Filipino cue artist AJ Manas continues to make his mark on the global stage, claiming a runner-up finish at the 2026 Qatar 10-Ball World Cup after a 13-6 final defeat to Joshua Filler on Thursday, October 29.
Delivering a masterclass on the final table, Filler set the tone early with a quick 3-0 lead. While Manas erased the gap, Filler responded ruthlessly, winning seven consecutive racks to charge to a commanding 10-3 lead and cruise to the title.
Manas Survives Lower Bracket for Finals Stint
Despite the loss, the 19-year-old Filipino phenom turned in another outstanding run. After falling to Daniel Maciol in the winners’ qualification round, he dropped to the lower bracket, where he survived a tight 9-7 victory over Lebanon’s Mohammad Ali Berjaqui before stringing together three convincing wins to reach the Round of 16.
There, Manas outlasted compatriot Jundel Mazon, 11-5, to advance to the quarterfinals. He then overcame an early deficit against Hsieh Chia Chen for an 11-8 victory to set up another match against Maciol in the semifinals.
Maciol carried that same dominance into the rematch, surging to an early 6-1 advantage and maintaining control at 8-4 through 12 racks. But Manas turned the tide, winning five of the next six frames to knot the match at 9-all. Though the Polish star stopped the run with a smooth break-and-run to reach the hill at 10-9, the young prodigy delivered under pressure, answering with a sharp break and a spotless table clearance to force a hill-hill decider. Manas then took over after a scratch from Maciol, and he made no mistake, clearing the table to complete the comeback win and secure the runner-up finish.
Filipino Cue Artists Leave Mark in Qatar
Manas led the charge for a strong Philippine contingent that saw six other cue artists reach the Round of 16, including former champion Jonas Magpantay, Carlo Biado, Jundel Mazon, Rocky Tullao, and Jerico Bonus. Meanwhile, Miguel Salvilla advanced to the quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual champion Joshua Filler, 11-7.
Earlier this month, Manas also secured a runner-up finish alongside Carlo Biado at the WPA Men’s Doubles 10-Ball World Championship, falling just short against Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide.
(Watch the 2026 Qatar 10-Ball World Cup final below.)
