Anton Raga
{{Short description|Filipino pool player (born 1997)}}
Anthony Cortes Raga (born November 14, 1997) is a Filipino professional pool player from Cebu, Philippines, nicknamed "The Dragon". Raga reached the final of the 2023 European Open Pool Championship, however, would lose on hill-hill 13–12 to David Alcaide of Spain.{{Cite web |title=Anton Raga loses to David Alcaide in dramatic European Open final |url=https://www.spin.ph/billiards/anton-raga-loses-to-david-alcaide-in-dramatic-european-open-final-a795-20230814 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}
Raga was also a two time runner-up at China 9-Ball Open losing to Wu Jia-qing of China, 12–11, in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Couple Interesting stories from 2019 China Open 9-Ball - FargoRate Blog |url=https://www.fargorate.com/fargorateblog/archive/couple-interesting-stories-from-2019-china-open-9-ball/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.fargorate.com}} and Joshua Filler of Germany, 11–5, in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Villar |first=Joey |title=Raga continues rise with runner-up finish in China 9-Ball Championships |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2023/09/11/2295530/raga-continues-rise-runner-finish-china-9-ball-championships |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Philstar.com}}
Career
Raga competed at the 2nd edition of the European Open Pool Championship in 2023, held at Hotel Esparando in Fulda, Germany. He climbed back from the losers' bracket and gained a berth in the knockout rounds by beating Mateusz Śniegocki of Poland in the round of 64, 10–8, and Ko Pin-yi of Chinese Taipei with a score of 10–0 in the Round of 32.
Raga went on to defeat John Morra of Canada, 10–4, in the round-of-16, Polish player Wojciech Szewczyk, 10–7, in the quarterfinals, and German Joshua Filler, 11–9, in the semifinals to set up a race-to-13 finale with Alcaide where he lost 13–12.
Raga was four balls away from winning the title when he hit the green six in the side pocket while attempting to carom it off the seven ball. Raga's error was capitalised on by Alcaide, who won the top prize of $30,000 for the champion. Raga's runner-up finish earned him $15,000.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-13 |title=David Alcaide is 2023 European Open Championship Winner - News - AZBILLIARDS.COM |url=https://www.azbilliards.com/david-alcaide-is-2023-european-open-championship-winner/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=AzBilliards}}
Titles and achievements
- 2025 SBA Philippine Open Nine-ball{{Cite web |title=Cebu pride Raga rules SBA PH Open |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1248874 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.pna.gov.ph |language=en}}
- 2024 MassKara Ten-ball Open
- 2024 Bayugan City Ten-ball Open
- 2023 Sharks Master's Cup Ten-ball Open{{Cite web |title=Sharks – The Mecca of pool. |url=https://sharksbilliardleague.com/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |language=en-US}}
- 2021 Manny Pacquiao Pamaskong Handog
- 2021 Manny Pacquiao Cup Ten-ball Open
- 2021 Quezon City Ten-ball Open{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-06-27 |title=1st QC 10-Ball Open championship ALCANO–RAGA MATIRA, MATIBAY |url=https://saksingayon.com/sports/1st-qc-10-ball-open-championship-alcano-raga-matira-matibay/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=SAKSI NGAYON |language=en-US}}
- 2020 Jancor Sinulog Open Tournament{{Cite web |last=Sunnexdesk |date=2020-01-17 |title=Raga miabante sa Jancor Sinulog 10-Ball finals |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/superbalita-cebu/isports/raga-miabante-sa-jancor-sinulog-10-ball-finals |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}
- 2019 Manny Pacquiao Cup Ten-ball Open (Dec.)
- 2019 Manny Pacquiao Cup Ten-ball Open (Oct.)
- 2019 Cebu City Ten-ball Open{{Cite web |title=Sargo sa Cebu City 10-Ball Open Tournament |url=https://cuescore.com/tournament/Sargo+sa+Cebu+City+10-Ball+Open+Tournament/6563713 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=CueScore |language=en}}
- 2018 Manny Pacquiao Cup Ten-ball Doubles{{Cite web |title=Sen. Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Open Tournament - Doubles |url=https://cuescore.com/tournament/Sen.+Manny+Pacquiao+10-Ball+Open+Tournament+-+Doubles/3428467 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=CueScore |language=en}}
- 2018 Thailand Nine-ball Ranking Event
- 2016 Sunstar Cebu Nine-ball Open{{Cite web |last=Yocogan-Diano |first=Vernie |date=2015-11-06 |title=Rising Cebuano cue artist Anton Raga joins cash-rich 48th All-Japan Championship |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/rising-cebuano-cue-artist-anton-raga-joins-cash-rich-48th-all-japan-championship |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}
- 2015 1st Visayas Summer Ten-ball Tournament{{Cite web |last=Yocogan-Diano |first=Vernie |date=2015-04-27 |title=Raga tops Summer 10-Ball for 2nd crown in two weeks |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/raga-tops-summer-10-ball-for-2nd-crown-in-two-weeks |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}
- 2013 Sunstar Cebu Nine-ball Challenge{{Cite web |last=Yocogan-Diano |first=Vernie |date=2015-04-27 |title=Raga tops Summer 10-Ball for 2nd crown in two weeks |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/raga-tops-summer-10-ball-for-2nd-crown-in-two-weeks |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}