Born and raised in Bacolod in the central Philippines, Chua began playing pool at the age of nine.[4] 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.
Career
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 Ten-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 top 16 in the China Open but would lose to the Taiwanese Chang Jung-Lin. At the 2014 WPA World Nine-ball Championship that took place a few days later, he reached the quarterfinal round of world championship for the first time; however, he was defeated by his countryman Elmer Haya. In September 2014 Chua was seventh place in the Manny Pacquiao Cup.
In 2021, Chua won his first SEA games gold medal after beating compatriot Carlo Biado in the all-Filipino men's Nine-ball singles final, 9–6, at the Ha Dong District Sporting Hall in Hanoi Vietnam.[10]
“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.[11]
In the same event, Carlo Biado defeated Chua 9–3 in the men’s Ten-ball singles event.[12]
In 2022, the trio of Johann Chua, Carlo Biado and Rubilen Amit emerged triumphant in the 2022 WPA World Teams Championship after sweeping Great Britain, 3–0, in the final in Klagenfurt, Austria.
With the win, they gave the Philippines its first World Team Ten-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.[13][14]
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, 11–7, 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.
Coming out of the tournament, the Filipino duo had a Cinderella run, defeating highly rated teams along the way. They knocked out reigning champion Spain A, 7–5 in the opening round, dominated Spain B, 7–2 in the second round, survived gruelling hill-hill matches, winning 9–8 consecutively against former world cup champions Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals and Austria in the semifinals, and lastly, a triumphant 11–7 final against team Germany. The Philippines outstanding effort in the 2023 World Cup of Pool earned them another record by becoming the first nation to win the championship as an unseeded team.[15]
In 2024, Chua made his deepest run in the World Pool Championship, making it to the semifinals before losing 11–6 against Albania's Eklent Kaci. Chua took an early 6–2 lead before Kaci rallied back, recording nine consecutive racks in a row to overcome Chua and advance to the finals of the event.[16]
Also in 2024, Chua reached his first major matchroom final at the European Open Championship, but was defeated by Mickey Krause of Denmark by a score of 13–8 at Hotel Esperanto in Fulda, Germany.[17]
Chua's runner-up finish secures his spot as a second overall pick to represent team Asia in the inaugural Reyes Cup, which will be hosted in Manila, Philippines, from October 15 to 18, 2024.[18]
In October 13, 2024, Chua clinched his first major world nine-ball title after lifting off the Hanoi Open Pool Championship, overcoming Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi 13–7 at Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium, Vietnam.[19]
Chua caps off a remarkable year and journey by being a semifinalist at the World Pool Championship, a finalist at the European Open, and now the Hanoi Open crown. Chua's success at major tournaments has propelled him into the top ten world rankings, where he is presently ranked sixth.[20]
In October 18, 2024, team Asia ruled the inaugural Reyes Cup held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, Philippines. Johann Chua, Carlo Biado, Aloysius Yapp, Duong Quoc Hoang, and Ko Pin Yi make up the team, which is coached by the tournament namesake and greatest of all time Efren Reyes.[21]
They defeated the European team with a decisive 11–6 final score. Team Europe consists of Jayson Shaw, Eklent Kaci, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, David Alcaide, and Mickey Krause. Aloysius Yapp of Singapore was named the first-ever Reyes Cup most valuable player award for his outstanding performance throughout the event.[22]
