Mosconi/Reyes/WPM rankings

[jbart65]

Matchroom just released updated standings after the Arizona Open. https://worldnineballtour.com/rankings/

Turns out MR still has eligibility rules in place that require a minimum participation in big WNT events.

Case in point: Johann Chua. He was dropped from the Reyes Cup and World Pool Masters rankings even though he won one WNT event this year, the Pattaya Open in Thailand, that paid him $22,000.

He would be the top-ranked Filipino for the Reyes Cup if those points counted.

Chua has not played in any Matchroom major this year, however, and it’s unclear if he will play at the US Open.

How many major events are needed to qualify for these invitationals? Two at least (See Lukas Fracasso-Verner's situation below).

Skyler Woodward is on the Mosconi list. He has played in the Arizona and Florida Opens and is sure to play at the US Open.

REYES CUP

The absence of Chua leaves a competitive race for the top Filipino player guaranteed a spot in the Reyes.

The new leader among the Pinoys is Jefrey Roda at 15,750 points. He is barely ahead of Carlo Biado (15,500 points). Bernie Regalario (14,250) and AJ Manas (13,600) are not far behind.

The top Asian player is close between Aloysius Yapp and Naoyuki Oi. Someone else would have to win the US Open to outdo either one of them.

Shane Van Boening is sure to be the top American player unless Fedor Gorst wins the US Open.

Joshua Filler has a solid 13,000 point lead for top Euro spot, but a half dozen players are in striking distance. Any European who won the US Open or finished second could leapfrog him.

MOSCONI

Shane is in on points (49,500). Thorsten Hohmann is next at 25,050 and Tyler Styer at 19,670.

Gorst (9,870) and Woodward (7,900) are far behind. Gorst needs strong performances in Phoenix or the US Open to get an automatic.

Interestingly, Lukas Fracasso-Verner was removed from the Mosconi list. He has only played in one WNT major this year due to injury.

On Team Europe, it's a big battle. Filler will almost certainly make it, but the other two spots are very much up for grabs.

WORLD POOL MASTERS 2027 (16 players, 12 automatic, 4 wild cards)

The top 12-ranked players get auto invites. SVB and Filler are certain. Probably Oi, Oliver Szolnoki and Moritz Neuhausen, too.

This event paid $40,000 to the winner in 2024, and $20,000 for the runnerup. Players will want to be in this.

 

[skogstokig]

Matchroom just released updated standings after the Arizona Open. https://worldnineballtour.com/rankings/

Turns out MR still has eligibility rules in place that require a minimum participation in big WNT events.

Case in point: Johann Chua. He was dropped from the Reyes Cup and World Pool Masters rankings even though he won one WNT event this year, the Pattaya Open in Thailand, that paid him $22,000.

He would be the top-ranked Filipino for the Reyes Cup if those points counted.

Chua has not played in any Matchroom major this year, however, and it’s unclear if he will play at the US Open.

How many major events are needed to qualify for these invitationals? Two at least (See Lukas Fracasso-Verner's situation below).

Skyler Woodward is on the Mosconi list. He has played in the Arizona and Florida Opens and is sure to play at the US Open.

REYES CUP

The absence of Chua leaves a competitive race for the top Filipino player guaranteed a spot in the Reyes.

The new leader among the Pinoys is Jefrey Roda at 15,750 points. He is barely ahead of Carlo Biado (15,500 points). Bernie Regalario (14,250) and AJ Manas (13,600) are not far behind.

The top Asian player is close between Aloysius Yapp and Naoyuki Oi. Someone else would have to win the US Open to outdo either one of them.

Shane Van Boening is sure to be the top American player unless Fedor Gorst wins the US Open.

Joshua Filler has a solid 13,000 point lead for top Euro spot, but a half dozen players are in striking distance. Any European who won the US Open or finished second could leapfrog him.

MOSCONI

Shane is in on points (49,500). Thomas Hohmann is next at 25,050 and Tyler Styer at 19,670.

Gorst (9,870) and Woodward (7,900) are far behind. Gorst needs strong performances in Phoenix or the US Open to get an automatic.

Interestingly, Lukas Fracasso-Verner was removed from the Mosconi list. He has only played in one WNT major this year due to injury.

On Team Europe, it's a big battle. Filler will almost certainly make it, but the other two spots are very much up for grabs.

WORLD POOL MASTERS 2027 (16 players, 12 automatic, 4 wild cards)

The top 12-ranked players get auto invites. SVB and Filler are certain. Probably Oi, Oliver Szolnoki and Moritz Neuhausen, too.

This event paid $40,000 to the winner in 2024, and $20,000 for the runnerup. Players will want to be in this.

tough luck for lucas. but if he's injured, maybe not the best year for mosconi inclusion..

 

[jbart65]

No doubt the U.S. will have at least one new face, maybe two. Team USA won’t have Thorpe, for starters. Maybe not even Woodward.

Much depends on whether Styer and Gorst overtake Hohmann on points. Woodward would need a huge US Open to get an automatic.

Lukas Fracasso-Verner is out of the running due to injury. He won’t meet eligibility requirements.

If Gorst doesn’t get in on points, the auto bids would go to SVB, Hohmann and Styer.

For the two wild cards, does Johan pick Gorst, another player who was not born in America? If it was just Gorst, no problem. But Gorst and Hohmann both on the team? Some fans won’t be happy.

Let’s say Gorst gets a wild card. I’d bet on Bergman getting the other pick.

Why? He showed up. Bergman played at Vice City, Florida, Arizona and Phoenix. Sky skipped Vice City and Phoenix and didn’t play well, either.

What if Gorst and Styer overtake Hohmann on points? Would Hohmann be left off the team? I think so. That would open a spot for Woodward.

 

[jbart65]

Team Europe will have at least one new player, but probably two or three.

David Alcaide probably won’t be back. Labutis is too far behind on points unless he finishes first or second at the US Open.

Filler is the top point getter and is a shoo-in. Moritz Neuhausen is close to a lock. He is fourth in points, but he won the Euro Open this year and would be sure to get a wild card.

I’ve got to believe Shaw would be a wild card. Unless MR wants new blood and to see if the absence of Shaw gives Team USA a better chance.

Rankings before Phoenix Open

1)Filler - 59,840
2)FSR - 45,775
3)Oliver Szolnoki - 44,885
4)Moritz Neuhausen - 43,850
5)Dennis Grabe - 37,770
6)Kledio Kaci - 36,200

Souto, Eklent Kaci, Mario He and Alex Kazakis are all in the 26,000 to 28,000 point range. No one else is above 20,000.

 

[jbart65]

Reyes Cup is more "political" than the Mosconi. Easy tell is a guaranteed spot for the top "Filipino" player.

Still a big race on for the guaranteed spot. Let's say it is Roda or Regalario. You know Manas, last year's MVP, will at least be a wild card. What about Carlo? Will MR really leave him off?

Ditto for Hoang. He was a reach two years ago as a wild card. Not anymore. He has the 18th highest Fargo worldwide. The only Asians he trails are Yapp, the Ko brothers, Biado, Chua and Anton Raga.

If I had to guess, I don't think MR will pick three Filipinos. So: Yapp, Manas, Duong, Biado/Roda/Regalario and ... Albert Januarta!

Personally, I'd love to see Oi on the team. The event needs a character, and he's the one in Asia.

 

[skor]

MOSCONI

Shane is in on points (49,500). Thomas Hohmann is m

You mean Thorsten Hohmann

 

[skor]

Chua is more focused on providing for his family and he makes more money in Chinese pool with less expenses on WNT.
He also dropped all his social media activities.

Can’t really blame him.

 

[skogstokig]

Chua is more focused on providing for his family and he makes more money in Chinese pool with less expenses on WNT.
He also dropped all his social media activities.

Can’t really blame him.

maybe he switched to we-chat or whatever social media is called in china. chua is of chinese ancestry and i think he speaks some too. i do believe ko brothers are making social media content in china, and selling their stuff too

 

[skor]

maybe he switched to we-chat or whatever social media is called in china. chua is of chinese ancestry and i think he speaks some too. i do believe ko brothers are making social media content in china, and selling their stuff too

He posted this early this year

 

[jbart65]

Chua is more focused on providing for his family and he makes more money in Chinese pool with less expenses on WNT.
He also dropped all his social media activities.

Can’t really blame him.

He won $50,000 at a Duya event he finished first in during the spring.

I'll miss him on the WNT tour. He is one of my two favorite players to watch, but I will check out the Duya tournament.

I think Chua left social media in part after he was accused of cheating (wax on the ball). Really outraged him.

He also just opened up his own pool hall and retail-pool equipment shop (with money earned on the WNT). Busy life, plus he has a few kids.

Chua is playing at the Formosa Open this week. Top prize is $15,000. Ko brothers playing, too.

No word on if Chua will show up at the US Open. One of Matchroom's promos in July showed Chua, and two different promos showed Ko Pin Yi.

Given the tournament's prestige and $100,000 prize fund - not to mention $50,000 for second place and $25,000 for semifinalsts - I would not be surprised if they all attend.

 

[skor]

He won $50,000 at a Duya event he finished first in during the spring.

I'll miss him on the WNT tour. He is one of my two favorite players to watch, but I will check out the Duya tournament.

I think Chua left social media in part after he was accused of cheating (wax on the ball). Really outraged him.

He also just opened up his own pool hall and retail-pool equipment shop (with money earned on the WNT). Busy life, plus he has a few kids.

Chua is playing at the Formosa Open this week. Top prize is $15,000. Ko brothers playing, too.

No word on if Chua will show up at the US Open. One of Matchroom's promos in July showed Chua, and two different promos showed Ko Pin Yi.

Given the tournament's prestige and $100,000 prize fund - not to mention $50,000 for second place and $25,000 for semifinalsts - I would not be surprised if they all attend.

I also love watching Chua play

 

[jbart65]

If I am Johan, I am picking Bergman as a wild card. He's giving the effort and can still beat top players.

I'd leave Woodward off unless Hohmann is overtaken on points. I would pick Sky over Hohmann if there was one wild card left, for the obvious reason.

 

[sjm]

I will be very happy if Bergman is on Team USA, but to this point, he has shown very little. He was 17th at Vice City, tied for 33rd at the Florida Open, and tied for 65th at the Arizona Open. Of course, I'll sing a different tune if he posts a top 10 finish at either of the Phoenix Open or the US Open 9ball, but otherwise, his selection would lead me to believe that Johan's hand was forced by Matchroom, for there's just no way that Johan would select a 39-year-old that had no high finishes in WNT play and played in relatively few WNT ranking events.

While he remains an astute, cerebral player, there is almost no evidence to this point that Justin is anything close to the player he was ten years ago, and there's ample evidence that he is not a consistent pocketer of the balls when playing on four-inch pockets. I hope Justin is very successful this week and next and wish him everything good, especially when he is matched up against one of the stars of European pool.

I really hope I'll see Justin suiting up for Team USA in November, but only if he earns it.

 

[uk_9_ball_convert]

Team Europe will have at least one new player, but probably two or three.

David Alcaide probably won’t be back. Labutis is too far behind on points unless he finishes first or second at the US Open.

Filler is the top point getter and is a shoo-in. Moritz Neuhausen is close to a lock. He is fourth in points, but he won the Euro Open this year and would be sure to get a wild card.

I’ve got to believe Shaw would be a wild card. Unless MR wants new blood and to see if the absence of Shaw gives Team USA a better chance.

Rankings before Phoenix Open

1)Filler - 59,840
2)FSR - 45,775
3)Oliver Szolnoki - 44,885
4)Moritz Neuhausen - 43,850
5)Dennis Grabe - 37,770
6)Kledio Kaci - 36,200

Souto, Eklent Kaci, Mario He and Alex Kazakis are all in the 26,000 to 28,000 point range. No one else is above 20,000.

Heard third hand that Jayson wouldn't be at the Mosconi cup this year. Not sure if that's his choice or Matchroom's. Could be a case of Chinese whispers, but the person that told me knows Jayson's family fairly well.

 

[jbart65]

I will be very happy if Bergman is on Team USA, but to this point, he has shown very little. He was 17th at Vice City, tied for 33rd at the Florida Open, and tied for 65th at the Arizona Open. Of course, I'll sing a different tune if he posts a top 10 finish at either of the Phoenix Open or the US Open 9ball, but otherwise, his selection would lead me to believe that Johan's hand was forced by Matchroom, for there's just no way that Johan would select a 39-year-old that had no high finishes in WNT play and played in relatively few WNT ranking events.

While he remains an astute, cerebral player, there is almost no evidence to this point that Justin is anything close to the player he was ten years ago, and there's ample evidence that he is not a consistent pocketer of the balls when playing on four-inch pockets. I hope Justin is very successful this week and next and wish him everything good, especially when he is matched up against one of the stars of European pool.

I really hope I'll see Justin suiting up for Team USA in November, but only if he earns it.

The problem with your argument, sjm, is Woodward definitely hasn't earned it. Nor anyone else who might be picked over Bergman.

Bergman, at least, has shown up at all big MR events in the US. He also has wins this year vs Filler and Biado. Woodward doesnt have much to show this year.

 

[Rocket354]

The problem with your argument, sjm, is Woodward definitely hasn't earned it. Nor anyone else who might be picked over Bergman.

Bergman, at least, has shown up at all big MR events in the US. He also has wins this year vs Filler and Biado. Woodward doesnt have much to show this year.

Yeah, Bergman hasn't been overly impressive. But neither has anyone else competing for those last couple MC spots.

 

[sjm]

The problem with your argument, sjm, is Woodward definitely hasn't earned it. Nor anyone else who might be picked over Bergman.

Bergman, at least, has shown up at all big MR events in the US. He also has wins this year vs Filler and Biado. Woodward doesnt have much to show this year.

I'm not sure what Skyler has to do with my post and, no Bergman sat every WNT satellite event for the first seven months of the year as well as most of the more significant US Events. He skipped Turning Stone, the Texas Open, the Derby City Classic, the Las Vegas Open and the Super Billiards Expo event, all of which featured tough fields and would have helped him to return to his form of old.

In short, any suggestion that he has been fully committed to returning to his form of ten years ago fails to hold up to scrutiny. He has not competed much this year. Justin's a friend, and I've always been a fan of his. I hope he has a strong tournament at some point, but it would be very unlike Johan to select a thirty-nine year old who plays eight ball chiefly unless his nine ball tournament resume justifies it.

 

[jbart65]

I

I'm not sure what Skyler has to do with my post and, \\

It’s obvious. You can’t say Bergman doesn’t earn consideration in isolation. You have to compare him to other players competing for spots, one of whom is Woodward.

You wrote the Bergman hasn’t shown he’s earned a spot and that his selection would reek of Matchroom politics. I don’t agree.

If you don’t think he’s earned consideration, clearly the implication is that you believe five other players have proved themselves to be more worthy this year.

The fact is, five other players haven’t. SVB has. Styer has. And that’s it. Even Gorst hasnt been especially good in WNT events this year. He’s only played in the European and UK opens, Vice City and Phoenix. He didn’t go deep in any of those four events.

Woodward has played in the Florida and Arizona opens and didn’t play well. He has skipped every other Matchroom event this year, including Vice City and Phoenix.

no Bergman sat every WNT satellite event for the first seven months of the year as well as most of the more significant US Events. He skipped Turning Stone, the Texas Open, the Derby City Classic, the Las Vegas Open and the Super Billiards Expo event, all of which featured tough fields and would have helped him to return to his form of old.

In my prior post I specifically said ‘big’ Matchroom events in the U.S. for a reason. Bergman has played in the PLP, Florida Open and Arizona Open. He also played in Vice City and the Phoenix Open, both of which Woodward skipped.

The other events you mention matter indirectly, but they don’t have any direct value for Mosconi qualification since they are not WNT ranking events.

In short, any suggestion that he has been fully committed to returning to his form of ten years ago fails to hold up to scrutiny.

I never said that he was. But he’s been more committed this year than Woodward, Thorpe, Oscar …

He has not competed much this year.

Neither has some of the people he is competing with for a spot.

I hope he has a strong tournament at some point, but it would be very unlike Johan to select a thirty-nine year old who plays eight ball chiefly unless his nine ball tournament resume justifies it.

This is the crux of the matter. SVB and Styer has played well this year and merit Mosconi consideration. Fracasso-Verner was on track until his car injury removed him from consideration. Gorst has played well in non WNT events this year and merits consideration because of how good he is, but he has not been fully committed to WNT events.

Beyond that the pickings are slim. Bergman imo has done more to merit consideration than other American players. Has he been great? No. Has he been fully committed? No. But few others have either.

 

[sjm]

I

It’s obvious. You can’t say Bergman doesn’t earn consideration in isolation. You have to compare him to other players competing for spots, one of whom is Woodward.

You wrote the Bergman hasn’t shown he’s earned a spot and that his selection would reek of Matchroom politics. I don’t agree.

If you don’t think he’s earned consideration, clearly the implication is that you believe five other players have proved themselves to be more worthy this year.

The fact is, five other players haven’t. SVB has. Styer has. And that’s it. Even Gorst hasnt been especially good in WNT events this year. He’s only played in the European and UK opens, Vice City and Phoenix. He didn’t go deep in any of those four events.

Woodward has played in the Florida and Arizona opens and didn’t play well. He has skipped every other Matchroom event this year, including Vice City and Phoenix.


In my prior post I specifically said ‘big’ Matchroom events in the U.S. for a reason. Bergman has played in the PLP, Florida Open and Arizona Open. He also played in Vice City and the Phoenix Open, both of which Woodward skipped.

The other events you mention matter indirectly, but they don’t have any direct value for Mosconi qualification since they are not WNT ranking events.

I never said that he was. But he’s been more committed this year than Woodward, Thorpe, Oscar …


Neither has some of the people he is competing with for a spot.


This is the crux of the matter. SVB and Styer has played well this year and merit Mosconi consideration. Fracasso-Verner was on track until his car injury removed him from consideration. Gorst has played well in non WNT events this year and merits consideration because of how good he is, but he has not been fully committed to WNT events.

Beyond that the pickings are slim. Bergman imo has done more to merit consideration than other American players. Has he been great? No. Has he been fully committed? No. But few others have either.

Nice post. Well said.

 

[sjm]

Yowser, Capito beats SVB 10-6 in the round of 32. Robbie, because he shoots so straight, is always dangerous, but I never saw this coming. All the big names are vulnerable these days and this is a very deep field. I'm sure there are many ebbs and flows left at the Phoenix Open.