19/08/2025
Philippine Open: The Revival Philippine Pool Needs
The era of the great Efren Reyes and his generation is clearly over. Most Filipino pool aficionados regard it as the golden age of the sport in the Philippines. From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, even into the early 2010s, pool reached the height of its mainstream popularity in the country. Efren was even a co-lead in a film alongside the Philippines’ “King of Movies,” Fernando Poe Jr. (search the movie Pakners).
Heck, we heard Mika Immonen even landed an advertising gig with a major real estate developer during that time. There was a regional tour sponsored by the country’s biggest beer company, televised by a leading sports channel. International tournaments and world championships were held regularly in the Philippines. In fact, the inaugural World Ten-ball Championship was staged in Manila in 2008.
But after 2015, no significant international competition returned. Coincidentally, it was also the time when Efren and his generation had aged beyond their competitive prime. With no charismatic successor ready to take the reins, the crown grew too heavy for an older Efren to carry alone. Other factors were at play, but 2015 effectively marked the beginning of the sport’s hibernation in the country.
Enter 2025
The World Nineball Tour (WNT), now in its fourth year, has transformed this niche sport into a true professional circuit. Matchroom’s WNT has been full of promise—and it has delivered, year after year. It has created a global buzz, and now, it has reawakened this sleeping pool nation, stirring its hidden talents and rekindling its passionate fanbase.
Last year, the Reyes Cup was born. Although it was merely an invitational, all-star style event, it achieved its goal—tickling the belly of a still slumbering, pool-crazed nation. More importantly, it became the precursor to what is now the most anticipated tournament in recent Philippine pool history.
The WNT’s Philippine Open will be the first major international pool tournament in the country in nearly a decade. It will once again bring the world’s best players—from Europe, the Americas, and Asia—back to our shores. They will compete not only against the Philippines’ established stars, but also against hidden local talents who rarely get the chance to showcase their skills internationally.
For these players, this is the opportunity of a lifetime—an event that could create instant stars and storylines to follow.
Filipino fans, too, are eagerly waiting. The new generation of pool enthusiasts, many inspired by the rise of Jaybee Sucal, are hungry to see him live on the biggest stage. Imagine Sucal on TV Table 1, with his trademark “Ano!” echoing from fans, broadcast live on WNT.tv. Even local betting lines may get caught up in the fever, not just on who takes the trophy, but possibly even on per-rack wagers (if that’s even allowed).
When all is said and done, the Philippine Open may finally awaken a nation that has loved pool for generations. This time, with the infrastructure of the WNT behind it, the hope is not just to revive the passion but to build a sustainable, professional environment for the sport’s future.
