U.S. Open Pool Championship
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The U.S. Open Pool Championship, formerly the U.S. Open Nine-ball Championship, is an annual professional men's nine-ball pool tournament that began in its current form in 1976. The U.S. Open is one of the most sought-after titles in nine-ball and in pool generally. Traditionally, winners of the U.S. Open are given a green blazer and are awarded free entry fees to all future U.S. Open tournaments.
History
In its first official edition in 1976, the U.S. Open was contested by just 16 players. Over the years, the number of participants steadily increased, reaching its current level of 256 players.[1] The tournament is an open to men, women and wheelchair users, making it a true "open" tournament, in that the only requirement to play in the event is the payment of the entry fee. The total purse for the tournament is $300,000, where the winner is awarded $50,000.
The tournament's original venue was Q-Master Billiards pool hall, in Norfolk, Virginia, which hosted the event, other than one year, from 1976 until 1988.[2] From 1997 to 2011, the U.S. Open Men's Division was held at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.[2] Q-Masters is still involved in the tournament.[3] Original promoter Barry Behrman died on April 23, 2016. His children, Brady Behrman and Shannon Behrman Paschall, took over operating the tournament until 2018, when it was sold to Matchroom Pool.[2]
Format
The tournament format is essentially double-elimination (a player is out of the tournament after losing two matches) until two players remain. Most professional pool "double-elimination" events, however, are not true double-elimination formats, where the player who reaches the finals from the loser's side has to defeat the winner's side player twice for the title. As of 2019, the tournament reverts to single-elimination from the last 16 onwards. At the U.S. Open, matches are played in races to 11, with the winner breaking. However, the final match, as is customary with most professional nine-ball tournaments today, is one extended race. At the U.S. Open, the extended race in the finals is 13 racks.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Venue | Winner's Prize | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976[4] | United States Mike Sigel | United States Pete Margo | 11–1 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,100 | $8,975 |
| 1978[5] | United States Allen Hopkins | United States Steve Mizerak | 15-11 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $5,000 | $14,500 |
| 1979[6] | United States Louie Roberts | United States David Howard | 15-11 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| 1979[7] | United States Steve Mizerak | United States Jim Rempe | 11-10 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,600 | $8,500 |
| 1980[8] | United States Mike Sigel (2) | United States Ray Martin | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,600 | $8,500 |
| 1981[9] | United States Allen Hopkins (2) | United States Mike Sigel | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| 1982[10] | United States David Howard | United States Mike Zuglan | 10-4 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| 1983[11] | United States Mike Sigel (3) | United States David Howard | 11-10 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $5,000 | $13,750 |
| 1984[12] | United States Earl Strickland | United States Mike Sigel | 11-10 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $25,900 |
| 1985[13] | United States Jimmy Reid | Puerto Rico Mike Lebrón | 11-5 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,800 | $23,000 |
| 1986[14] | United States David Howard (2) | United States Allen Hopkins | 11-9 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,000 | $22,200 |
| 1987[15] | United States Earl Strickland (2) | United States Jim Rempe | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,000 | $24,000 |
| 1988[16] | Puerto Rico Mike Lebrón | United States Nick Varner | 11-6 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $8,000 | $30,000 |
| 1989[17] | United States Nick Varner | United States Kim Davenport | 13-6 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $35,000 |
| 1990 | United States Nick Varner (2) | United States Johnny Archer | 11-10 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $41,000 |
| 1991 | United States Buddy Hall | United States Dennis Hatch | 9-8 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $65,000 |
| 1992 | United States Tommy Kennedy | United States Johnny Archer | 9–1 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $61,600 |
| 1993 | United States Earl Strickland (3) | United States Tony Ellin | 11–8 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $58,400 |
| 1994 | Philippines Efren Reyes | United States Nick Varner | 9–6 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $53,200 |
| 1995 | United States Reed Pierce | Philippines Efren Reyes | 11–6 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $20,000 | $77,800 |
| 1996 | United States Rodney Morris | Philippines Efren Reyes | 11–6 | Virginia Beach Convention Center, VA | $25,000 | $116,250 |
| 1997 | United States Earl Strickland (4) | Philippines Efren Reyes | 11–3 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $25,000 | $124,500 |
| 1998 | United States Buddy Hall (2) | United States Tang Hoa | 11–5 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $25,000 | $105,500 |
| 1999 | United States Johnny Archer | United States Jeremy Jones | 11–7 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $131,600 |
| 2000 | United States Earl Strickland (5) | Japan Takeshi Okumura | 11–5 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $50,000 | $211,000 |
| 2001 | United States Corey Deuel | Finland Mika Immonen | 11–0 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $148,200 |
| 2002 | Germany Ralf Souquet | Philippines Alex Pagulayan | 13–11 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $150,000 |
| 2003 | United States Jeremy Jones | Philippines Jose Parica | 11–4 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $125,000 |
| 2004 | United States Gabe Owen | Germany Thorsten Hohmann | 11–3 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $145,000 |
| 2005 | Philippines Alex Pagulayan | Philippines Jose Parica | 11–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2006 | United States John Schmidt | Philippines Rodolfo Luat | 11–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $159,000 |
| 2007 | United States Shane Van Boening | Philippines Ronnie Alcano | 13–10 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $50,000 | $182,000 |
| 2008 | Finland Mika Immonen | Philippines Ronnie Alcano | 13–7 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $212,000 |
| 2009 | Finland Mika Immonen (2) | Germany Ralf Souquet | 13–10 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2010 | England Darren Appleton | United States Corey Deuel | 15–13 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $180,000 |
| 2011 | England Darren Appleton (2) | United States Shawn Putnam | 13–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $175,100 |
| 2012 | United States Shane Van Boening (2) | Philippines Dennis Orcollo | 13–7 | Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Norfolk, VA | $25,000 | $170,000 |
| 2013 | United States Shane Van Boening (3) | Philippines Lee Vann Corteza | 13–10 | Marriott Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA | $30,000 | $135,000 |
| 2014 | United States Shane Van Boening (4) | Philippines Dennis Orcollo | 13–10 | Marriott Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA | $30,000 | $165,000 |
| 2015 | Chinese Taipei Kevin Cheng | England Karl Boyes | 13–6 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $40,000 | $192,000 |
| 2016 | United States Shane Van Boening (5) | Chinese Taipei Chang Jung-lin | 13–9 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| 2017 | Scotland Jayson Shaw | Albania Eklent Kaci | 13–4 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2019 | Germany Joshua Filler | China Wu Jiaqing | 13–10 | Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2021 | Philippines Carlo Biado | Singapore Aloysius Yapp | 13–8 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2022[18] | Spain Francisco Sanchez Ruiz | Austria Max Lechner | 13–10 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2023 | Chinese Taipei Ko Ping-chung | Russia Fedor Gorst | 13–6 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2024 | United States Fedor Gorst | United States Shane Van Boening | 13-10 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2025 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $100,000[citation needed] | $500,000 |
Records
- Earl Strickland and Shane Van Boening, both from the U.S., share the record for winning the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship the most times: five. Strickland in (1984, 1987, 1993, 1997, 2000). Van Boening in (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016).[19]
- Shane Van Boening holds the record for the most consecutive wins: three. (2012, 2013, 2014).
- Shane Van Boening holds the record for the most final appearances: six. (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024).
- The oldest pool player to ever win the men's tournament to date is Mike Lebrón of Puerto Rico, at 54 years old. The youngest player to win to date is Joshua Filler of Germany, at 21 years old.[20]
Top Performers
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- Active participants are shown in bold.
- Only players who reached the final are included.
- Final stage appearances relates to players who reach the last 12 players of the event. As of 2019, final stages include last 16 players, due to format change.
- In the event of identical records, players are sorted in alphabetical order by first name.
References
- ↑ Barry Behrman (July 7, 2011). "Statement From Barry Behrman and Shannon Berhman Paschall-Exclusive to AZB". AzBilliards.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "History". USOpen9BallChampionships.com. Norfolk, VA: Q-Master Billiards. 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Contact". USOpen9BallChampionships.com. op. cit. 2010. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
- ↑ "American Billiard Review Nov 1976". American Billiard Review. No. Nov 1976. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Aug 1978". National Billards News. No. Aug 1978. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Billiards Digest Mar 1979". Billiards Digest. No. Mar 1979. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Dec 1979". National Billiards News. No. Dec 1979. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Jan 1981". National Billiards News. No. Jan 1981. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Feb 1982". National Billiards News. No. Feb 1982. Archived from the original on 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Jan 1983". National Billiards News. No. Jan 1983. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Feb 1984". National Billiards News. No. Feb 1984. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Dec 1984". National Billiards News. No. Dec 1984. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Dec 1985". National Billiards News. No. Dec 1985. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Billiards Digest Jan 1987". Billiards Digest. No. Jan 1987. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Feb 1988". National Billiards News. No. Feb 1988. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Billiards Digest Feb 1989". Billiards Digest. No. Feb 1989. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "National Billiards News Jan 1990". National Billiards News. No. Jan 1990. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "US Open Pool Championship 2022". Archived from the original on 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
- ↑ USOpen9BallChampionships.com Archived 2007-10-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 October 2007
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "History of The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships". U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. Archived from the original on 2004-04-10. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
