Top Seeds Eliminated in Frisco
The 2026 US Open Pool Championship, the 49th edition, is being held at Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas, from August 25–30. The 256-player field is competing for the Barry Behrman US Open Trophy, with live coverage on ESPN+ and WNT TV. After four days, the tournament has been reduced to eight players.[S1]
Aloysius Yapp, the defending champion, and Carlo Biado, the current world champion, both saw their runs end in the Last 64. David Alcaide knocked out Yapp, while Ralf Souquet eliminated Biado. Yapp mentioned the weight of expectations as the defending champion and world number one, and said he has been adapting to new equipment.[S1]
Shane Van Boening, a five-time champion, saw his quest for a sixth title end in the Last 32, losing 10-7 to Fedor Gorst, the 2024 champion. Van Boening had earlier beaten Michael Boanan 10-6. Gorst, who also defeated Dominik Jastrzab and John Morra, said he was battling sickness and found the match brutal.[S1]
Contenders Advance to Quarterfinals
Fedor Gorst, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, and Joshua Filler are all seeking a second US Open title. Gorst reached the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year. Ruiz, after early struggles, won three matches against Sun Yi Hsuan, Petri Makkonen, and Alexander Kazakis. Filler overcame Stephen Holem, Albert Januarta, and Chris Melling.[S1]
David Alcaide, who beat Yapp, also defeated Chang Yu Lung and Jayson Shaw to reach the final eight. Alcaide said he felt his game improved with each match and that he would love to experience the feeling of winning the title, as his friend Francisco did in 2022.[S1]
Quarterfinals Set for Saturday
The final eight will play four quarterfinals on Saturday, with the winners advancing to Sunday's final. The tournament will crown a new US Open champion. Full draw and live scoring are available at www.wntlivescores.com.[S1]
