Lugo, Spain, on Monday, July 3, 2023. MATCHROOM POOL PHOTO 

Prior to Orcollo and Corteza’s conquest of the World Cup of Pool in 2013, the legendary pair of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Franciso “Django” Bustamante topped the tournament in 2006 and 2009.

“I feel great. It feels amazing to win a world title. It’s such an honour to win with James. We’ve known each other since we were 13 years old. We went to school together. To win with him is amazing. This has always been our dream. It’s a special achievement to win the World Cup of Pool,” said the 31-year-old Chua.

“For me, I have so many memories, it’s so exciting. This week is unforgettable, spending this moment with Johann too. My cues arrived right on time because they didn’t arrive for the Spanish Open. I want to thank my friends and family and all the Filipinos back home. Without my family, I would not be here,” said Aranas.

Chua and Aranas won a prize money of $60,000 or P3.3 million.

Trailing the Germans at 1-2, Chua and Aranas displayed their sharp breaking game to run out and win the next eight racks, capturing a 9-2 advantage in the race-to-11 contest.

Filler and Neuhausen didn’t just go quiet into the night as they won the next five racks to pull within two, 7-9. That turned out to be the last rack that the Europeans were going to win, though, as the Asians regained momentum to win the next two racks.

Chua and Aranas ran out in the 17th rack and in the 18th where Chua sent the nine ball to the right corner pocket.

Chua and Aranas defeated Taiwanese Ko Pin-yi and Ko Ping-chung in a hill-hill battle in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 1.

The Filipino duo then took down the Austrian pair of Albin Ouschan and Mario He in another hill-hill contest 9-8 in the semifinals on Sunday, July 2.