Carlo Biado has the strongest case of winning the 2022 U.S. Open 9-ball Pool title and defending his crown as the top Filipino cue artist blanked Taiwanese journeyman Hsieh Chia-Chen, 10-0, in the quarterfinals Saturday morning (Manila time) in Atlantic City.

Early in the night, Biado outlasted reigning world 10-ball champion Konrad Juszczyszyn of Poland, 10-7.

Hsieh, whose biggest international achievement is a quarterfinal finish in the 2017 World 9-ball Pool Championship, was a total wreck, potting only two balls the entire match and committing three foul shots, two scratches, and a preparation error.

The Taiwanese also faltered in long and combination shots against the 19-time champion in international events.

Biado likewise pulled away late in his round-of-16 match against Juszczyszyn, winning the final three racks.

In the round-of-64, Biado won against Petri Makkonen of Finland, 9-4.

Biado will face a tough opponent in the semifinals against World Cup of Pool champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain.

Sanchez won a tight quarterfinals against 2021 World Pool Masters champ Alex Kazakis of Greece, 10-8.

Austria’s Max Lechner demolished British showman Chris Melling in the upper quarterfinals group, 10-4, and will face the winner between Eklent Kaci of Albania and Ko Ping-Chung of Taiwan in a battle of ex-10-ball champs.

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