Nothing could halt Johann Chua’s rout from here on out.
Chua ignited a commanding start before posting a 15–5 romp over his fellow Pinoy Zoren Aranas to claim glory in the 2026 Pattaya Open 9-ball Championship on March 6 at the S1 Pool Hall & Sport Bar in Thailand.
The standout Chua took matters into his own hands after kickstarting a four-point cushion at 5–1 as he slotted key strikes that established his early dominance.
From there, the 33-year-old stood on the top as he converted decisive cue assaults into easy points that gave no room for Aranas’ gradual advancement.
This triumph marked Chua’s first glory in 2026 — with his last supremacy dating back last year in the Battle of the Bull 9-ball Championship.
After sparking an initial blowout, the “Bad Koi” Chua ramped up his plays that took advantage of his counterpart’s slight openings to notch an easy 7–2 uprising.
Chua then made a five-rack burst once more at 12–3 as he continued his precise shot selection in the 15th frame that left his opponents no chance for counters.
Sustaining his surge, he then nursed a 14–5 lead as he stopped Aranas’ bank-shot efforts, comfortably steering ahead in the latter moments of the game.
It was all Chua from thereon.
Meanwhile, Aranas had some antics going as he forced out a small back-and-forth tussle late that capitalized on his crafty strikes to eventually craft a two-rack spurt.
But all his efforts came crashing down in the 29th rack as Chua halted the former's run after nailing ball strikes to ultimately seal the deal in a lopsided finish.
Chua aims for a masterful performance in more 9-ball events.
Written by Vince Garcia, Insight PH
Vince Garcia, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
