2026 Premier League Pool Player List
- Thread starter SA96
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It's not weak field. I'd call it an even field. Fewer of the Ferraris of pool, but no true clunkers, either. The last few years there have been a few clunkers in the event.
If I had to guess on underperformers, I'd pick Juarta and Morra.
Januarta because of his youth, not his skill. He's on the track of a fasting rising star.
Morra appears to have plateaued as a player, but he's steady and won't back down.
Manas was an underperformer last year. I bet he is more zeroed in 2026.
If I had to guess on underperformers, I'd pick Juarta and Morra.
Januarta because of his youth, not his skill. He's on the track of a fasting rising star.
Morra appears to have plateaued as a player, but he's steady and won't back down.
Manas was an underperformer last year. I bet he is more zeroed in 2026.
And Morra has been playing well this year:
• 1st at Turning Stone, beating Shaw and Atencio
• 2nd at DCC Bigfoot, beating Labutis and Garcia, losing to Gorst
• T9 at DCC Banks, losing to Filler and Teutscher in Rounds 9 and 10
• T45 at DCC 1Pkt., losing to Gorst and Roberts in Rounds 5 and 6
• T37 at DCC 9Ball, losing to Martinez and Garcia in Rounds 5 and 7
• Still alive, in the last 6, at Skinny Bob's One-Pocket, playing Gomez about 40 minutes from now
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beat me to it, atlarge. i've been very impressed by morra the last few months.
how bergman plays with WNT break rules, i don't know. seems to be the kind of guy that has the stamina for an event like this.
how bergman plays with WNT break rules, i don't know. seems to be the kind of guy that has the stamina for an event like this.
The Souto choice was obvious. He won two ranking events (Seattle, Helsinki) in 2025 and finished third at the International 9ball. Januarta and Atencio showed solid progress and competed frequently in WNT events a year ago and are solid choices. I also like the Manas pick, as AJ plays with a lot of flair and is entertaining to watch.
As two players that have shown unswerving loyalty to the WNT, Hohmann and Morra are not at all questionable. The Matchroom invitationals in the past always tried to reward those who played in a lot of WPA ranking events.
To me, the real shocker here is Bergman. I do not believe he has played in even one WNT event in the first four years of that tour's existence. He was a hell of a player a decade ago, one for whom I always rooted, but he largely disappeared from tournament play. Especially in view of his Derby City no-show, I'd call his selection an insult to dozens that were far more worthy and have shown far more commitment to playing pool professionally. That said, however, I'd love to see Justin play well.
Right on. Morra's form has been very solid of late.
Morra has not been a WNT loyalist. Skipped Hanoi last year and the European Open too. Hohmann has been more regular, but he did not play at either Hanoi Open in 2024 or 2025. That’s a big tell.
Both players chose the Predator/WPA 8 ball tourney in 2025 instead. Neither one was owed much by MR.
Why the invites? I think a lot of players turned MR down and opted for Vegas instead. WNT wanted some US/North American players since the PLP is in Florida. Morra and Hohmann, now a U.S. citizen, may have been the best they can do.
Prize money in Vegas is much better and the bottom half of the 128-player field is weak. Good chance for top pros to make money.
Bergman got an invite because he’s American, he was willing, he’ll draw eyeballs, and WNT wants him to compete for the Mosconi. This event gets his feet wet. Every single other top American is in Vegas.
I doubt anyone is insulted by his selection. Most of the best regular- traveling pros are in either the PLP OR Vegas event. Very few aren’t.
Only MIAs that jump out are Krause and the Ko brothers, who are playing more in Asia. Travel costs to the U.S. are high for Asian players.
jax_joe
Well-known member
Its right there with grey cloth, striped 9 balls, and all the other marketing gimicks.
Sorry, but this is just uninformed.
Actually, it is likely that Anthony Meglino is the fourth best American at 9ball right now, behind only Fedor, Shane, and Skyler. He came 9th at the Florida Open, a WNT major in 2025. He also played brilliantly in the recent Derby City 9ball, finishing third. In addition, the PLP is in Florida, which is where Anthony lives. Because he is Floridian, Anthony drew great fanfare at last year's Florida Open, and he would have drawn great fanfare again if he'd played in the PLP.
It is unlikely that Bergman will draw eyeballs and I can't think of any reason that Matchroom would want him to compete for the Mosconi. Although he played well a decade ago, he brings almost no 9ball credentials of note to the table, while others like Meglino have been shining in recent 9ball competition.
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It's generally not a good idea to challenge me on how informed I am, sjm. Most people lose such challenges. But I'll take your charge in good spirit given your insider perspective and wealth of knowledge about the game.
I made no comment about who's the fourth best American player, or the rankings of American players in general. Meglino's Fargo has taken a notable move up. He recently entered the top 100 worldwide at 791, putting him ahead of Justin Bergman, Tyler Styer, Oscar Dominguez and Billy Thorpe.
I would love to see him commit to being a pro. Alas, he has not.
I thought I saw his name on the Las Vegas roster, but Meglino is actually the only top American player not in Las Vegas or playing in the PLP.
Aside from the Florida Open, Meglino does not appear to have played in any other Matchroom major. None. Not even the US Open even though it should be easy traveling for him.
Meglino would be a better draw for the PLP than Bergman given its Florida locale. But Bergman does have a cult following nationally, as is obvious to anyone reading the AZ forum.
Did MR ask Meglino? I don't know. But MR couldn't really invite him unless Meglino promised to start playing on the WNT tour. There is no evidence to suggest he's willing to join the WNT or even the Predator tour, for that matter.
You are not up to speed on what's been going on.
Team USA needs help, we all know. Bergman is still a very good player. He has played on Mosconi in the past. If he tried to make the team, it would at least add to the competition. Competition for Team USA has sorely been lacking.
Clearly MR and Frazer had this in mind when they invited Bergman to the PLP. They just didn't invite him for no reason, as you seem to suggest. Frazer rarely does anything for no reason.
Scott Frost made the case for Bergman last month on the Doggin It podcast. As you know, Frost is a top WNT commentator. He is close to Frazer and knows what WNT is up to. He has also been outspoken about the need to improve the US team for the Mosconi. Part of what Frost has advocated is creating more internal competition for Team USA Mosconi spots.
Frost said Bergman told him he would play in more WNT events this year. Frost also insinuated Bergman would vie for a spot on the Mosconi. My sense was Frost was egging Bergman on.
Hence the PLP invite.
Yet whichever American MR invited to the PLP, they needed a soft commitment from that player to partake in the WNT tour. It seems like Bergman has given it, based on Scott's retelling.
Will Bergman really follow through? We'll see.
I see no evidence, however, that Meglino is prepared to commit to being a fulltime pro traveling the world.
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Agreed. You are about as knowledgeable as it gets on this forum when it comes to the players, but when it comes to how players are received by the fans, I am far more knowledgeable, and it is only in this sense that you are less informed than me. Unlike me, you were not in Florida to see the great fanfare received by Meglino from the Floridian fans, many of whom came just to see him. You suggested that Bergman would draw eyes, but I countered with Meglino has already drawn the eyes in Florida and the PLP is being played in Florida.. As a native Floridian, Anthony attracted a lot of attention and played well, too, eliminating both Albin Ouschan and Mario He. Add to this that his game is leaps and bounds above that of Bergman and there really is no case of any kind here for Bergman.
Agreed. I messed up on this point. Also, I had no idea Meglino had passed the others by Fargo. Thanks for the info.
Yes, the same is even more true of Bergman, but Bergman has been, for the most part, retired from competition for nearly a decade, and Meglino is, and is likely to remain, a part time player as he works full-time. The difference is that just one of them is showing the kind of excellence that merits as much as a look for Mosconi, and it isn't Bergman. That said, I'm kind of on board with your view that the invitational would be better if they catered to those that played in more WNT events. If Bergman ends up playing the bulk of this year's WNT schedule, that will certainly change my view of things, but I'll believe it when I see it.
I am not convinced of this. Yes, I know he dabbled in the Ultimate Pool bar table events in 2025 after years away from competition, and I even watched some of it, but I've got no evidence of any kind that he is still an elite player, and his no show at Derby City, played just 250 miles from where he lives, tells you that he didn't much fancy his chances. When he was a serious player, he did not miss even one Derby City Classic. In contrast, Meglino competes a lot more than Justin, recently winning an eight-ball event in Florida, and every time he shows up to a big event, he shows strong form.
Yes, I know this and it is clearly why he was chosen. Scott's a good friend of mine, but assuming he is behind this choice that is not even nearly based on merit, I fault him here. Matchroom invites were once based on merit, not connections. I miss those days.
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I find little to quibble with in your response. I agree with most of what you wrote, especially Meglino vs Bergman as players and potential fan draws. I, too, saw the reaction of fans to Meglino in Florida. WNT commentators and Frazer also took notice, I might add.
I am not trying to justify the MR selection of Bergman to the PLP. Just trying to explain it based on all publicly available information.
The one point you made I would like to comment on is about selections based on merit vs connections.
Obviously, MR could not get the best of the best this year, even if wanted to, because of what should have been an avoidable scheduling conflict with the Las Vegas event.
Given the conflict, I think the PLP field is pretty strong. WNT got most of the "best" players not attending Vegas. "Best," in this case, defined as top players who regularly travel to big events worldwide.
If it were up to me, the PLP would always include the top 12 players in the WNT rankings. But there should be room for some wild cards. WNT does need to develop and popularize newer and younger players.
Wild cards also add spice to an event. I'd get tired of seeing the same top pros playing each other all the time in an even structured like the PLP (races to 5, round robin, etc).
The problem is, the WNT has made some very questionable wild card picks. This year, there really aren't any clunkers thankfully.
I am not trying to justify the MR selection of Bergman to the PLP. Just trying to explain it based on all publicly available information.
The one point you made I would like to comment on is about selections based on merit vs connections.
Obviously, MR could not get the best of the best this year, even if wanted to, because of what should have been an avoidable scheduling conflict with the Las Vegas event.
Given the conflict, I think the PLP field is pretty strong. WNT got most of the "best" players not attending Vegas. "Best," in this case, defined as top players who regularly travel to big events worldwide.
If it were up to me, the PLP would always include the top 12 players in the WNT rankings. But there should be room for some wild cards. WNT does need to develop and popularize newer and younger players.
Wild cards also add spice to an event. I'd get tired of seeing the same top pros playing each other all the time in an even structured like the PLP (races to 5, round robin, etc).
The problem is, the WNT has made some very questionable wild card picks. This year, there really aren't any clunkers thankfully.
the thing with justin bergman is that he's an 800+ player with a 700 break.
i hope that can change, and the break rules may be to his advantage.
melling is kind of the same. if he had spent more time just doing break practice, he would have won more
i hope that can change, and the break rules may be to his advantage.
melling is kind of the same. if he had spent more time just doing break practice, he would have won more
On the whole, I agree. They still have put together a pretty solid field that should offer some good pool.
Still, this scheduling blunder is hard to fathom. The Predator Las Vegas Open coming up later this month is the pro event that always takes place during the Billiard Congress of America Pool League (BCAPL) National Championships. The dates are generally known more than a year in advance. For example, the BCAPL has already announced that the 2027 BCAPL National Championships will take place from February 24 to March 6 next year.
I am sure that Josh, Fedor and Shane would have liked to play in the PLP, but it is hard to fault any of them given that there is big money available at the Las Vegas Open in both 10ball Singles and Mixed Doubles. Speaking as a fan, I'd have liked to see a PLP with the three biggest names in our sport in the mix.
I'd be fine with most spots based on rankings and a few wild cards, with a bias toward the inclusion of young players that have shown promise in wild card selection. I agree that the wild cards add a nice touch to the event. I recall seeing Bernie Regalario play at what I believe was the 2024 PLP. He struggled a little then, but sure enough, he now has a bronze medal to his name at the World 9ball.
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That certainly describes the Bergman of 2014-16. If he'd had a big break, I feel he had enough game to have won a major.
I agree that the new break rules have made the break less important and have made defense, which is Justin's strongest suit, more important. Still, he must learn the Matchroom cut break unless he wants to remain a player held back from further success by his break.
Melling is just so entertaining that his presence is always refreshing. He can seemingly adapt to any game and any set of playing conditions.
Your takes on this thread have been money...since the event is 30 minutes from me I'm stoked to see all these guys play.
We've been saying for years now that Meglino doesn't get enough respect nationally. The criticism locally is he plays lower level competition to scoop tournaments but I completely disagree with that. I've played in events he's played in and I'd love to have the opportunity to get my ass crushed by the guy. Super quiet, I've never seen the guy act poorly though some would know better.
I think he's some sort of engineer which is why doesn't get to travel like the other top players, but he's absolutely a top player and probably top 5 in the world at 1 hole right now
Someone somewhere needs to set up a Bergman- Meglino match.