It’s the moment that everyone lies awake at night envisioning. Four players will be endeavouring to transform those dreams into reality as the World Pool Championship reaches its conclusion at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The history-chasing Fedor Gorst and Carlo Biado have both stood on the summit of professional previously, and they encounter two budding superstars in teenage sensation Kledio Kaci and Filipino prodigy Bernie Regalario.
All four semi-finalists have already guaranteed $50,000 – which could become a stupendous $250,000 should they become the champion of the world.
CARLO BIADO VS BERNIE REGALARIO
There’s one guarantee heading into a semi-final between one of the greatest Filipino players to ever wield a cue and one of the finest young Pinoy talents, and that is that the Philippines will have their first World Championship finalist since Carlo Biado seven years ago.
Biado was aiming to become a back-to-back champion on that occasion, only to be beaten by a then 20-year-old Joshua Filler. It could be a repeat of history should Biado’s semi-final opponent this year in 20-year-old Bernie Regalario beat the defending Fedor Gorst in the final.
Regalario achieved his finest hour in the quarter-finals as he brushed aside former winner Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 11-4 to reach his maiden major semi-final. Having already beaten another former champion in Ko Pin-Yi earlier in the tournament, the young Filipino has proved his capability to overcome anyone.
Having been breaking the balls with undeniable force, Regalario will prove a stern test for Biado. The 2017 world champion emerged through a tactical battle against Ko Ping-Chung unscathed, and his prior victories over Jeffrey Ignacio, Wiktor Zielinski and Chris Melling were all closely-contested affairs. It’s been an arduous route to a fourth World Championship semi-final for Biado.
Whoever prevails will also have the weight and expectation of a country who have dominated this year’s tournament on the shoulders. Biado could be the first Filipino to become a two-time world champion, while it would be an initial taste of success for the prodigious Regalario.
Prediction: 11-8 Biado
FEDOR GORST VS KLEDIO KACI
Fedor Gorst remains on course to emulate only the legendary Earl Strickland and successfully defend his World Championship title – a record Strickland has held for more than three decades. In addition, he will follow in Strickland’s footsteps and become the second three-time world champion.
Having produced numerous comebacks and endured strenuous battles to reign victorious last summer, it’s been a more comprehensive route this time around. Only Jonas Souto Comino has even threatened Gorst in single elimination, with comfortable wins over Max Lechner, Mario He and Jefrey Roda following by a margin of six or seven racks.
Teenage sensation Kledio Kaci, meanwhile, could follow in his brother Eklent’s footsteps and reach the World Championship final in Saudi Arabia – they would become the first-ever brothers to both make the finals. It was the world number one who scuppered his brother’s hopes last year, and it could be Gorst who upsets the Kaci household once more.
Kaci’s path to a maiden major semi-final has been more complicated that than of Gorst, becoming embroiled in closely-contested affairs. The 19-year-old had a narrow escape in the quarter-finals as Ameer Ali missed the four ball in a rack in which he could have forced a decider, having already come from behind to beat Konrad Juszczyszyn and Sanjin Pehlivanovic.
Needing to battle past tricky opponents could be in his favour heading into the semi-finals, although Gorst has been relentless throughout despite having breaking struggles. Albania’s Kaci was the first player to beat Gorst as world champion last year in Dubai – he therefore knows how to beat the best player on the planet, but Gorst appears on a collision course with history once more.
Prediction: 11-6 Gorst
