PBS St Louis 2026 (Men’s World 8 Ball Championship, Mixed Doubles, Women’s Open, Bank Pool), 1-8 April, Half Million Prize Fund

it is bizarre how they ignore his repeated mediocre performances at the Mosconi Cup. It’s not like he is some unknown quantity that hasn’t been given a chance.
How many guys would you say have performed well at the Mosconi Cup over the last 15 years? The upper-end of the USA pool hierarchy is, uh, pretty shallow. It isn’t debatable that Bergman is one of the top 5 Americans. He also beat 3 >830 Fargo players, including 2 world champions in this event.
 
it is bizarre how they ignore his repeated mediocre performances at the Mosconi Cup. It’s not like he is some unknown quantity that hasn’t been given a chance.
Actually, Justin played well in the 2015 Mosconi and was, arguably, the most impressive player on Team USA that year. I would not say that, overall, he struggled in Mosconi play in his appearances.
 
How many guys would you say have performed well at the Mosconi Cup over the last 15 years? The upper-end of the USA pool hierarchy is, uh, pretty shallow. It isn’t debatable that Bergman is one of the top 5 Americans. He also beat 3 >830 Fargo players, including 2 world champions in this event.
In competition, the only game Justin has been playing is 8ball, specifically Ultimate 8ball. I'm not gonna get excited that he beat a couple of guys (both double hill) that nearly never play eight ball. It proves almost nothing. Top 32 is nice enough, but let's not pretend that it makes him elite. His credentials in rotation pool in recent years are virtually nonexistent. My suspicion is that Lukas Fracasso Verner would jump at the chance to gamble with Justin.

Finally, I'd say Skyler Woodward is the only American who has been solid at the Mosconi in recent years, with generally solid play and two Mosconi MVP awards.
 
And yet they keep insisting Shane play, he has a losing record period. Its amazing to me how bad people are at simple math
Shane and Gorst get put up against the strongest Europeans as they are your best players. If they were matched up with the weaker Europeans their record would be much better. I'm not actually sure what your point was so not sure if I'm agreeing with you or disagreeing with you here 😁
 
Shane and Gorst get put up against the strongest Europeans as they are your best players. If they were matched up with the weaker Europeans their record would be much better. I'm not actually sure what your point was so not sure if I'm agreeing with you or disagreeing with you here 😁
They lose over 50% of their matches, winning over 50% is required to be a benefit to the team, it's really that simple
 
The women's final four is interesting. Jasmine is no surprise, but Brittany Bryant, Xiaofang Fu and Kristina Zlateva?

Jasmine is no surprise, but Brittany Bryant, Xiaofang Fu and Kristina Zlateva?

Bryant is No. 50 in women’s Fargo at 679, far below No 10. Ouschan’s 757. She’e never come close to winning a big title.

The 39-year-old Fu has the pedigree and sparkling 755 Fargo, putting her at No. 11 behind Jasmine. Older and wiser now, and like most of us, with a few extra pounds.

She has only played sporadically since having twins nearly a decade ago. Her last big win was in 2018, though she did reach the semis of the 2025 Kamui WPA Women's 9-Ball World Championship in December, where she lost to … Jasmine.

Seems Fu began to dip her toes back into international play more regularly only last year. In an interview years ago when her children were very young, she said she could not bear to be away from them.

Zlateva, for her part, is a very good player. She has gone deep in some recent tournaments, but has always seemed to run out of gas vs the very best players. I’ve generally not seen her as a legitimate threat.

Bryant plays Ouschan, who Brittany beat earlier in the week to give Jasmine her only loss.

Fu beat Zlateva earlier in the tourney, too, to account for Kristina’s only loss.

Would be poetry if Fu gets to the finals and beats Jasmine to revenge her semis defeat in the Kamui event.
Very well said.

Jasmine reaches many semifinals.

Fu is a legend of yesteryear, so her presence in the semis, though surprising, shouldn't shock anyone.

Zlateva reached the semis at the Las Vegas Open 10ball, so this is two semis in a row for her in the Predator Pro Billiard Series semis. Though unspectacular, she plays very high percentage pool and rarely beats herself.

Brittany Bryant, a fine player best known as an elite ball pocketer, doesn't play full time anymore and is definitely the Cinderella here.

Logic says either Fu or Ouschan will lift the trophy, but what a story it would be if it proved otherwise.

Best of luck to all four of them.
 
The last time Bergman played in the Mosconi was 2019.

The last time USA won was 2019.
It is laughable if you are claiming the last time the US won had anything to do with Bergman playing in it. It was more to do with having Johan as the team captain I think.

Bergman's safety game is on par with the Europeans. And Justin is one of the best players in the world after the break.
No, not really. None of this is even close to reality. Also, the correct trope is that he is one of the US players after the break, not players in the world. There is zero evidence in his record to support either claim.
 
In competition, the only game Justin has been playing is 8ball, specifically Ultimate 8ball. I'm not gonna get excited that he beat a couple of guys (both double hill) that nearly never play eight ball. It proves almost nothing. Top 32 is nice enough, but let's not pretend that it makes him elite. His credentials in rotation pool in recent years are virtually nonexistent. My suspicion is that Lukas Fracasso Verner would jump at the chance to gamble with Justin.

Finally, I'd say Skyler Woodward is the only American who has been solid at the Mosconi in recent years, with generally solid play and two Mosconi MVP awards.
Lukas might jump, but Justin is not known for turning down games.

For obvious reasons, people would be interested in seeing this match. Were it to take place, my money will be on Justin.

kollegedave
 
In competition, the only game Justin has been playing is 8ball, specifically Ultimate 8ball. I'm not gonna get excited that he beat a couple of guys (both double hill) that nearly never play eight ball. It proves almost nothing. Top 32 is nice enough, but let's not pretend that it makes him elite. His credentials in rotation pool in recent years are virtually nonexistent. My suspicion is that Lukas Fracasso Verner would jump at the chance to gamble with Justin.

Finally, I'd say Skyler Woodward is the only American who has been solid at the Mosconi in recent years, with generally solid play and two Mosconi MVP awards.
My suspicion is Justin would say flip it!
 
It is laughable if you are claiming the last time the US won had anything to do with Bergman playing in it. It was more to do with having Johan as the team captain I think.


No, not really. None of this is even close to reality. Also, the correct trope is that he is one of the US players after the break, not players in the world. There is zero evidence in his record to support either claim.
In his first major event in a long time, Bergman beat the following players across banks, singles and mixed doubles.

SVB
Gorst
Filler
Shaw
Biado
Maciol
Wojiecech
De Luna
Van Corteza

You are a hater.

Just accept the fact that Bergman is one of the best players in the world.
 
Seems like Zielinksi is due for a big title, but it's hard to root against FSR, Albin or Yapp. They are all proven winners. Crazy that 2 former World 8ball Champs are in the semifinals against each other.

I predict Yapp vs Ouschan in the finals, with Yapp winning the title.
 
They lose over 50% of their matches, winning over 50% is required to be a benefit to the team, it's really that simple
There's a strategic choice that shouldn't be ignored.

Do we choose to put our best against their best? If so, our best has a better chance to win and a lesser chance to lose.

Putting our worst player against their best is a lesser chance to win and a better chance to lose.
 
Jasmin Ouschan is falling apart against Brittany Bryant in this semifinals. She won the first set 4-1, and was trailing 3-0 in the second set but Bryant came back and won! Now Bryant is leading 2-0 in the 3rd set, winning 6 games in a row. They've both missed 8 balls each, but Jasmin's misses were during crucial points in the match where Bryant was able to take advantage and get the rack because of it. Jasmin is beating herself up and showing frustration at the table, which isn't helping.
 
Jasmin Ouschan is falling apart against Brittany Bryant in this semifinals. She won the first set 4-1, and was trailing 3-0 in the second set but Bryant came back and won! Now Bryant is leading 2-0 in the 3rd set, winning 6 games in a row. They've both missed 8 balls each, but Jasmin's misses were during crucial points in the match where Bryant was able to take advantage and get the rack because of it. Jasmin is beating herself up and showing frustration at the table, which isn't helping.
They may be nice people off the table, but based on their attitude at the table it's hard to root for her or her brother.
 
They may be nice people off the table, but based on their attitude at the table it's hard to root for her or her brother.
Yeah, with Jasmin, there were times she was intently staring down Brittany with some disdain.

3 people I've never seen smile at the table: Jasmin, Albin & Bergman 🤣
 
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Jasmin Ouschan is falling apart against Brittany Bryant in this semifinals. She won the first set 4-1, and was trailing 3-0 in the second set but Bryant came back and won! Now Bryant is leading 2-0 in the 3rd set, winning 6 games in a row. They've both missed 8 balls each, but Jasmin's misses were during crucial points in the match where Bryant was able to take advantage and get the rack because of it. Jasmin is beating herself up and showing frustration at the table, which isn't helping.

Brittany threw that one away
 
In his first major event in a long time, Bergman beat the following players across banks, singles and mixed doubles.

SVB
Gorst
Filler
Shaw
Biado
Maciol
Wojiecech
De Luna
Van Corteza

You are a hater.

Just accept the fact that Bergman is one of the best players in the world.
Actually, Justin is my friend. When I see him do something in rotation pool, I will be as happy as anyone, but he has yet to even attempt to do so.

No way he's top 100 in the world right now. Each ranked between 80 and 90 by Fargo, I would expect Mickey Krause, AJ Manas, and Szymon Kural to wipe the floor with him right now at 9ball.
 
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