WNT PREMIER LEAGUE OF POOL 2026, Miami, Fla, Feb. 18-22

I like the fact that Matchroom have introduced multi-view on WNT TV.

But one thing that annoys me is why table 3 and 4 cannot be shown on WNT TV.

I get the fact that they are on other platforms (e.g. Youtube), but why can't they also be shown on WNT TV.

After all, we pay for the subscription?
 
Wow Kaci is on fire with 9 wins and 1 loss. Only other players that are even close is Capito and FSR with 8 wins and 2 losses.
 
sjm said:
I have never viewed Jesus as elite. He produces flashes of brilliance and is a threat to beat almost anyone, but, to me, he is a poster boy for inconsistency.
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I think as far as players that can potentially play for Team USA this year, he is elite, when compared to the rest, besides SVB and Fedor.

In 2025, he made $66K.

Skyler made $95K, but if you remove $10K for Reyes cup and $20K for Mosconi Cup, he is just under Atencio's earnings.

Billy made $69K, but if you remove $20K for Mosconi Cup, that puts him under Atencio as well.

Tyler made $54K, but even with the $20K from Mosconi, he's still under Atencio. He only made $34K without MC.

I think if he does qualify for the team, he is our 3rd best player.

I don't have Skyler, Billy, or Tyler beating him 1v1.

I think the rest of our potential players are poster boys for inconsistency.

Compared to the rest of the world though, Jesus is just not there yet. He's still knocking on the door with a 797 FR, which would put him at #4 on Top USA Fargo, since Dechaine isn't active.

If we go: SVB, Fedor, Jesus, Bergman, and Skyler/Meglino, I think we have a real shot of winning.

Only reason I didn't include Thorsten is because he will be 47 this year.
 
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either way he's out, along with kledio kaci, if i understand the format/math of this slugfest correctly.

bergman, souto and melling are performing well (souto really well), pijus and aj manas are not doing great
 
Although Bergman has played well, there is still a chance he could get knocked out.

He really needs to beat Jesus in his first game.

After that, he has tough matches vs Labutis and FSR
 
SA96 said:
Although Bergman has played well, there is still a chance he could get knocked out. He really needs to beat Jesus in his first game. After that, he has tough matches vs Labutis and FSR
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Bergman's toughest opponent is himself. Getting back in tune with 9 ball, dialing in his break and maintaining a high level of consistency. He has already shown he can beat anyone in the event.

Bergman has made some questionable decisions that he probably would have eschewed if he played more on the WNT tour. Case in point: His final game vs Robbie Capito.

Bergman was down 4-2, but he had an easy runout on the 7-8-9 to get back within one game.

The 7 ball sat about 18 inches diagonally from the upper left corner. The CB was a foot away. It was a straight in shot I'd make 100 of 100 times.

Yet Bergman could barely reach the CB with his extension. So he took a poor, off-balance shot on the 7 and missed to the left side. One of the worst shots I have ever seen a top pro take and miss. Embarrassing, really.

What happened? The shot clock was running down, and maybe he felt like he didn't have time to get the bridge. I think I might have heard him ask for an extension, but I don't think he had one. So he rushed his shot with the end of his cue wobbling in his hand.

I know Bergman is an excellent decision maker, but he's been too nonchalant at times.
 
jbart65 said:
Bergman's toughest opponent is himself. Getting back in tune with 9 ball, dialing in his break and maintaining a high level of consistency. He has already shown he can beat anyone in the event.

Bergman has made some questionable decisions that he probably would have eschewed if he played more on the WNT tour. Case in point: His final game vs Robbie Capito.

Bergman was down 4-2, but he had an easy runout on the 7-8-9 to get back within one game.

The 7 ball sat about 18 inches diagonally from the upper left corner. The CB was a foot away. It was a straight in shot I'd make 100 of 100 times.

Yet Bergman could barely reach the CB with his extension. So he took a poor, off-balance shot on the 7 and missed to the left side. One of the worst shots I have ever seen a top pro take and miss. Embarrassing, really.

What happened? The shot clock was running down, and maybe he felt like he didn't have time to get the bridge. I think I might have heard him ask for an extension, but I don't think he had one. So he rushed his shot with the end of his cue wobbling in his hand.

I know Bergman is an excellent decision maker, but he's been too nonchalant at times.
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In his defense, the format doesn't lend itself to any sense of urgency, it is basically a nonchalant tournament, akin to an exhibition.

However, because it's race to 5 like MC, we can get an idea of how Bergman would do in the Mosconi Cup with these short sprints, factoring in the tight pockets, shot clock, playing conditions, etc.
 
Entering Day 3 ...

Kledio Kaci will almost certainty be among the first 6 of the 16 players to be cut. Just 1-9 in his first ten games.

Jesus Atencio and Thorsten Hohman, with 3-7 records, are also the fringe. Each player would likely have to go 4-1 to have a chance.

No player last year got to the first cutoff with fewer than 7 wins.

Almost certain to advance are Eklent Kaci, with 9 points, and Capito and FSR with 8 points apiece.


That leaves a big middle group with 4 to 6 points.

Souto
Yapp
Januarta
Bergman
Melling
Neuhausen
Morra
Labutis
Manas

At least three of these players won't make the cut. Melling and Manas have tough first matches they need to win.
 
Kris_b1104 said:
In his defense, the format doesn't lend itself to any sense of urgency, it is basically a nonchalant tournament, akin to an exhibition.
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Most players are playing like they normally do. What Bergman did in this instance is something one of my playing partners does - and I always chastise him for it!
Kris_b1104 said:
However, because it's race to 5 like MC, we can get an idea of how Bergman would do in the Mosconi Cup with these short sprints, factoring in the tight pockets, shot clock, playing conditions, etc.
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Agreed. I have been super impressed overall. Bergman might be the third best U.S. player.
 
jbart65 said:
Most players are playing like they normally do. What Bergman did in this instance is something one of my playing partners does - and I always chastise him for it!

Agreed. I have been super impressed overall. Bergman might be the third best U.S. player.
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Agreed, I don't see Skyler, Billy or Tyler having their way with him.
 
A few quick player evaluations:

*Eklent Kaci looks more like pre-injury Kaci than anything I've seen since his off-road accident. He's gotten in very good shape and is playing like his arm no longer bothers him.

*Albert Januarta is a better player, to me, than AJ Manas. Plays with more maturity and has all the tools. Manas has the affectation of a player who seems too cool to grind to get better.

*I know SJM doesn't rate Atencio, but I do think his game has improved by leaps and bounds in the past year. Can he ever be truly elite? He needs better decision making and a better defensive game. The PLP has exposed him to some extent. He needs longer matches to cover his deficiencies.

*Pijus Labutis has struggled in the PLP for a second year in a row. He can't bring his big serve to bat in the shorter races. Still, I always thought of him as a sound tactical player with a good defensive game. He is not an elite shotmaker, though, like the very best of them.

*Kledio Kaci looks like a guy who spent the winter hibernating instead of working on his game. Disappointing in the PLP.
 
Does anyone have a link to table 4? I've got the other 3 already.

EDIT: Never mind. Somehow I figured it out.
 
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jbart65 said:
A few quick player evaluations:

*Eklent Kaci looks more like pre-injury Kaci than anything I've seen since his off-road accident. He's gotten in very good shape and is playing like his arm no longer bothers him.

*Albert Januarta is a better player, to me, than AJ Manas. Plays with more maturity and has all the tools. Manas has the affectation of a player who seems too cool to grind to get better.

*I know SJM doesn't rate Atencio, but I do think his game has improved by leaps and bounds in the past year. Can he ever be truly elite? He needs better decision making and a better defensive game. The PLP has exposed him to some extent. He needs longer matches to cover his deficiencies.

*Pijus Labutis has struggled in the PLP for a second year in a row. He can't bring his big serve to bat in the shorter races. Still, I always thought of him as a sound tactical player with a good defensive game. He is not an elite shotmaker, though, like the very best of them.

*Kledio Kaci looks like a guy who spent the winter hibernating instead of working on his game. Disappointing in the PLP.
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Great analysis once again.

Kaci is definitely back in rare form.

I also like Albert's game more than Manas, and you can see the difference in discipline between them.

Atencio is definitely struggling in short races, which does not bode well for his MC hope.

Pijus...no comment, he bores me to death. But he seems like a nice guy.

Kledio is the biggest surprise for me. How can someone get into the semi-finals of the World Pool Championship and then goes 1-10 in matches. Just 1 win? 10 losses?!?!?! Insane. Literally the opposite of his big brother's record 10-1.
 
Yikes, Bergman started the day with a 5-5 record and lost both of his afternoon matches. Now at 5-7. Has 3 matches this evening. Probably needs to win at least 2 of those to have a chance to get to Stage 2. Playing Januarta now, then Kledio, then FSR.
 
AtLarge said:
Yikes, Bergman started the day with a 5-5 record and lost both of his afternoon matches. Now at 5-7. Has 3 matches this evening. Probably needs to win at least 2 of those to have a chance to get to Stage 2. Playing Januarta now, then Kledio, then FSR.
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Tough action. Interestingly enough, Pijus and Morra have the same record.

Yapp, the hottest player of 2025, has a similar record, with only 1 more win than Justin, same losses.
 
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