EUROPEAN OPEN 2026, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 10-15

[jbart65]

I created a spreadsheet earlier this year of the results of all WNT major events for future reference. I only include winner, runnerups, semifinalsts and quarterfinalists for each tournament.

No match scores, either. Wanted something quick and simple to update.

The WNT officially began in 2023, but it unofficially took flight in 2022. That's the year WNT created the UK and European opens. The Hanoi Open came in 2023.

For purposes of my list, I included the results of the 2025 Philippines Open and the 2023 Spanish Open.

Most Wins in a Matchroom WNT Major (from 2022 on)

3- Aloysius Yapp
2- Joshua Filler
2- Fedor Gorst
2- Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
2- David Alcaide

Most Appearances in a Matchroom WNT Major finals:

5- Fedor Gorst
4- Shane Van Boening
3- Joshua Filler - Aloysius Yapp - Albin Ouschan - Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
2- David Alcaide - Johann Chua - Eklent Kaci - Jayson Shaw

 

[jbart65]

Continuing the list:

Most Appearances in a Matchroom/WNT Major Semifinals

7 - Shane Van Boening
5 - Joshua Filler
4 - Fedor Gorst - Aloysius Yapp - Johann Chua

TIED AT 3
David Alcaide - Francisco Sanchez Ruiz - Skyler Woodward - Pijus Labutis - Ko Pin Yi - Ko Ping Chung - Carlo Biado - Albin Ouschan

 

[jbart65]

Most Appearances in a Matchroom/WNT Major Quarterfinals

9 - Shane Van Boening - Joshua Filler
8 - Fedor Gorst - Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
6 - Ko Ping Chung - Ko Pin Yi - Jayson Shaw - Max Lechner
5 - David Alcaide - Eklent Kaci
4- Johann Chua - Aloysius Yapp - Albin Ouschan

 

[sjm]

Wonder what odds you would get on Filler/Gorst vs the field.

It would be great if they met on Day 6, but the odds are it won't happen. They met in the final at the Las Vegas Open and the crowd's excitement level would have been hard to top. Wishing both of these superstars the very best.

 

[sjm]

Most Appearances in a Matchroom/WNT Major Quarterfinals

9 - Shane Van Boening - Joshua Filler
8 - Fedor Gorst - Francisco Sanchez Ruiz
6- Ko Ping Chung - Ko Pin Yi - Jayson Shaw - Max Lechner
5 - David Alcaide - Eklent Kaci
4- Johann Chua - Aloysius Yapp - Albin Ouschan

Wow, awesome list. Also, it's a reminder that the WNT is still fairly new.

 

[skogstokig]

Yes and no. I would assume some players booked their flight awhile ago, when trips were cheaper. Yapp posted about the European Open three weeks ago and it appeared he would attend.

Granted, WNT didn't officially announce the event until Jan. 29, which was a bit late. I don't know if players were told informally earlier than that.

Of course, some players may have canceled because travel arrangements got dicey. Perhaps big delays are involved.

matters little when you booked if the planned stopover is being rained with missiles. my colleague got her trip to philippines cancelled by air france just the other day.

 

[jbart65]

matters little when you booked if the planned stopover is being rained with missiles. my colleague got her trip to philippines cancelled by air france just the other day.

I figure that is why Yapp is not attending. First big major (WPC or event with 256-player field) that I think he has missed since 2022.

 

[sjm]

I figure that is why Yapp is not attending. First big major (WPC or event with 256-player field) that I think he has missed since 2022.

This is very disappointing, for Yapp's a wonderful player to watch. Still, his absence is unlikely to impact his Reyes Cup chances.

We'll all welcome him back to WNT play with enthusiasm whenever he's ready. Wishing him well until then.

 

[nicksaint26]

I like Filler to win (like I do before every tournament these days) but Kazakis is my dark horse to win.

 

[Kris_b1104]

This is very disappointing, for Yapp's a wonderful player to watch. Still, his absence is unlikely to impact his Reyes Cup chances.

We'll all welcome him back to WNT play with enthusiasm whenever he's ready. Wishing him well until then.

Are you purposely ignoring the part about an ongoing war affecting flights? It has zero to do with him not being "ready".

 

[Kris_b1104]

I like Filler to win (like I do before every tournament these days) but Kazakis is my dark horse to win.

Unfortunately, there is a shot clock, so Kazakis has no chance.

 

[Kris_b1104]

A bomb could drop in Saudi Arabia a week before the W9C and you guys will be like:

"man this is a really weak field"

 

[Kris_b1104]

Lastly, since when did we start calling every single WNT tournament a Major?

Kinda defeats the title and prestige.

 

[sjm]

Are you purposely ignoring the part about an ongoing war affecting flights? It has zero to do with him not being "ready".

Obviously, I understand that, and I did not suggest otherwise. His readiness to play the next WNT major (UK Open, I believe) will be dictated by the goings on in the middle east.

 

[sjm]

A bomb could drop in Saudi Arabia a week before the W9C and you guys will be like:

"man this is a really weak field"

LOL, let's hope things calm down by then. If not, some difficult choices will have to be made, even by those who are based in the middle east.

 

[skogstokig]

Lastly, since when did we start calling every single WNT tournament a Major?

Kinda defeats the title and prestige.

yea i kind of agree. it's a big ranking tournament. but then again where's the limit, and is it monetary? if so, qatar open is a major

 

[Kris_b1104]

LOL, let's hope things calm down by then. If not, some difficult choices will have to be made, even by those who are based in the middle east.

The obvious choice would be to cancel or postpone/reschedule the event.

Pool is not life or death. I support all players who chose not to attend the European Open, and any other tournament that puts their well-being in jeopardy. Mosconi/Reyes ranking points will and should take a back seat.

 

[SA96]

Single elimination from 128 is a good move.

Makes it more exciting.

But day 1 looks pretty boring as all of the top players have been given byes.

 

[jay helfert]

Are you purposely ignoring the part about an ongoing war affecting flights? It has zero to do with him not being "ready".

Kris has got it right here. Flying in and out of Europe has become very problematical. Long, long wait times (hours) just to get through security, even longer flight delays and flight cancellations, and worst of all you are putting yourself in a danger zone with no one knowing what will come next. I wouldn't try to go there now even if you paid me!

Even flying domestically here in the USA is a difficult proposition. They are recommending you come to the airport three to four hours before your flight due to short handed TSA agents (out sick because they are not being paid). All the major airports are in a quagmire right now! I suspect it's even worse in Europe. In case you haven't noticed it's not life as normal on this planet anymore. We are in chaos mode! Far better to stay close to home until we get through this. That's my advice.

 

[jbart65]

Lastly, since when did we start calling every single WNT tournament a Major?

Kinda defeats the title and prestige.

We don’t call every WNT event a major. Neither does Matchroom.

Matchroom has lots of events. Some it calls majors, or Gold events. Others are deemed ranking or Silver or Bronze events. The Pattaya Open fit into that category. So did the Caraboa in February, or the upcoming Diamond Expo event in Philadelphia.

***

I generally consider the UK Open, European Open, WPC, US Open, Florida Open and Hanoi Open as Matchroom majors.

The WPC has the biggest prize fund, toughest field and a history. The U.S. Open is next for similar reasons.

The UK, European, Florida and Hanoi opens are newer, but all have the same fairly large prize funds and 256-player fields that usually attract most of the best players.

Matchroom is calling the Philippines and Arizona opens Majors, but I don’t think they are. Smaller prize funds, 128 players and single elimination.

By the definitions I use, Qatar would qualify as a major pool tournament.