Super Billiards Expo 2026

Big win for Zielinski. He hasn't fulfilled his promise since winning the Las Vegas Open back to back in 2022 and 2023. This is his biggest tournament win since then.

I am a surprised Hubert Lopotko got to the finals. Solid player, but not someone who has shown he could get to a final in a stacked field. Still, he and Wiktor beat some top players along the way.
 
jbart65 said:
Big win for Zielinski. He hasn't fulfilled his promise since winning the Las Vegas Open back to back in 2022 and 2023. This is his biggest tournament win since then. ...
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Yes, but it was a bit strange how Scott Frost kept talking about how this would be the greatest thing Zielinski has ever done if he won, and possibly a break-through win that could set him on a path to win big events in the future. Perhaps Frost was not at all aware of Zielinski's 3 wins in the Predator Pro Billiard Series in 2022 and 2023 (Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and Michigan Opens), all of which were against tough fields and paid considerably more than this SBE event. As for money, he even won more in each of two events the prior week (a win in mixed doubles and 3rd in the World 8-Ball), and I don't recall Scott mentioning his success there.
 
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jasonlaus said:
If you're a "pro" tournament player doesn't that mean travel is a necessary part of your job?

Just get a job and be done with it if you can't afford it. I'd love to play poker full-time but I'd be living in my car and robbing car washes/laundromats to survive. So, I have a full-time job, it's really that simple.

Making $18,000/year as a pro player seems like a good way to end up destitute 🤷‍♂️
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The problem is the payout is shit . Getting into the top 16 doesn’t even pay travel costs unfortunately
 
KAP1976 said:
And, to my understanding, this is why Shane stopped going to SBX.
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Yeah..until they made it a matchroom event the turn out had completely fallen off. Only pro’s that were close were showing up. Shane isn’t worried about making the mosconi lol
 
Turns out Wiktor Zielinski has been working with Alex Lely. Can't say I am surprised. Zielinski has looked more focused and less petulant.

Wiktor wrote on FB: "Thanks to Alex Lely for bringing me back to life on the pool table after terrible last year."

There are three things Lely will zero in on: A return to fundamentals, a stable and improved mental approach, and tactics and strategy (safeties and defensive play).

Zielinski imo has some of the best tools in the businesses, but he's developed bad habits. Chief among them is getting easily frustrated and down on himself. He can also be sloppy at times on positioning (both offense and defense). I chalk that up to him not always taking enough time to survey the table. He needs more patience.

Full FB post:

Winner of Super Billiards EXPO 2026. Feels really good to be back lifting trophies once again

Pretty surprised that I managed to play well on bouncy tables with high humidity

It’s been really successful time for me in the US with finishing all of them on the podium.

Thanks to Alex Lely for bringing me back to life on the pool table after terrible last year, we worked really hard last month on several things and it seems like it’s paying off

Now it is time to celebrate, have a deserved rest and prepare for the next tournaments.
 
jasonlaus said:
Yep, full time job is the answer. Other than Shane and Fedor nobody in the US can live by being a touring pro.
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That’s not really true anymore lol there is plenty beside them doing well living off of pool. It’s not easy though . It’s not like golf where you can barely be good enough to make the cut and still be a millionaire
 
trob said:
That’s not really true anymore lol there is plenty beside them doing well living off of pool. It’s not easy though . It’s not like golf where you can barely be good enough to make the cut and still be a millionaire
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What is there if you're a touring pro? Im sure they'd love to know
 
with many avenues to make some money. it can add up to a living for many not at the top. but overall trying to become a top player so you can win a lot of money is a dead end deal in pool.

if you think of it as a hobby or a side job then you can be very successful and have a rewarding career. instead of a life of disappointing events.
 
maha said:
with many avenues to make some money. it can add up to a living for many not at the top. but overall trying to become a top player so you can win a lot of money is a dead end deal in pool.

if you think of it as a hobby or a side job then you can be very successful and have a rewarding career. instead of a life of disappointing events.
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So not a touring pro then? Define successful cause 18k per year isnt successful. There's league players that probably make that much lol
 
jasonlaus said:
What is there if you're a touring pro? Im sure they'd love to know
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Look at the top 20 players and how they are living. They aren’t millionaires but they aren’t living in their car either. Things are changing with matchroom and the predator events. Did you see the house filler just bought? Jason Shaw is doing well. Lots are. Again are they making nfl , nba or pga money.. no not yet. But it’s moving in the right direction.
 
jasonlaus said:
So not a touring pro then? Define successful cause 18k per year isnt successful. There's league players that probably make that much lol
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personal success not monetary. some can make side job money at pool and not be a top pro. you dont have to make a full living to be successful at something you have pleasure doing.
 
jasonlaus said:
So not a touring pro then? Define successful cause 18k per year isnt successful. There's league players that probably make that much lol
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Success is relative to the individual, as it is simply a matter of accomplishing one's goals. Success as a pool player does not typically equate to a successful career.
 
bradsh98 said:
Success is relative to the individual, as it is simply a matter of accomplishing one's goals. Success as a pool player does not typically equate to a successful career.
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No, success is not relative, name 1 person who can travel to tournaments, pay entry and expenses and live on 18,000.

You are all delusional
 
jasonlaus said:
No, success is not relative, name 1 person who can travel to tournaments, pay entry and expenses and live on 18,000.

You are all delusional
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You said, "Define success".... The literal definition is: the accomplishment of one's goals. Therefore, it's relative to the individual.
 
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