US Open 08/18-23

[sjm]

I'm trying to get a handle on which of the sub-800 players have an outside shot at reaching the semis.

Here are a few players that might just be capable:

Yannick Pongers
Mickey Krause
Jesus Atencio
Jonas Souto
Casper Matikainen

AJ Manas is a notable absentee.

 

[sjm]

WNT did a nice job with the Battle of the Bull. Stacked field. Last day of the event felt rushed, but some good pool played.

Yeah, this has become a really nice event, not to mention a perfect prep for the US Open 9ball.

Chua beat SVB fairly handily in the final, 13-8, making the shot of the tourney to further his cause. Chua also won the ranking event in Dubai leading up to the WPC, beating Gorst, but he was ousted a bit early in the WPC.

Chua did solidify his spot on the Reyes Cup. Some Asian player other than Biado or Yapp would have to win the U.S. Open to surpass him. That would leave two wild cards. Biado and Yapp are already locks.

Chua's form is definitely strong right now. I don't reckon anyone will be too keen on drawing him at the US Open 9ball. Should be in the Reyes Cup no matter what, as far as I am concerned.

I did think Chua’s safety play remained a problem. Made several somewhat costly ones vs both Wielinksi and SVB. And yet … he still ran through a lot of good opponents (Lechner, Wiktor, Duong, SVB).

To win the US Open, and he might just have what it takes, Chua will have to play well tactically against the most elite tacticians, meaning Josh Filler, Fedor Gorst, Ko Ping Chung, and Carlo Biado. Beating those four to the shot is a far taller order than beating Shane to the shot, and once he reaches the last 16, he's sure to have to face some of them.

Not so Felix Vogel. Beat Moritz Neuhausen and went deep. Trying to make the case he is the best young German player.

He is the best German junior and has a very bright future. Still a little raw, but his competitive pedigree is developing quickly, and his arsenal of shots is already quite well-developed. Germany seems to produce world champions pretty often. Ortmann and Hohmann have won both the World 9ball and the World 14.1. Filler has won the World 9ball and the World 8ball. Ralf Souquet has won the World 9ball. What next? Neuhausen? Vogel? Both? Neither? We shall see.

Yannick Pongers also made another good run. Plays like his hair is on fire, but he’s some shot maker. Another up and comer.

I saw one of his matches at the Florida Open. Yannick can really play!

 

[sjm]

My guess is that the usual suspects won’t win - SVB, Gorst, Filler, Yapp.
I would like see to an unknown take it or an older player like Pagulayan

Other than the unfathomably unlikely deep run by Strickland, nothing would excite the Atlantic City crowd more than Alex making a deep run.

Pagulayan looked really good at the 2025 Derby City Classic this January. In the 10ball, he narrowly lost to eventual champion Labutis and in the 9ball, he reached the final and gave Filler a run for his money in the championship match, won 9-6 by Filler.

Pagulayan might still be the game's best tactical player. Along with Reyes and Varner, I consider him to be top three ever at 9ball defense.

Relative to Derby City, he'll have to deal with a narrower break box and tighter pockets, but if he can fade them, he could possibly contend.

 

[skor]

Other than the unfathomably unlikely deep run by Strickland, nothing would excite the Atlantic City crowd more than Alex making a deep run.

Pagulayan looked really good at the 2025 Derby City Classic this January. In the 10ball, he narrowly lost to eventual champion Labutis and in the 9ball, he reached the final and gave Filler a run for his money in the championship match, won 9-6 by Filler.

Pagulayan might still be the game's best tactical player. Along with Reyes and Varner, I consider him to be top three ever at 9ball defense.

Relative to Derby City, he'll have to deal with a narrower break box and tighter pockets, but if he can fade them, he could possibly contend.

Alex has been playing a lot of Heyball and Duya so I think that he’ll be alright with tight pockets.

 

[skogstokig]

I'm trying to get a handle on which of the sub-800 players have an outside shot at reaching the semis.

Here are a few players that might just be capable:

Yannick Pongers
Mickey Krause
Jesus Atencio
Jonas Souto
Casper Matikainen

AJ Manas is a notable absentee.

mickey is capable. atencio is highly entertaining, but i fear he can't get there unless he improves his safety play. i tend to root for him because of the highlight reel shots, but those may also be the reason he doesn't win tournaments lol

i haven't seen a player list but i suppose it's the same as florida + the world games players?

 

[skor]

mickey is capable. atencio is highly entertaining, but i fear he can't get there unless he improves his safety play. i tend to root for him because of the highlight reel shots, but those may also be the reason he doesn't win tournaments lol

i haven't seen a player list but i suppose it's the same as florida + the world games players?

The first round matches are already listed on the WNT.tv live score web site

 

[sjm]

mickey is capable. atencio is highly entertaining, but i fear he can't get there unless he improves his safety play. i tend to root for him because of the highlight reel shots, but those may also be the reason he doesn't win tournaments lol

i haven't seen a player list but i suppose it's the same as florida + the world games players?

Silver medalist Gerson Martinez not in the field.

 

[Taxi]

The first round matches are already listed on the WNT.tv live score web site

Fedor Gorst vs Mr. October!

 

[sjm]

A year ago, half the field played on Monday and the other half on Tuesday. Now, everybody will play on Monday. I see this as a very positive change.

 

[Cornerman]

I'd be very surprised if anybody below Fargo 820 won the US Open 9ball title. Cinderellas are few and far between. Since 2000, I'd call Gabe Owen and Kevin Cheng the only two Cinderella winners.

The globalization of pool over the past decade has greatly changed the landscape of the pro game, and the major 9ball titles are the domain of just a select few.

I predict that the winner will carry a Fargo of 830 or better.

I think Tommy Kennedy and even Reed Pierce would qualify as Cinderella winners.

I remember that Gabe had been on a tear heading into the Open, so I wasn’t surprised he was there in the end his year.

 

[sjm]

I think Tommy Kennedy and even Reed Pierce would qualify as Cinderella winners.

I remember that Gabe had been on a tear heading into the Open, so I wasn’t surprised he was there in the end his year.

Yes, but I said since 2000. Tommy and Reed were in the 1990s.

 

[Island Drive]

I think you can edit the title of this thread, but it should be 8/18-23 (August), not 10/18-23 (October). Not a biggie. We all know what you mean.

I'm thinking Johann Chua is going to rise to the top, but I have a few favorites. Of course, I want Shane to win and break the record. Sometimes in these events, it comes down to the draw and, of course, who's found their break and got it working. I would enjoy seeing Moritz, Kledio, and Sam Henderson do well. An interesting match on the TV table would be Eklent Kaci v. any Filipino.

We've got a full week of pool up ahead with lots of fun! WNTTV.com is the best deal in town, $10 for a one-month subscription and then you can pause and/or quit, or in the alternative, get a discount on a year for $100. Thank goodness DAZN is in the rearview mirror.

jen thx for the WNT $10 tip ''got it''.... and I did correct my post, thx.

 

[Island Drive]

Derby City Master of the Table is a big title. Skyler won it in 2019. It is one of the very hardest titles to win in our sport.

Good point, but this event was in HIS next of the woods heat/humidity the conditions are perfect for a KY boy. He even knows how not to sweat when it's humid.

 

[sjm]

Good point, but this event was in HIS next of the woods heat/humidity the conditions are perfect for a KY boy. He even knows how not to sweat when it's humid.

LOL. Is home court advantage a thing in our sport? Maybe so.

 

[skogstokig]

Good point, but this event was in HIS next of the woods heat/humidity the conditions are perfect for a KY boy. He even knows how not to sweat when it's humid.

i think the changes with the break in 9b and just about everything else suits skyler well. sharpshooter, good moving game, no monster break needed. same could be said about justin bergman

 

[Island Drive]

LOL. Is home court advantage a thing in our sport? Maybe so.

Why the Pinoys play soooo good, conditions.

 

[skor]

Why the Pinoys play soooo good, conditions.

And wax...

 

[nicksaint26]

WNT did a nice job with the Battle of the Bull. Stacked field. Last day of the event felt rushed, but some good pool played.

Chua beat SVB fairly handily in the final, 13-8, making the shot of the tourney to further his cause. Chua also won the ranking event in Dubai leading up to the WPC, beating Gorst, but he was ousted a bit early in the WPC.

Chua did solidify his spot on the Reyes Cup. Some Asian player other than Biado or Yapp would have to win the U.S. Open to surpass him. That would leave two wild cards. Biado and Yapp are already locks.

I did think Chua’s safety play remained a problem. Made several somewhat costly ones vs both Wielinksi and SVB. And yet … he still ran through a lot of good opponents (Lechner, Wiktor, Duong, SVB).

Shane did get to the finals of both Florida and BotB. He is in good form.

So is Chang Yu Lung. Lost to Shane again in the semis. Strange to see Lung flex his muscles like this after doing nothing in the WNT since the tour ramped up after Covid.

Alas, the struggles of Albin Ouschan continued.

Not so Felix Vogel. Beat Moritz Neuhausen and went deep. Trying to make the case he is the best young German player.

Yannick Pongers also made another good run. Plays like his hair is on fire, but he’s some shot maker. Another up and comer.

Great analysis as usual but the shot of the tournament was made by Fedor in the Duong match. It was an unbelievable three rail kick from absolute jail that he made! If you haven’t seen it please find it. If I had any technical skills I’d provide the link lol.

 

[skogstokig]

Great analysis as usual but the shot of the tournament was made by Fedor in the Duong match. It was an unbelievable three rail kick from absolute jail that he made! If you haven’t seen it please find it. If I had any technical skills I’d provide the link lol.

it was on railbirdstv, around 1 hour 30 min in. very good safety by hoang too

 

[Cornerman]

Yes, but I said since 2000. Tommy and Reed were in the 1990s.

Ah, thanks.