It was beyond any doubt for Aloysius Yapp. It was unequivocally going to happen. “From the time I got really serious about the sport, I always felt that I would make it really far,” Singapore’s finest cueist remembers. There was no obstructing him on his propitious path to euphoric success.
Yapp has been on an upwards trajectory ever since becoming world junior champion as a prodigiously-talented teenager, although this season has truly belonged to him. Having achieved an unprecedented feat in winning three successive open championships on the World Nineball Tour, culminating in a famous US Open triumph in August, the 29-year-old has been this year’s prominent player.
“I really did not expect it,” Yapp admits, having sealed US Open, UK Open and Florida Open titles. “My goal for this year was just to win one major but winning three feels like a dream. I worked really hard on my game and it has paid off. I am thankful for all the good luck also for sure!”
For someone who discovered pool whilst channel surfing during his younger years, Yapp has evolved into his country’s greatest ever player by a considerable distance. “I remember being so interested in seeing how the balls moved around the table and also how the players were making the balls,” he explains. “I definitely got hooked right away.”
His instantaneous obsession with the game eventually generated a profound desire to become a professional, something which ultimately resulted in him dropping out of education in an attempt to enhance those aspirations. A decision that many would be flummoxed by would transform Yapp’s life, as he would become Singapore’s first ever world junior champion three years later.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy choice for sure,” Yapp recollects. “I remember feeling like I could really make it big in the game so I talked to my mom about it, and after a lot of thought and consideration, she took me out of school. I also promised her that I would not go astray and I only ever wanted to get good and make a career out of pool.”
Naturally, Yapp’s relatives were initially bewildered by him prioritising pool. “They were shocked. It’s definitely not an easy decsion to make, especially in Singapore where education means everything,” he adds. “My mom was worried also for sure but she trusted me so much and I hope that I have not disappointed her.”
Fast forward almost a decade and Yapp was now developing into a recognisable professional. His 2021 run to the US Open Championship final, defeating Joshua Filler, Shane van Boening and Dennis Orcollo along the way, provided the evidence needed to establish him as one of the game’s most promising talents.
“It was definitely my first big breakthrough in the sport,” Yapp says, having been beaten by Carlo Biado in the finals. “I would have loved to win it for sure but it was also a big lesson for me to learn. It definitely made me stronger and also developed me as a player.”
That quantum leap at the sport’s most famous tournament was the highlight of a two-month stay stateside, a tour that Yapp will forever fondly remember. “Going back to the USA right after Covid is probably one of my favourite memories,” he acknowledges. “I had a good run back then, and also visited many different states and got to see so much of the USA that I had not seen before. I met so many new people and made so many new friends. It’s certainly a memory I won’t ever forget.”
Despite having evolved into a household name on the World Nineball Tour and beyond, it wasn’t until this year that Yapp would land an elusive major accolade. Winning UK Open and Florida Open titles escalated into one of his childhood dreams becoming reality – the iconic US Open trophy being the silverware that everyone wants to lift aloft.
“It was mainly relief but also that a dream had come true,” an emotional Yapp expresses. “I have always wanted to win this title so much. One of the first matches I ever watched when I started playing pool was from the US Open, so to be able to win it really means the whole world to me. I still can’t believe that I have won it to this day.”
Tensions were palpable in his nerve-wracking championship match against world number one and defending champion Fedor Gorst. Both players had been overcome by the occasion, squandering relatively routine shots, although fortune favoured Yapp as he clinched a career-best $100,000 cheque and undoubtedly the most prestigious title of his career.
“The pressure was really immense. I haven’t felt pressure like that before and it also showed on Fedor,” Yapp says. “We both made many uncharacteristic errors. We both wanted to win so bad. But I got really lucky when he missed the three ball in the last rack. It was obvious that he felt the heat. I also felt the pressure really badly. My hands were shaking and numb – I couldn’t feel anything. Everything only came back after I sank the last eight ball. It was really intense.”
Yapp believes his inaugural Reyes Cup success alongside a star-studded Asian team invigorated him and sparked an astonishing year. “I was lucky to have such amazing teammates,” he admits, having received the MVP award in Manila. “They boosted my morale and confidence throughout the event with all the mental talks and lessons.”
In addition, managing to master the revolutionised breaking format after initially struggling to adapt allowed him to fully flourish. “I tried a couple different methods,” Yapp explains. “I slowly tried to figure out a common pattern about the break. It’s definitely the most important part of the game.”
Having clinched US Open glory, rocketed to world number three on the nineball rankings and established himself as arguably the best player on the planet at present, Yapp has already achieved feats that many can merely daydream about. However, now he wants to stand on top of the world and uphold a legacy amongst the greats.
“I want to be a world champion one day and also to try and be one of the best to ever play the game,” Yapp passionately concludes. “It’s always been a dream for me to be able to call myself a world champion, so that’s my ultimate goal now.”
