Mark Estiola Leads Filipino Charge into Round of 32 at World 10-Ball Championship

In a stunning upset late Tuesday night at the World 10-Ball Championship, unheralded Filipino Mark Estiola defeated Estonian semifinalist Mark Magi 2-0 (4-3, 4-3) to secure a spot in the tournament's round of 32. The event is being held at the Military Zone 7 Indoor Gym in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and features a $70,000 prize for the champion.

Despite several Filipino favorites exiting early in the third round, Estiola maintained composure throughout his nearly three-hour match, prevailing after two hours and 52 minutes of intense play. His victory was complemented by fellow countrymen Jeffrey De Luna and Edmund Faraon, who also advanced to the next stage. De Luna defeated Vietnamese local Phuong Nam Pham 2-1 (4-1, 4-2), while Faraon dominated Qatari Ali Obaidli with a commanding 2-0 (4-0, 4-0) win.

Among the notable Filipino casualties was reigning world 9-ball champion Carlo Biado, who suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Taiwanese contender Ko Ping-chung. Despite an early lead, Biado fell in a closely contested match that lasted two hours and 48 minutes, with game scores of (4-3, 3-4, 3-3, 4-5). Ko, a former world champion in both 9-ball and 10-ball, demonstrated greater steadiness under pressure.

Other Filipino players eliminated included Jonas Magpantay, Albert James Manas, Lee Van Corteza, and Edwin Gamas. These players were fighting to remain in the double elimination format but were unable to advance beyond the late-night stages.

The championship continues, spotlighting emerging talents like Estiola while emphasizing the highly competitive nature of international pool.