Ko Pin yi WTBC
2015 Manny Pacquiao World 10-ball hampionship Winner Ko Pin Yi of Chinese Taipei Bob Guerrero

Taiwanese pool player Ko Pin Yi is on top of the world. He has recently won the 2015 Manny Pacquiao World 10-ball Championship and the 25-year old athlete is determined to keep moving forward. With barely a moment to celebrate his first world title, Ko is back in action at the 3rd MP Cup International Doubles Tournament where International Business Times Australia caught up with him for a small chat.

Ko Pin Yi went up against local favourite Carlo Biado in the final match of the 2015 MP World 10-ball Championship (MPWTBC). The event was held at the SM City Activity Center in General Santos City and the home crowd was pulling for the Filipino player. Ko didn’t let the pressure get to him and pulled away to an early 4-0 lead in the race to 11 match. Biado managed to pull back some racks and appeared to be ready for a dream comeback when Ko shifted into high gear to finish the match. The crowd was disappointed but gracious in accepting defeat. Ko showed immense skill and composure during the match which endeared him to local fans despite taking down their home bet.

A few days after his win, Ko reflects on his victory. “I am very happy to win a world title for the first time.” When asked about his next goal after winning the title he said “Even though I won the World 10-ball Championship, I have only made it to number 2 in the world rankings. I think my next goal is to become world number 1.”

The World Pool-Billiard Association is the world governing body of pool and is the sanctioning body for the World 10-ball Championship and other professional pool events. Ranking points are gathered from other World Championships and ranking events that are played in the international pool circuit. At the moment, MPWTBC runner-up Carlo Biado has landed on the top spot after his second place finish and a stellar showing in other past events.

Apart from gaining the number 1 spot in the world rankings, Ko also shares that he would like to win the China Open. He said that he has not played well there in the past and it’s the next goal in his line of sight.

It also has to be mentioned that Ko is now U.S. $40,000 richer for winning the world title. The event guaranteed a total prize fund of U.S. $200,000 and the winner received U.S. $40,000. When asked about what he plans to do with his winnings, the humble young man said that he will use it to pay for his family’s new house. The Ko family lives an hour away from Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei but at the moment, Ko Pin Yi and his brother Ko Ping Chun are living in the city where they can be closer to the pool action.

Ko is very family oriented and gives his father credit for his interest in pool. He says that he has been playing for 13 years and started playing because his father worked in a local pool hall. His brother Ko Ping Chun has also become a formidable pool player and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship before he hit a wall against his own older brother. Ko Pin Yi demolished his brother with a score line of 11-2 on his way to the final match against Biado. For his efforts, Ko Ping Chun earned another USD 10,000 for the Ko family for his semi-final finish.

Apart from investing money in a new family home, Ko says that he intends to save. He didn’t have anything that he wanted to buy for himself but says that it would be better for him to save the money for the future. After a short celebration with his fellow Taiwanese pool players and a few friends, Ko is already looking ahead. He spoke about the way he prepares for competitions.

Ko says that he goes to the gym frequently to keep his fitness level up and he makes sure that he practices everyday. He says that he is fortunate that there are a lot of good players in Taiwan and playing against them is a good way to improve his game. Taiwan, just like the Philippines, is a powerhouse when it comes to pool. Ko’s favourite player is actually Filipino legend Efren “Bata” Reyes and he says that he thinks Reyes is a smart player and this is the way that he wants to play his game.

After playing in three tournaments sponsored by Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Ko has had several opportunities to watch Pacquiao play. Ko has also been invited on several occasions to play challenge matches with the congressman. He says that he was surprised and impressed when he saw Pacquiao on the pool table. KO says that for an amateur, Pacquiao can hold his own while playing with the best players in the world. He also mentioned that he believes the initiative and generosity of Manny Pacquiao is a big boost to the pool industry and a big help for professional players like himself.

After the 3rd Manny Pacquiao International Doubles tournament concludes this week, Ko Pin Yi and the rest of the foreign delegation wlll be heading home. In a matter of weeks, everyone will be gearing up for more tournaments. The new world 10-ball champion will set forth on his quest to gain that coveted top spot in the world ranking and with the way he has been playing, it’s probably only a matter of time.

For questions/comments regarding the article, you may email the writer at: c.caparras@ibtimes.com.au