Premier League Pool - Matchroom Pool
matchroompool.com
What the hell is going on?
A really weak list of players.
I know there's 3 wild-cards left, but where the hell is SVB, Gorst, Filler, Chua, Biado and Shaw?
2026 Premier League Pool Player List
- Thread starter SA96
- Start date
matchroompool.com
What the hell is going on?
A really weak list of players.
I know there's 3 wild-cards left, but where the hell is SVB, Gorst, Filler, Chua, Biado and Shaw?
No, not "really weak" -- 8 of those 13 named so far have FargoRates in the 800s and the other 5 are in the 790s. But, yes, it would be an even stronger field with one or more of the players you listed.
I'll second the motion that this field is a big disappointment.
By the usual standards of this event, which has typically featured the superstars of nine ball, this field is super-weak. Yes, by scheduling this at the same time as the Predator event, the dates of which were known almost a year ago (as it always coincides with the BCAPL National Championships in Las Vegas) they will have to go to bat with just two of the top 15 based on Fargo rate and none of the Top 5. A Cinderella might just walk away with this title, with most of the big guns absent and several entrants having accomplished little to nothing in the 2025 WNT ranking events.
All these points aside, the PLP should still be a nice event. The timing here is quite unfortunate, but I wish the very best to all of the participants. May the best man win!
By the usual standards of this event, which has typically featured the superstars of nine ball, this field is super-weak. Yes, by scheduling this at the same time as the Predator event, the dates of which were known almost a year ago (as it always coincides with the BCAPL National Championships in Las Vegas) they will have to go to bat with just two of the top 15 based on Fargo rate and none of the Top 5. A Cinderella might just walk away with this title, with most of the big guns absent and several entrants having accomplished little to nothing in the 2025 WNT ranking events.
All these points aside, the PLP should still be a nice event. The timing here is quite unfortunate, but I wish the very best to all of the participants. May the best man win!
My pick would be Moritz or Yapp.
But with it being in Florida, I can see Jesus as a dark horse to win it.
Would be nice to see Kaci's resurgence to dominance though.
But with it being in Florida, I can see Jesus as a dark horse to win it.
Would be nice to see Kaci's resurgence to dominance though.
not that weak, given the circumstances. but where is the world pool masters? world cup of pool? of the three events they choose to keep this slugfest, which is really an acquired taste
The answer would seem to be that Matchroom has decided to spend its "invitaitonal" money elsewhere.
WCOP and WPM, neither of which appear on the current WNT schedule, have seemingly been replaced by the Reyes Cup and the Legends event. The Reyes Cup, for two years, has been near unwatchable as petty politics have ensured that Team Asia faces little resistance (Filler excluded in 2024 and 2025, SVB excluded in 2025). The Legends, which features the weakest pool of the year in WNT play, is even more unwatchable. The PLP, once a gathering of the elite, has been watered down to the point that just six of the sixteen entrants are in the Top 50 based on Fargo. While I miss the WPM and the WCOP, I take no issue with Matchroom's decisions on how to spend its money. Let's not overlook that Matchroom is also choosing to spend its money on producing new major events, as they did at the Florida Open and Philippines Open in 2025.
The bottom line here is that Matchroom continues to spend to grow our sport and is to be admired for it.
Looks like the 14th and 15th participants have been named now (K. Kaci and Melling), but not yet the 16th. Maybe that will be a youngster on the way up.
Of the named 15, 8 are in FargoRate's top 50 and all the rest in the top 100. So this year's field is probably stronger than the 2023 field, which included Alghamdi, Strickland, Seoa, and Chou.
Of the named 15, 8 are in FargoRate's top 50 and all the rest in the top 100. So this year's field is probably stronger than the 2023 field, which included Alghamdi, Strickland, Seoa, and Chou.
No doubt, despite the absence of the three biggest names in our sport, this event will be entertaining. It seems near certain that at least one Cinderella (meaning 800 Fargo or less) will reach the last six and probably even the semis. I'll be rooting for the young players here. Perhaps one of them can write a story like that of Neuhausen at last year's PLP.
Last edited:
Agreed. As much a test of stamina as anything else.
Note that PLP has been reduced from 8 days in each of its first 5 iterations to 5 days this year. Maybe that will help.
PLP always feels like the epitome of an "exhibition". No tension, no pressure, no stakes.
Not what I saw. The players put pressure on themselves to perform each time I have watched.
Eklent Kaci was very upset last year when he didnt play well. I was surprised he went to the PLP instead of Vegas. Duong was beside himself. Pijus Labutis had a poor PLP last year and he was clearly unhappy.
No one wants to finish 12-16 and get cut early on. It's embarrassing.
I have mixed views of this event. I would prefer the WPM or WCOP instead. Someone should ask Frazer why WNT prefers this event over the others.
Pluses for the PLP: Nonstop action. A chance to see a player's endurance. Everyone plays each other. And an opportunity to introduce new faces.
Minuses: The format doesn't reward the best players in the round robin appropriately. The final stages are rushed. The crowd has been dead except for the one at Shaw's pool hall. Hopefully the Florida location rectifies this.
The field isn't the best, but that's to be expected given the conflict with Vegas.
Vegas has Filler, Gorst, SVB, Biado, Shaw, Ouschan. Ten of the top 20 Fargos in the world. And 28 of the top 100 Fargos in the world overall.
There's also a lot of mediocre players I've never heard of, either. At least 20 Americans who are not even listed as top 100 Fargos in the U.S.
I get it. The event is an "open." But it seems more watered down than other big Predator events with 128 players.
***
PLP has FSR, Yapp, Neuhausen both Kacis, Duong. Just three of the top 20 Fargos in the world - Duong is 22 and Moritz 26.
Yet 15 of the 16 PLP players are in the top 100 of world Fargos.
The only one who isn't is Bergman. At 790, he is one point away from being tied for 100th in the world in Fargo.
I don't mind the PLP not showcasing Filler, Gorst, SVB every year. Heck, SVB didn't look all that motivated in the last one. But at some point WNT has to bring these guys back.
I do like seeing new faces now and then. Good way to introduce players to the bigger stage. In 2026, Alberto Januarta and Jesus Atencio get extra love with their invites. I also like Souto getting his first go at it.
Bergman was the big get, though. He and Atencio will both bring fans to the event or online.
Questionable choices? Hohmann, Melling and Morra.
Hohmann just became a U.S. citizen and he's been playing very well. Melling is past peak, but he's always an interesting player to watch.
Morra is the only one I am not excited to see, but maybe he and Atencio will create some more fireworks.
I do like seeing new faces now and then. Good way to introduce players to the bigger stage. In 2026, Alberto Januarta and Jesus Atencio get extra love with their invites. I also like Souto getting his first go at it.
Bergman was the big get, though. He and Atencio will both bring fans to the event or online.
Questionable choices? Hohmann, Melling and Morra.
Hohmann just became a U.S. citizen and he's been playing very well. Melling is past peak, but he's always an interesting player to watch.
Morra is the only one I am not excited to see, but maybe he and Atencio will create some more fireworks.