Carlo Biado and upstart Bernie Regalario could end the country’s long wait for another Filipino to win the World Pool Championship with either of them assured of a place in the final of the prestigious tournament being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Biado and the 20-year-old Regalario were facing off at press time in an all-Filipino semis that will see the victor advance against defending champion Fedor Gorst of the United States or 19-year-old Albanian Kledio Kaci.

At stake in the race-to-15 title showdown is $250,000 or about P14.29 million, plus the chance for either Biado or Regalario to end the country’s eight-year wait for a champion in the premier 9-ball event.

Coincidentally, it was Biado who was the last winner back in 2017 when he dominated compatriot Roland Garcia in the final.

Edge in experience

Biado is one of four Filipinos to capture the event along with Efren “Bata” Reyes during his famous 1999 run in Cardiff, Wales, Ronnie Alcano on home soil in 2006 and Francisco “Django” Bustamante in 2010 in Doha.

Experience will be Biado’s advantage against Regalario, nicknamed the “Li’l Prince,” who is eyeing the biggest triumph of his young career.

They barged into the Final Four with two victories each on Friday, with Biado knocking off fellow Filipino Jeffrey Ignacio, 11-9, in the round-of-16 and Chinese-Taipei’s Ko Ping Chung, 11-7, in the quarters.

Regalario, meanwhile, also dislodged a compatriot in Patric Gonzales, 11-9, before trouncing Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, 11-4.