Johann Chua

Born and raised in Bacolod in the central Philippines, Chua began playing pool at the age of nine.[2] He was often accompanied to the local pool hall by his father who gave him the nickname "Bubwit" or little mouse due to the fact that he was too little to be seen behind the pool table. Chua quit schooling at 13 to pursue his passion and began playing professionally at the age of 19.

In October 2011, Johann Chua was ninth at the BSCP National Open Pool Championships Overall. In December, he finished 17th at the Manny Pacquiao International 10-ball championship held in General Santos. In November 2012 he achieved his first major international success with third place at the Japan Open. In 2013, he finished 17th at the China Open. He was third again at the Japan Open 2013.

In 2014, Chua managed to reach the final in the China Open. In the last 16 he lost against the Taiwanese Chang Jung-Lin. At the 2014 WPA World Nine-ball Championship that took place a few days later, he reached the final round of a world championship for the first time. In the quarter-finals, however, he parted with his countryman Elmer Haya. In September 2014 Chua was seventh in the Manny Pacquiao Cup.

At the 2015 WPA World Ten-ball Championship, he reached the quarter-finals after defeating Ralf Souquet, Wang Can and Lee Van Corteza, defeating David Alcaide at 9–11. At the 2015 WPA World Nine-ball Championship he lost to Yukio Akakariyama in the round of the last 64. In November 2015, Chua defeated pool superstars Ralf Souquet, Lo Li-wen, Shane Van Boening, and eventually fellow countryman Ronato Alcano 7–11 in the finals to clinch the All Japan Championship title, his first international title.[3]

In 2017, Chua settled for bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games held in Malaysia after falling behind Duong Quoc Hoang of Vietnam in the semifinals.[4] In September of that year, Chua, with partner Warren Kiamco, brought home the bronze medal from the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.[5] Before that year ended, Chua snatched his second All Japan Championship title after defeating compatriot Jundel Mazon, 11–2.[6] He is currently ranked 13th by the World Pool-Billiard Association.[7]

In 2021, Chua won his first SEA games gold medal after beating compatriot Carlo Biado in the all-Filipino men's 9-ball singles final, 9-6, at the Ha Dong District Sporting Hall in Hanoi Vietnam.[8]

“Sobra and kaba ko. First time ko lumaban sa finals dito sa SEA Games. Hindi ako maka-get over. Iba talaga pag flag and country” ("I was really nervous. It’s my first time to compete in the SEA Games finals. I can’t get over it. It’s really different playing for flag and country"), said Chua.[9]

In the same event, Carlo Biado defeated Chua 9-3 in the men’s 10-ball singles event.[10]

In 2022, the trio of Johann Chua, Carlo Biado and Rubielyn Amit emerged triumphant in the 2022 World Teams 10- ball championship after sweeping Great Britain,3-0, in the final in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Great Britain was composed of Kelly Fisher, Jayson Shaw, and Darren Appleton.

With the win, they gave the Philippines its first world team 10-ball title after runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2014, the last time the tournament was held before it was revived in 2022.

On the road to the finals, team Philippines conquered team Poland,3-1, in the quarterfinals, then outlasted team Germany, 3-2, in a shootout battle.[11][12]

In 2023, Chua and James Aranas gave the Philippines a record fourth World Cup of Pool title after defeating Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen of Germany in the final at the Pazo de Feiras e Congresos de Lugo in Spain. Chua and Aranas won a $60,000 (P3.32 million) purse.

The Filipino duo had a rough bracket coming off the tournament, defeating highly rated teams throughout their journey. They knocked out defending champion Spain A in the very first round together with Spain B in the second round, survived grueling hill-hill matches consecutively against Chinese Taipei and Austria, and lastly, a triumphant final against Germany. The Philippines successful campaign in the 2023 World Cup earned them another history of being the first country to win the event as an unseeded team.[13]

• 2023 World Cup of Pool Championship
• 2022 Olongapo City 10-Ball Championship
• 2022 Beasley Open 9-Ball
• 2022 WPA World Mixed Teams 10-Ball Championship
• 2022 Bayugan City 10-Ball Championship
• 2021 Southeast Asian Games Nine-ball Singles
• 2020 Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Championship
• 2018 Maryland 10-Ball Bar Table Championship
• 2018 Taiwan Pool Classic (Philippines vs. Chinese Taipei Challenge Match)
• 2017 All Japan Championship 10-Ball
• 2015 All Japan Championship 10-Ball
• 2014 B52 10-Ball Championship
• 2010 Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Championship