--- title: "Johann Chua Wins Philippines Open After Raga's Final Scratch" url: https://ncuemedia.com/johann-chua-wins-philippines-open-after-raga-s-final-scratch published: 2026-11-06T04:30:55Z updated: 2026-11-06T04:30:55Z summary: "Johann Chua beat Anton Raga 11-9 to become the first Filipino to win the Philippines Open at home after a tense final in Quezon City." author: "NCue Media" categories: ["Pool"] tags: ["9-Ball", "Anton Raga", "Johann Chua", "Philippines Open", "World Nineball Tour"] lang: en --- # Johann Chua Wins Philippines Open After Raga's Final Scratch *Chua led 5-0, survived Raga's comeback and cleared the final rack after a fourth break scratch decided an all-Filipino title match.* Johann Chua became the first Filipino to win the Philippines Open on home soil, defeating Anton Raga 11-9 in an all-Filipino final at Gateway Mall in Quezon City. The score tells only part of the story. Chua raced into a 5-0 lead, watched Raga drag the match back within one rack, then finished the title run after Raga scratched on the break for a fourth time. It was a final shaped by pressure, recovery and one recurring mistake that proved too expensive to survive. ## How did Chua build a 5-0 lead? Raga won the lag but immediately lost control of the opening rack when his break sent the cue ball into a pocket. Chua took ball-in-hand and converted a 3-9 combination to move ahead. The second rack also turned on an error from Raga, this time a missed 9-ball. Chua cleared it, ran the third rack and used a strong safety in the fourth to force another opening. At 5-0, Gateway Mall was ready for a one-sided finish. Chua had taken every early chance, while Raga was carrying the cost of two mistakes on the biggest stage of his week. The match did not stay comfortable for long. ## What brought Raga back into the final? Raga finally broke through with a one-rail kick on the 2-ball. In the next rack he jumped in the 3-ball and finished with a 4-9 combination, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Another rack followed, and the final suddenly had a different rhythm. Raga was attacking with more freedom, while Chua had to work through longer safety exchanges instead of running open tables. A second break scratch stopped Raga's first surge and helped Chua reach 6-3. Even then, Raga kept closing. A self-hook and missed masse from Chua made it 6-4, and another opening reduced the gap to 7-6. Five racks had become one. The final was alive again. ![Johann Chua celebrates with his team during the 2026 Philippines Open](media:b8f35309b19084ea) ## Why did the break become the deciding shot? Raga scratched four times on the break during the final. Each foul gave Chua immediate control of a rack, and the last one ended Raga's final attempt at a comeback. The third scratch arrived with the score at 7-6. The rack still became a tactical battle after both players missed the 4-ball, but Chua eventually moved 8-6 ahead. Chua then produced one of his cleanest runouts to extend the lead. Raga answered again, only for a time foul to return the table to Chua and put him on the hill. At 10-7, Raga refused to disappear. He punished a dry break from Chua, then took another rack after Chua hooked himself and miscued on a kick. The margin was back to 10-9. One rack separated the players. Raga broke and scratched again. Chua accepted ball-in-hand, cleared the table and ended the match before another twist could arrive. ![Anton Raga acknowledges the crowd during his run to the Philippines Open final](media:f0d172069ee1a53c) ## What were the key numbers from the final? | Match detail | Result | |---|---| | Champion | Johann Chua | | Runner-up | Anton Raga | | Final score | 11-9 | | Chua's largest lead | 5 racks at 5-0 | | Closest late score | 10-9 | | Raga break scratches | 4 | | Venue | Gateway Mall, Quezon City | The final was a race to 11. Earlier knockout matches were races to 10, making the championship match the longest scheduled contest of the event. ## How did the two finalists reach the title match? Chua met 21-year-old Bernie Regalario in the first semifinal. Regalario led 2-0, but Chua won ten of the next eleven racks to take the match 10-2. Raga earned his place in the final with a 10-6 win over Baseth Mocaibat. The result completed an all-Filipino championship match after all four semifinal positions had already been claimed by home players. | Round | Winner | Score | Opponent | |---|---|---:|---| | Semifinal | Johann Chua | 10-2 | Bernie Regalario | | Semifinal | Anton Raga | 10-6 | Baseth Mocaibat | | Final | Johann Chua | 11-9 | Anton Raga | That home sweep guaranteed a Filipino champion before the final began. Chua still had to become the player who carried the trophy through the last rack. ## Where do Chua and Raga stand after Manila? The current World Nineball Tour ranking lists Chua at No. 7 with $126,400 in ranking earnings. Raga is No. 55 with $28,250. Those positions show the difference in their established tour records, but the final itself was much closer than the ranking gap. Raga recovered from 5-0 down and pushed a top-10 opponent to 10-9 before the last break foul. For Chua, the title added another major result to a resume that includes the 2024 Hanoi Open and a World Cup of Pool victory with James Aranas. Winning in front of a home crowd gave this result a separate place in his career. For Raga, the loss was painful but revealing. He had enough shot-making and nerve to rebuild a final that looked over after five racks. His break was the part that failed him. ## Why does Chua's victory matter in Filipino pool? The Philippines Open was launched in 2025, when Spain's David Alcaide became its first champion. Chua's 2026 victory made him the first home player to lift the event's Golden Filipino Sun trophy. The setting amplified the result. Four Filipinos reached the semifinals, two advanced to the final, and the champion closed the match inside a crowded Gateway Mall. The title did not leave the country this time. :::faq ### Who won the 2026 Philippines Open Pool Championship? Johann Chua won the title by defeating Anton Raga 11-9 in the final. ### Where was the final played? The final was played at Gateway Mall in Quezon City, Philippines. ### How many times did Anton Raga scratch on the break? Raga scratched four times on the break, including in the final rack at 10-9. ### Who reached the semifinals? Johann Chua, Anton Raga, Bernie Regalario and Baseth Mocaibat filled the four semifinal positions. ### What is Johann Chua's current WNT ranking? The current World Nineball Tour list places Chua at No. 7 with $126,400 in ranking earnings. :::