Truly, 2025 was a career-defining year for Filipino pool whiz Carlo Biado after he reclaimed the WPA World Nineball Title, making history as the only Filipino to ever win the prestigious crown twice. But 2026 is already proving to be a much bigger campaign for The Black Tiger. In just 10 weeks, he has not only captured three major titles, but also solidified his status as one of the best in the game today.
Want proof?
In the latest WPA rankings, Biado made a massive jump, rising from No. 9 all the way to the top 3 in the standings.
Carlo Biado Rises
This meteoric rise in the WPA standings began in Jakarta this past January at the ACBS Asian Men’s 10-Ball Championship. After dropping his opening game to veteran compatriot Antonio Lining, The Black Tiger found another gear and stormed through the loser’s bracket. In the finals, he defeated Hong Kong’s Robbie Capito, 11–7, to capture the title.
Just weeks later, Carlo Biado carried that strong form to Las Vegas for the WPA World Team 10-Ball Championship. Serving as the steady veteran presence for Team Philippines, he led rising stars Chezka Centeno, Jeffrey Roda, and Rubilen Amit to the country’s second title in the event.
Team Philippines also dropped its first match of the tournament in a one-sided 0–3 loss to Poland. The Filipinos had to grind their way back from the loser’s bracket again, winning five straight matches to reach the championship and face Poland once more. After falling behind 0–2 in the finals, Biado decided to take over, winning a critical singles set that forced a shootout and eventually lifted the Philippines to the world title.
Biado’s Versatility Is Something to Behold
Though his latest title didn’t contribute to Carlo Biado’s official standing, it still showcased why he’s one of the most versatile players in the world right now. In the US Open One-Pocket Championship, Biado completed another “revenge game” by dominating compatriot Roland Garcia, 5–1, in the final. Garcia had handed Biado his only loss of the tournament, defeating him 4–3 in a grueling five-hour battle in the semis. This victory adds yet another trophy to an already legendary resume that spans multiple disciplines—from Nine-ball, Ten-ball, to professional team formats and One-pocket.
Biado will look to keep this momentum going next month as he heads to the U.S. for the 2026 Bank Pool Masters Showdown. There, the ‘Black Tiger’ will face a field of elite talent, including WPA No. 1 Albin Ouschan of Austria and WNT No. 1 Fedor Gorst of the United States.
