It’s the ultimate dream for everyone who travels around the world competing on the World Nineball Tour and 16 players now have the opportunity that everybody craves as the 2023 US Open Pool Championship reaches its latter stages at Harrah’s Resort and Casino in Atlantic City.
Joshua Filler, Jayson Shaw, Ralf Souquet and Carlo Biado have all already been crowned US Open champions in their illustrious careers, however the other 12 players of differing ages and backgrounds will be attempting to realise their dreams and trouser a lucrative $50,000 in the process.
TOP HALF – GORST’S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Carlo Biado has developed a love affair with Atlantic City. Having won the tournament two years ago and then mounted a valiant defence of his title by reaching the semi-finals last year, the Filipino is going strongly once again and takes on Fedor Gorst in a mouth-watering match for a place in the quarter-finals.
Gorst was tested in the winners’ qualification round in his come-from-behind win over Nicholas De Leon before relatively comfortable wins over Billy Thorpe and Sanjin Pehlivanovic. The former world champion hasn’t quite clicked into top gear yet this tournament, but his desire to finally win a second major accolade is palpable and there would be no better place to achieve that than the US Open.
Daniel Maciol dethroned Albin Ouschan at last month’s European Open and he repeated that feat in ending Francisco Sanchez Ruiz’s defence. The Pole is certainly developing a name for himself, with an opportunity awaiting for both him and his last 16 opponent Robbie Capito from Hong Kong – who debuts at the business end of a nineball major.
Meanwhile, Shane van Boening’s quest for number six may have been scuppered but Skyler Woodward will be flying the American flag in the latter stages. His encounter with Jayson Shaw will see Woodward attempting to continue his run to a possible third major semi-final of the season, while Shaw will be vying to reach an elusive major quarter-final in the World Nineball Tour era.
Woodward’s composure has been there for all to witness in recent months, with the American breaking well and controlling the cue ball impeccably. However, 2017 champion Shaw has been working hard behind the scenes, headed to AC with a more relaxed and nonchalant mindset and appears to have that bit between his teeth this week.
Ralf Souquet and Aleksa Pecelj are at contrasting junctures in their careers. Souquet will be out to reach another quarter-final 21 years after being crowned US Open champion, while Pecelj continues to make his mark on the nineball scene. Emotions were running high for the Serbian when he sunk the winning nine ball against Phuong Nam Pham in the last 32.
Who reaches the final? Fedor Gorst
BOTTOM HALF – FILLER CAN BE UNSTOPPABLE
Miguel Silva has produced the greatest underdog story of this year’s US Open. The Portuguese sensation has shown glimpses this year, notably pushing Albin Ouschan to a deciding rack at the Spanish Open. Nevertheless, world number 126 Silva has truly attracted attention during an unbeaten week.
The Madeira cueist has been rewarded with a last 16 encounter with last year’s runner-up Max Lechner – who has managed to go under the radar again this year and quietly gone about his business. The Austrian could reach his third consecutive US Open quarter-final in an incredible feat.
Ko Ping-Chung has the initial big the name to be banished onto the one-loss side during the double elimination phase but on Friday became the first player into the last 16. A semi-finalist twelve months ago, Ko has all the qualities needed to reign supreme and is seemingly stronger following that early defeat.
Nonetheless, Little Ko will have to take down this week’s stand-out performer in Joshua Filler – who has been in his usual irresistible form in Atlantic City. Filler was the bookmaker’s favourite for the title pre-tournament and the German is undoubtedly the player to beat for the remainder of the event.
Elsewhere, David Alcaide has continued his Fulda form into the blue-ribbon tournament and his match against Wiktor Zielinski will be unreal. Zielinski has at long last managed to transform his general form into a nineball major, while that European Open success last month has really reinvigorated Alcaide – who has dropped only five racks so far in double elimination.
Mario He has been beaten in the last 16 in both of the last two US Opens and faces 2021 runner-up Aloysius Yapp this time around. Singapore’s Yapp appears dialled in and will prove stern opposition in a contest beaten two of the most popular players on the circuit.
Who reaches the final? Joshua Filler
