Super Billiards Expo 2026

[Bob Jewett]

At least there's no purple 5 ball in this one.

Maybe at least in part because Allen Hopkins shot the purple five instead of the pink four at least twice at a US Open.

 

[Benelli]

Who were the two players that had the 40k game on the action table?

 

[GideonF]

John Morra vs Lechner started an hour and a half ago and they're still at 5-5. Two super slow players

In more exciting news, FSR beat Billy 10-7.

Oscar vs Tyler battling it out 4-4, that match might be over at midnight.

Johnny may not be fast but he beat Max and then Fedor and is into the final 8. Let’s goooooo!

 

[Kris_b1104]

Johnny may not be fast but he beat Max and then Fedor and is into the final 8. Let’s goooooo!

He's on a tear these past couple months, probably playing better than he ever has. Won the Turning Stone, won the US Open 10Ball and the US Open Bank Pool, came 2nd in the DCC Bigfoot, placed 5th in the US Open One Pocket and the Texas Open One Pocket.

What a year he's having. Seems like he's due for a really big title soon. None of that takes away from the fact that he plays at a snail's pace though.

Also, I'm sad that my prediction came true, no Americans will make the finals of the SBE, as there are none in the final 8. Tyler and Thorsten came the closest by making the top 16. The top 32 consisted of 5 other Americans.

 

[JAM]

Actually, quite a few of them are present. In part, the absence of those American Mosconi hopefuls who are skipping the event is because of the favoritism that has been shown in Team USA selections in recent years. Few American players view the Team USA wild card selection process as a meritocracy, and that, as Ocar Dominguez has noted, has demotivated them. On the other hand, the conveniene was there, as the SBE event actually worked well with the pool calendar, just about 750 miles from the Predator Pro Billiard Series event that just concluded in St Louis.

I'll give a shout out to all the Team USA hopefuls that are in this field.

Yes, there are plenty of Americans at the SBE, but I was specifically referring to American Mosconi hopefuls.

A lot of the American players competing aren’t in that conversation at all and many probably have no interest in being there. And that’s perfectly fine. The SBE draws a wide range of players and fans for all kinds of reasons.

For many, it’s about convenience, especially with the location. For others, it’s one of the best places to check out the latest and greatest in pool, new gear, new products, all under one roof. And honestly, a big part of it is just the atmosphere. It’s fun to connect, catch up, and hobnob with fellow pool enthusiasts who share the same passion.

But that said, being this is a so-called “WNT ranking event,” I still find it surprising that some of the American Mosconi Cup hopefuls, the ones who do want to make the Cup, aren’t in attendance. If you’re chasing a spot, every ranking opportunity matters. Showing up, competing, and putting yourself in the mix seems like part of the deal, especially at an event like this.

Maybe there are reasons like scheduling, finances, or other commitments, but from the outside looking in, it does raise an eyebrow, thus, the reason for my original post.

 

[uk_9_ball_convert]

Delighted to see Elliot Sanderson doing so well. Think he's been putting a lot of work in after being disappointed in his performances in first few tournaments of the year and it's really paid off

 

[trob]

Is there a women’s tournament at SBE? I couldn’t find a bracket.

No.. hasn’t been for a few years . It’s hit or miss with that. Women are playing in the pro even though.

 

[sjm]

Yes, there are plenty of Americans at the SBE, but I was specifically referring to American Mosconi hopefuls.

A lot of the American players competing aren’t in that conversation at all and many probably have no interest in being there. And that’s perfectly fine. The SBE draws a wide range of players and fans for all kinds of reasons.

For many, it’s about convenience, especially with the location. For others, it’s one of the best places to check out the latest and greatest in pool, new gear, new products, all under one roof. And honestly, a big part of it is just the atmosphere. It’s fun to connect, catch up, and hobnob with fellow pool enthusiasts who share the same passion.

But that said, being this is a so-called “WNT ranking event,” I still find it surprising that some of the American Mosconi Cup hopefuls, the ones who do want to make the Cup, aren’t in attendance. If you’re chasing a spot, every ranking opportunity matters. Showing up, competing, and putting yourself in the mix seems like part of the deal, especially at an event like this.

Maybe there are reasons like scheduling, finances, or other commitments, but from the outside looking in, it does raise an eyebrow, thus, the reason for my original post.

Not sure what you have in mind.

Yes, SVB and Sky are absent, but SVB has not been playing in WNT events this year so far and Sky, arguably the only successful member of Team USA over the last decade and a two-time Mosconi MVP, may feel he can still pick his spots and find his way onto Team USA. Fedor, of course, is in this field, but he is a lock for inclusion on Team USA.

... but Nathan Childress, Eric Roberts, Lukas Verner, BJ Ussery, Shane Wolford, Landon Hollingsworth, Billy Thorpe, Tyler Styer, Donny Mills and Thorsten Hohmann are all possible Team USA members, and every single one of them was in this field. Yes, a couple of teens who might have a shot down the road are missing, such as Lazaro Martinez and Payne McBride. but I feel most of the realistic hopefuls showed up.

To me, the only supposed Mosconi aspirant missing of note is Justin Bergman who has still yet to play in even one WNT ranking event in the over four-year history of the tour. Perhaps years of absence from all 9ball competition makes him believe he'd be overmatched here. but even if that is the case, he needs to get more experience in events using the Matchroom break. For now, it is not easy to take his candidacy seriously.

 

[JAM]

Not sure you have in mind . . .

I'm not sure what that means.

But reading the rest of your post, I’m not convinced that some of the names you listed are truly Mosconi Cup hopefuls. Yes, they’re there competing in a World Nineball Tour–ranked event, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Cup is their target.

Billy, Tyler, and Thorsten, absolutely. Those are legitimate contenders with their eyes on the prize. The others? I’m not so sure. Some of the players you mentioned have been pretty open on social media about their lack of interest in chasing the WNT ranking trail. For them, it’s viewed as an impossible dream, bogged down by logistics, commitments, and, in their eyes, a fair amount of politics.