Yapp’s Controversial Tournament-Winning Shot in the 8-Ball World Championship … Was it a Foul?

[JohnnyOzone]

I have neither met nor played with Aloysius. I accept that he’s an honourable players and was waiting for the ref’s call.

However, I find it hard to believe he didn’t know he fouled. If most informed amateurs believed he fouled, I think he knows as much as they do and also believed he hit the 4 first.

That said, I do believe he felt that it was up to the referee and the referee called it good so he accepted the referee’s decision.

I agree, as a player you have to go with a Ref's call, but a big-time tournament should have Refs who have a clue what they're doing

 

[Cuebuddy]

If the Ref sees the CB going off the tangent line of the 8 ball last, then they ARE calling what they see. Referees should have the highest level of knowledge of anyone when it comes to knowing how to tell a good hit from a bad one. In your theory, all Yapp had to do was hit the balls 100 miles an hour, then nobody could "see" which ball was hit first (or last)

At first I thought that also.
But the spin induced throw would not have grabbed.
Hell, Yapp had enough side spin on that even after contacting the 4 first the 8 still found the pocket!

 

[Baby Huey]

I think a self called foul was in order. Doing that would go a long ways to encouraging other pro's to display good sportsmanship. Frankly its what's needed in our game to set the standard high such that other players might pick up and embelish the same.

 

[straightline]

What was the score? 12 - 4? If there's no ill will, Yapp could pay Ruiz a set, smooth it out.

 

[GideonF]

What was the score? 12 - 4? If there's no ill will, Yapp could pay Ruiz a set, smooth it out.

It was 9-4 at the time of the incident. Should have then been 9-5 with FSR breaking.

 

[straightline]

It was 9-4 at the time of the incident. Should have then been 9-5 with FSR breaking.

Very unenviable situation for both of them. Yapp on a major roll, Ruiz on the big roll off. You know whose game it is now...

 

[Island Drive]

FYI, I just posted a new video with a thorough analysis of the call on the final shot in the 2026 8-Ball World Championship. The shot was taken by Aloysius Yapp against Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (FSR). The shot, which was called good, gave Yapp the title and $90,000. Conclusive proof the shot was a foul is provided along with advice on how to judge wrong-ball-first shots like this accurately. Check it out:

Contents:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:42 - The Shot
• 3:25 - Background
• 5:34 - Shot Analysis
• 8:47 - Examples
• 11:12 - Recommendations
• 13:39 - Wrap-Up

Supporting Resources:

• wrong-ball-first fouls and how to judge them:
• rule resource page
• fouls resource page
• example bad and interesting call is past pro tournament matches
• WPA rules update video
• video of entire match
• link to final shot in the video

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

Watching the hit and nothing more than the video shot, the first ball contact Always creates cue ball direction, he it the four first/foul.