Ko Pin-yi claims CTPBA Pro Tour Grand Finals title

Taipei, Jan. 7 (CNA) Taiwanese pool legend Ko Pin-yi (柯秉逸) captured the CTPBA Pro Tour Grand Finals title on Tuesday, rallying for a 13-12 comeback victory over 18-year-old Filipino player Albert James Manas.

Facing an opponent half his age, the 36-year-old Ko put together a decisive 5-0 run to close out the match after trailing 8-12. The victory saw Ko outlast 23 other competitors in the two-day invitational held in Taipei, earning the top prize of NT$200,000 (US$6,351).

"Fortune was on my side," Ko said after the match.

Ko made history in 2015 as the first player to win the World 10-Ball Championship, the World 9-Ball Championship, and the World Cup of Pool titles in a single calendar year.

In 2023, he further cemented his legacy as the first Taiwanese player to win the World Pool Masters.

Despite the final result on Tuesday, the win proved a grueling uphill battle for Ko, who trailed for most of the match. He dropped the first three racks before leveling the score, only to fall behind again at 4-8 and later 8-12.

"It was definitely a bit lucky to win today because I was a little restless in the early racks," Ko acknowledged.

He was full of praise for the 18-year-old Manas, who, like Ko, reached the final following an 11-3 semifinal victory. "He has a great mindset and remains relaxed, making the game look easy. He reminds me of the top European players," Ko said.

The CTPBA Pro Tour Grand Finals featured 17 Taiwanese players and seven international competitors. The field was divided into four groups of six, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.

Hsieh Chia-chen (謝佳臻) and Ko Ping-han (柯秉漢) -- Ko Pin-yi's younger brother -- finished joint third.