PATTAYA OPEN 2026, Pattaya Thailand, March 2 to March 6

[jbart65]

WNT ranking event. Total prize fund: $50,000 USD

Winner: $22,500
Runner up: $12,500
Semifinalists: $7,500.

This is a new tournament in Asia designated a WNT ranking event that mostly has implications for the Reyes Cup.

What jumped out at me is the format. Rather unusual for a WNT-affiliated event.

In the first stage, the plan was to have 128 players, who would be put in 16 groups of eight. The top four in each group would then advance to the final 64 for the single-elimination stage.

Now the tourney has been bumped up to 160 players, but no word yet on how the format will change to accommodate the new additions.

I have to wonder if MR, a la Predator, is testing out new formats.

 

[jbart65]

So far this year, there have been only two other WNT ranking events. The China Tapei Open and the Carabao International Open in Indonesia.

Ko Pin Yi won the China Tapei Open, accruing $30,000, or 30,000 Reyes points. Not sure it matters, though. No one will catch Yapp this year as the highest rated non-Filipino player in Asia. The top point getter in that category was one of only two automatic bids for the 2025 Reyes Cup.

Francisco Sanchez Ruiz was a Tapei semifinalist, giving him 6,500 Mosconi points. He has said his goal this year is to get an auto bid.

In Indonesia, Naoyuki Oi won the Carabao and earned 20,000 Reyes points. But again, no one is catching Yapp.

The more interesting question from these early events is, how much do we see the Ko brothers this year and beyond?

Easy to see why Ko played in the Taipei Open. He and his brothers skipped the Caraboa and they won't be at the Pattaya, either.

Home come? Big money in China. They've been playing more Chinese heyball. Ko Pin Yi and his brother Ko Ping Chung just played in the finals of a major heyball tourney in China, with big Ko winning the equivalent of $275,000 USD. They bought a heyball table last year and said they have been practicing like dogs.

Looking at the WPA calender, which includes the biggest WNT events, the Ko brothers could miss most big WNT and WPA events this year if they become regulars on the Chinese heyball circuit.

They could even miss the World Pool Championship. The only big events free of heyball conflicts are the UK and US Opens. My guess is, we might only see the Ko brothers at the US Open this year.

 

[jbart65]

The Pattaya roster, btw, is pretty good.

Yapp, Chua, Hoang, Capito, Januarta, Orcollo, Manas and Regalario are the biggest Asian names. A large contingent of other top Pinoys, too.

Only European of note is Mickey Krause. Oddly, a half dozen Americans I've never heard of are listed.

 

[skogstokig]

WNT ranking event. Total prize fund: $50,000 USD

Winner: $22,500
Runner up: $12,500
Semifinalists: $7,500.

This is a new tournament in Asia designated a WNT ranking event that mostly has implications for the Reyes Cup.

What jumped out at me is the format. Rather unusual for a WNT-affiliated event.

In the first stage, the plan was to have 128 players, who would be put in 16 groups of eight. The top four in each group would then advance to the final 64 for the single-elimination stage.

Now the tourney has been bumped up to 160 players, but no word yet on how the format will change to accommodate the new additions.

I have to wonder if MR, a la Predator, is testing out new formats.

who is the promotor?

 

[jbart65]

Official Promoter 3RE (THAILAND) COMPANY LIMITED &
Co-Organised with S1 POOL HALL & SPORTS BAR & THINK CURVE

 

[skogstokig]

Ko Pin Yi and his brother Ko Ping Chung just played in the finals of a major heyball tourney in China, with big Ko winning the equivalent of $275,000 USD.

it's probably more correct to say the ko brothers attended the final and the ko company earned $400k..

 

[AtLarge]

128 or 160 players with a $50,000 purse, of which 45% goes to the winner? And only 4 places get any prize money? I'm surprised that Matchroom would support that and that so many high-level players entered.

 

[jbart65]

128 or 160 players with a $50,000 purse, of which 45% goes to the winner? And only 4 places get any prize money? I'm surprised so many high-level players entered.

I am as well. Can't find the link I came across a few days ago, but I think only the top eight win anything. Finish outside the top 8 and $30 is all you get. However .. I did see some indication that players were being subsidized to some extent, perhaps food or lodging.

 

[AtLarge]

I am as well. Can't find the link I came across a few days ago, but I think only the top eight win anything. Finish outside the top 8 and $30 is all you get. However .. I did see some indication that players were being subsidized to some extent, perhaps food or lodging.

The 4 places you listed eat all of the $50,000. Just before I read this post of yours I edited my last post to also say I am surprised that Matchroom would support a 128-160 player event that pays just 4 places (or even 8).

 

[jbart65]

Assuming it is accurate. I think I used AI to try to find the numbers. Bizarre how so many WNT tourneys are slow to reveal prize fund breakdowns, especially the lesser events.

 

[kingwang]

Paying out 5% of the field is insane. That must be a typo, right? Has any tournament (beyond a winner take all invitational) ever come close to such a top heavy payout?

 

[jbart65]

Flights to Thailand from other parts of Asia are very cheap. If the event offers highly discounted rooms, playing in the tourney would only cost a few hundred bucks aside from the entry fee.

 

[AtLarge]

Flights to Thailand from other parts of Asia are very cheap. If the event offers highly discounted rooms, playing in the tourney would only cost a few hundred bucks aside from the entry fee.

Entry fee 8,000 THB, about $250.

 

[jbart65]

The top names are advancing. Yapp, Chua, Hoang, Krause. Manas squeaked thru a second-round match, 9-8, by inducing three fouls on a player from Thailand.

A few upsets. Raga and Jeffrey Ignacio sent to the loser's side by other strong but unseeded Filipino players. Broadcast quality is good, but announced speak in Thai ...

 

[Bob Jewett]

Entry fee 8,000 THB, about $250.

160 x $250 = $40,000 of $50k prizes. Maybe they'll pay deeper.

Is there any stream?

Here are the event rules/regulations:

Eventpop | Pattaya Open 2026 Pool Championship | Matchroom WNT Nineball – $50,000 Prize Pool

The Pattaya Open 2026 Pool Championship is a Matchroom-sanctioned WNT event featuring Nineball World Rankings and a $50,000 prize pool, held at S1 Pool Hall

www.eventpop.me

 

[jbart65]

Pattaya has its own streams on Youtube - a quick search on Pattaya pool will find them. WNT.TV is also carrying matches starting at 9 pm ET.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Pattaya has its own streams on Youtube - a quick search on Pattaya pool will find them. WNT.TV is also carrying matches starting at 9 pm ET.

First time through, I got nothing useful. Too many people having pool parties in Pattaya. There seems to be several channels streaming or rebroadcasting:

From the venue:

S1 TV

Live : Pool / Snooker

www.youtube.com

From Carabao in Indonesia:

Carabao Billiards Indonesia

WE ARE CARABAO INDONESIA Importir & distributor Billiards equipment in Indonesia. www.carabaobilliards.com ________________________________ Thanks For Support, Subscribe, Like and Share us! Cheers, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐨 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚

www.youtube.com

A channel that seems to be rebroadcasting the Carabao stream:

Fullcan Sports

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

 

[Cuaba]

I have lived off & on in Thailand for almost 30 years. I would love to attend this event, but I won't be back til next month.

Several of my friends will be playing in it and are posting on FB.

Should be a great event.