Carlo Biado left behind a world of money matches to focus on winning world championships. Four world titles later, “The Black Tiger” takes his place in the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.



By Keith Paradise

Twenty years ago, Carlo Biado's billiards career was going through a bit of an adjustment phase.

After a few years of playing strictly in money matches as a Filipino teenager, Biado was now in his early 20s and had transitioned into a professional after a recent crop of tournaments were produced on the island. The adjustment from playing in gambling matches night after night to competing in multi-day events was not going well, as he struggled to place high at any of the events he entered for the first few years.

Rather than becoming frustrated or finding another line of work, he approached the defeats more analytically, trying to pinpoint what went wrong and searching for the remedy.

“Those years that I didn't win, I decided that no matter how long, I will do my best and learn from my mistakes until I become a world champion,” said Biado, as he sat with his wife, Nikki, for an interview at the U.S. Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City in August. “My goal was always to be a world champion.”

Two decades later, “The Black Tiger” is still setting and achieving goals, including winning his second World 9-Ball Championship, which he accomplished this summer when the 42-year-old dethroned defending champion Fedor Gorst in the finals. At an age when many professional players seem to be losing their abilities or interest in competing, he looks like he's just getting warmed up – also winning the 2021 U.S. Open Pool Championship and last year's World 10—Ball Championship.

Biado received another accolade this summer when he was voted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, with his induction taking place at the International Open in St. Augustine this month.



“Seeing him now, I'm so proud of this guy,” said fellow world champion Rubilen Amit, who teamed up with Biado and Johann Chua in 2022 to win the World Team Championship. “That second world 9—ball title really cemented his legacy. He really is my idol.”

Part of the reason that his career appears to be catching a second wind is the rigorous training routine that he has been putting himself through daily for the past few years, which starts with an hour of running, then playing 50 practice racks of either 9—ball or 10—ball. Then, it is off to the poolroom to match up in some of those money games, sometimes playing three matches in an evening before going home and doing it all over again.

“The struggles he's had as we age, he tells me about his aches and pains,” said Amit. “Then I see that he's won a big tournament. He truly is a black tiger.”

Not bad for a guy who essentially found pool by accident.


Biado's big win in Saudi Arabia upped his world titles haul to four.

Born and raised in Taguig, the island's fifth—most populous city on the eastern shore, the young Biado took an early interest in drawing as a child, wanting to one day have a career that involved art. When he was nine years old, his father left the family and moved to Honduras to search for work. He sent money home for the first three years that he lived abroad until one day the funds stopped coming and the family could no longer reach him. With his mother and brother now cash—strapped, Carlo dropped out of school at the age of 13 and got a job at a golf course 30 minutes away from his home. He worked as a tee boy at the club's driving range and would pick up shifts as a caddy to earn a few extra bucks. Inside the clubhouse was a pool table, which immediately grabbed his attention as he watched the men at the club play when they weren't on the golf course.

“This is a game I think that I can play,” he thought.

He needed a small chair to reach the table the first time he picked up a cue, but he absorbed the game's techniques and fundamentals early. Biado had a table at home that he practiced on, much to the dismay of his mother, who threw a slipper at him the first time she saw him hitting balls. Within a year of taking up the game, he was playing in money matches at nearby pool clubs in town. When he came home from a small tournament with a trophy and $100, his mother's angst suddenly went away.

“He wanted to play billiards so he can get more money so he can provide,” said his wife, Nikki.

“I always win. I always made money,” said Biado. “So, I said to myself that it is easy to make money with this type of game.”

The game was so lucrative that, after a stint of working at the golf club and playing pool at night, he quit his job to focus on playing in money games. At first, his inexperience earned him a handicap from the organizers who matched him up with other players, but as his skills improved, he noticed it was his opponents who were getting a spot. Playing pool for money was like working a job that paid you at the end of a daily shift. He had enough to pay for food for his family for a day but not much else. So, when the professional tournament calendar expanded shortly after the turn of the century, including tournament promoter Matchroom hosting the World 9—Ball Championship in the Philippines, Biado made the decision to switch to professional pool. A victory in one of these events would produce life—changing money for his family, particularly if he could secure a world championship.

He finally broke through with a victory at the 2010 Manny Pacquiao 10—Ball Championship and a fifth—place finish at the Predator International 10—Ball Championship that same year. The following year, he notched a third—place finish at the World 10—Ball Championship and placed in the top five at the World 9—Ball Championship.


Biado is quick to credit wife Nikki for his success.

It was also around this time that he was in a bar and met Nikki for the first time. Although her friends knew him to be a well—known pool player on the island, she had no idea who he was since she didn't follow the game. The two exchanged numbers and texted, first in a group text with other friends and later exclusively. As Biado began to compete in events internationally, he would call her from the road.

“He said that he wasn't courting me, but he called me every day overseas,” said Nikki with a laugh. “You're not courting me but you're buying a phone card and calling me every night?”

Biado became a fixture at the top of tournament leaderboards over the next six years, and his new partner had a front row seat. Since she wasn't interested in pool she paid close attention to his journey, offering support and encouragement that ultimately resulted in him climbing from a steady quarterfinalist to regular semifinalist at major events. He finally broke through in 2017 at the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, winning the gold medal by defeating Jayson Shaw in the finals. The victory earned Biado a cash bonus through the Philippine government that allowed them to buy their home and gave him enough financial security to enter the World 9—Ball Championship later that year in Qatar stress—free.

Or so he thought. Biado worked his way through the event only to meet his friend and fellow countryman Roland Garcia in the finals. Baido insists he dreads playing fellow Filipinos in the finals of tournaments because he hates seeing other natives lose. Amit recalled being at the recent Predator event in Saigon and having Biado in the stands cheering her on when she faced Tzu—Chien Wei in the finals, despite the fact that he had a match early the next day.


Biado's first World 9-Ball title came in Qatar in 2017.

His strong feelings for his country and Garcia didn't seem to impact him during this match in Qatar, as he cruised to an 13—5 victory for his first world title. He nearly repeated the following year, reaching the finals again before falling to Germany's Joshua Filler. After Biado added the U.S. Open title in 2021, Nikki recognized that her husband had achieved all of his goals and that it was time to look for different things to strive for, ones that didn't need to involve making more money.

“You have everything you wanted so make a new goal,” she told him. “Because if you don't have a goal, what is your purpose?”

So, as he worked his way through the bracket on his way to a second World 9—Ball Championship this summer, Biado thought about the Filipinos who were back home watching him. He thought about the prize money that he would win for finishing first — a hefty $250,000 — and, more importantly, what he planned to do if he won. With a windfall like that, who could blame him if his mind wandered into the idea of a new car or a piece of jewelry, but that just isn't his style.

If he won, Biado told his family they were going to visit an orphanage back home and feed the children who live there.

After winning that second title and receiving the accolades that come with being a world champion in the Philippines, the Biados headed to the orphanage. The kids took to the family immediately, trying to get their attention and affection by showing off and performing. He asked an employee at the facility how many times people come by to visit the children. Hardly ever, they were told.

Before leaving, he told the children that the next time he wins something big, he will return and bring different food — again setting a new goal.

With the way that he has been playing in recent years, making multiple trips to the orphanage isn't out of the question. It was Nikki who suggested that he start on the fitness regimen and started working with him on just enjoying life in general. She got him interested in dancing and the two have taken up Zumba, but don't expect him to put the cues away in exchange for dancing shoes anytime soon.

“I think that I am just a blessed guy,” he said about his endurance. “I just enjoy this game because I love this game so I'm going to keep playing.”


Biado has no intention of letting his Hall of Fame honor slow his career.

“He always said 'I'm getting old,'” said Nikki. “Just do what you really love, and everything goes on.”

Biado also has a yearning to reconnect with his father, with three decades passing since he left the Philippines and a young Carlo behind. They've reached out through text messages and social media applications and have had no luck. Biado insists he's not wanting to scold or berate the man; he forgives him. He just would like to regain a line of communication to show him what that nine—year—old boy grew up to be — a multiple—time world champion, a hero in his country and a father to four kids of his own.

“I want to see him; I want to see my father,” said Biado. “I want to reach him, but I don't know how. Whatever my father did to me, he's still family.”

It's all a part of a grounded humility that the four—time world champion carries. When asked what he attributes his success to, he pointed to his wife, who encouraged him to chase the titles and the prize money that would feed them while she stayed at home and raised their children. She was the one who told him he needed to control his temper after they first met, then helped him to learn that discipline. Then when he reached every goal he had ever set, it was Nikki who suggested he dig deep and think of some bigger ones.

“I know I helped him but it's really not me, it's him,” said Nikki. “It's his determination. I'm just here to guide and give him inspiration.”

“That's why you're the reason,” said Carlo, as he sat next to her. “Because if you're not there, I don't become like this.”

By this time, she's shaking a bit and holding back her emotions.

“We did this together,” said Carlo.

Then he gave his wife a fist bump, just like you would any great teammate.

“To be in the hall of fame is really unbelievable,” she said.

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