US Open 08/18-23

[sjm]

I think we're at a point where its Fedor 50/50 against the field,
he's in Tiger Woods territory

I really like the Kaci bros and Yapp to do go deep

Guessing you have not followed pro pool this year. Fedor is without a nine ball or ten ball title to this point of 2025. So far in August, he came tied for 33rd at the Florida Open 9ball and tied for 9th at the Battle of the Bull, so he does not arrive in Atlantic City in his best form. Obviously, he is an awesome player, a top contender for the US Open 9ball title, and a future BCA Hall of Famer, but 50/50 vs the field --- get real.

FYI, Tiger Woods held the #1 ranking in golf for 11 years. The only Tiger Woods figure pro pool has ever had was Jean Balukas, who retired about 35 years ago. Like Tiger, she was player of the year almost every year.

 

[sjm]

I am a big fan of big kaci but he has been wildly inconsistent since the arm injury. I'd be shocked to see him the final 8, but hope he does well.

The big upside is still there. After all, it was post-accident that he came within a rack of winning the 2024 World 9ball. I'd like to see him play well.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I think you can edit the title of this thread, but it should be 8/18-23 (August), not 10/18-23 (October).

I think it should explicitly say "August". That way there is no ambiguity. The title should also specify the year.

 

[decent dennis]

Probably about the same number of tables as in 2024 --- just a long session on day 1. With a 10:00 round to start the day and a 19:00 round to end it, the day's play will likely last close to twelve hours.

I counted 28 tables

 

[sjm]

I counted 28 tables

That would be the same as at the recently completed Florida Open.

 

[jbart65]

Why the Pinoys play soooo good, conditions.

At the BotB, there were no players examining the cueball and nothing at all seemed untoward. Chua merely buzzed through a loaded field and was never truly challenged in the final 32.

Johan certainly doesn't need wax for anything. I'd argue it would hinder his game more than it would help it. The guy's record speaks for itself.

 

[jbart65]

Entering the US Open, Yapp, SVB, Yu Lung Chang, Chua and Biado are in the best form. Duong and Lechner have also stood out.

Souto, Kledio Kaci and Neuhausen were in great form a few months ago, but seem to have fallen back a touch. Youngsters Pongers and Vogel have been making inroads.

Filler is a big wild card. He's had a very good year, but hasn't played every big event. And he's been less consistent from one event to the other than usual.

Eklent Kaci had that good run at the WPC in 2024, but he just hasn't been the same player since his injury. He isn't playing very much or at the very highest level.

This year, he finished 17th in both the European Open and WPC. Finished 33rd in the Florida Open. Didn't even make it to the final 64 in the UK Open. He was 14 of 16 in the Premier League of Pool. Didn't play in the Battle of the Bull, even though Kledio did.

Eklent did win the McDermott Open this year and got to the finals of the Diamond Open, where he lost to Niels Feijin.

But his last big titles were pre-injury: He won the UK Open and WPA World 10-ball title in 2023.

 

[datnodude]

Fred day 1, rack 1, with the BS. sorry the video was too large to upload

link to video

 

[jbart65]

Came across this post on FB from the site 77Billiards that seems to make a lot of sense: A burgeoning WNT calendar.

77.billiards

Are we beginning to see the tournament calendar the World Nineball Tour (WNT) is preparing for the future? This year, we’ve noticed a significant shift in the schedule of the European Open. It has...

www.facebook.com

In short, a Euro season early, the Mideast next, the US in the summer and Asia in the fall.

Still a lot to work out:

*The events need to be scheduled well in advance.

*Some of the events still don't seem to have a permanent home (European Open).

*Ideally a future Manilla Open, if there is one, will come after the Reyes cup.

*The future status of the WCP, WPM and PLP are still unclear.

*MR may want another big event or two (Texas Open, Spanish Open, something in China, etc).

*A firm lineup of what WNT calls Silver and Bronze events needs to be established. Regular annual events.

In an interview on Absolute Pool, Frazer insisted the late scheduling of events this year won't be repeated.

"“That won’t be happening again,” AB quoted Frazer. “We’re committed to sharing the full calendar for next year right after this year’s Mosconi Cup, so players and fans will have plenty of notice.”

Emily Frazer on World Nineball Tour’s rise, Van Boening being catalyst for change and raising the bar

Matchroom’s Emily Frazer on the World Nineball Tour’s rise, Shane van Boening being its catalyst and more in an exclusive interview (Photo: Taka Wu)

absolute-pool.com

 

[Taxi]

Link to the table 4 youtube stream? I tried every possible way of googling it, but all I'm getting are videos of past tournaments. The WNT streams are easy to access and are all working perfectly.

 

[skogstokig]

At the BotB, there were no players examining the cueball and nothing at all seemed untoward. Chua merely buzzed through a loaded field and was never truly challenged in the final 32.

Johan certainly doesn't need wax for anything. I'd argue it would hinder his game more than it would help it. The guy's record speaks for itself.

svb was doing some examination against viet funny hair guy, but didn't seem to have any complaints

 

[sjm]

Filler is a big wild card. He's had a very good year, but hasn't played every big event. And he's been less consistent from one event to the other than usual.

Agreed. While we all understand how dominant he can be when he is on, it is tough to know what to expect of Josh.

Many of the elite have played the Rally in the Valley, the Florida Open and the Battle of the Bull as preps, so they have been using the Matchroom break regularly for all of August, and this might give them a slight edge, as Josh has not used the Matchroom break since July.

We all understand that Josh, a confirmed workaholic, will have done everything possible to prepare for the US Open 9ball, and that he might win it but, like you, I see him as a bit of a wild card this week.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Link to the table 4 youtube stream? I tried every possible way of googling it, but all I'm getting are videos of past tournaments. The WNT streams are easy to access and are all working perfectly.

The YouTube channel is called Matchroom Pool.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Yapp on table 1 right now.

JJ says there are 24 playing tables and 6 practice tables.

 

[pt109]

Agreed. While we all understand how dominant he can be when he is on, it is tough to know what to expect of Josh.

Many of the elite have played the Rally in the Valley, the Florida Open and the Battle of the Bull as preps, so they have been using the Matchroom break regularly for all of August, and this might give them a slight edge, as Josh has not used the Matchroom break since July.

We all understand that Josh, a confirmed workaholic, will have done everything possible to prepare for the US Open 9ball, and that he might win it but, like you, I see him as a bit of a wild card this week.

To me, Joshua Filler is like Buddy Hall was for twenty years….tough to bet against.

 

[skogstokig]

To me, Joshua Filler is like Buddy Hall was for twenty years….tough to bet against.

yes, i wouldn't see him as a wildcard. teleport him to any pool tournament in the world, any discipline, and he'd be a favorite..

 

[Bob Jewett]

LiveSB.io is the sponsor of the US Open this year. An earlier news item says it's part of a two-year deal. Good to see non-pool money coming in.

 

[BasementDweller]

My dark horse is Luon Duc Thien from Vietnam. He showcased one of the best cueing performances I've seen recently, in his loss to SVB at the Battle of the Bull. He's very good.

 

[dquarasr]

Capito was below when he won the UK Open, but he’s at 813 now.

What is the Fargo Rate of Capito’s hair now?

 

[Bob Jewett]

Jayson Shaw is up next on Table 1.