| Alias | Dodong Diamond |
| Country | Philippines |
| Age | 34 |
| Highest Rank | 44 |
| Majors Won | 0 |
| Invitationals Won | 0 |
| Ranking Events Won | 0 |
| Prize Money | $31,350 |
James Aranas enjoyed a superb run to the World Pool Masters semi finals in 2023 as a wildcard, losing out to eventual winner Ko Pin Yi. Aranas then teamed up with close friend Johann Chua for the World Cup of Pool representing the Philippines, and lifted the title for a record breaking 4th time for the proud nation of the Philippines, beating Germany in the final.
See James Aranas at
The Universal Open Ho Chi Minh brings a 128-player international nineball field to Sniper Billiards Club from 11–15 November 2026. A World Nineball Tour Silver ranking event, it offers a $63,000 prize fund and another opportunity for players to build their standing on the tour in Vietnam.
The competition begins with double elimination, allowing players to recover from one defeat as they compete for a place in the last 64. From that point, the event becomes straight knockout, building towards a final raced to 13 racks.
Its place immediately before the Universal Open Bangkok creates consecutive tournament opportunities across Vietnam and Thailand. For spectators, the Ho Chi Minh event brings international competition into a pool-club setting; for the players, it begins a November sequence with two ranking titles to pursue.
The Universal Bangkok Open is a World Nineball Tour Silver ranking event within the Bangkok Cuesports Festival. Taking place from 17–21 November 2026 at S1 Pool Hall & Sports Bar in the Manhattan Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 15, it brings a 128-player field to the Thai capital to compete for a $63,000 prize fund.
Players begin in a double-elimination stage, with 64 progressing to the knockout rounds. The races increase as the tournament develops: the last 64 through to the last 16 are raced to 10, the quarter-finals and semi-finals to 11, and the final to 13.
Beginning two days after the Universal Open Ho Chi Minh concludes, Bangkok continues the WNT’s November run through Southeast Asia, offering a second consecutive chance to secure a ranking title.
