Filipino billiards star Marlon “Marvelous Captain” Manalo has secured his spot in the main draw of the 2024 Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Championship, a prestigious event set to begin on December 9 at the Ezdan Palace Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
The tournament, sanctioned by the World Pool Association (WPA), features a total prize pool of $450,000, with the champion taking home $100,000.
Manalo earned his place after a tense 7-6 victory over fellow Filipino Aihvan Manaloto in the final round of qualifiers. The closely fought match concluded early Friday morning Philippine time (Thursday evening in Qatar), showcasing Manalo’s determination to make his mark on the international stage.
The Filipino cue master has been rigorously training at his pool hall in Talumpang, Mandaluyong, and at the Star Billiards Center in Quezon City, owned by sports patron Sebastian “Baste” Chua. “I’m excited to compete in the main draw and hope to perform well,” Manalo said after his victory.
Manalo’s path to the main draw included a bye in the first round, followed by commanding 7-0 wins over Qatar’s Mohamad Alyazeedi and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alharthi.
He then survived a challenging match against Syria’s Mohamed Abdul Karim, narrowly winning 7-6, before defeating Manaloto in the qualifier final.
Joining him in the main tournament are notable players such as Konstantin Stepanov of Russia, Panagiotis Xypoliteas of Greece, Haider Ali of Qatar, and fellow Filipino Kyle Amoroto.
Manalo is no stranger to the spotlight. Known as the “Marvelous Captain,” he rose to prominence with significant victories against Taiwanese star Yang Ching-shun and Filipino legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante during the 2004 World Pool Championship.
The following year, he reached the semifinals of the same tournament before losing to eventual champion Wu Chia-ching. His illustrious career also includes titles such as the 2000 Asian Snooker Championship and the 2008 National Championship.
The Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Championship promises fierce competition, with $100,000 awaiting the champion and $40,000 for the runner-up.
