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 open to both men and women, including wheelchair users, making it a true "open" tournament. 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. There is also a separate Women's U.S. Open, sanctioned by the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA).
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 Template:Glossary link) 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 Template:Glossary link 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] | Template:Flagicon Mike Sigel | Template:Flagicon Pete Margo | 11–1 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,100 | $8,975 |
| 1978[5] | Template:Flagicon Allen Hopkins | Template:Flagicon Steve Mizerak | 15-11 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $5,000 | $14,500 |
| 1979[6] | Template:Flagicon Louie Roberts | Template:Flagicon David Howard | 15-11 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| 1979[7] | Template:Flagicon Steve Mizerak | Template:Flagicon Jim Rempe | 11-10 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,600 | $8,500 |
| 1980[8] | Template:Flagicon Mike Sigel (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Ray Martin | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $3,600 | $8,500 |
| 1981[9] | Template:Flagicon Allen Hopkins (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Mike Sigel | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| 1982[10] | Template:Flagicon David Howard | Template:Flagicon Mike Zuglan | 10-4 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| 1983[11] | Template:Flagicon Mike Sigel (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon David Howard | 11-10 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $5,000 | $13,750 |
| 1984[12] | Template:Flagicon Earl Strickland | Template:Flagicon Mike Sigel | 11-10 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $25,900 |
| 1985[13] | Template:Flagicon Jimmy Reid | Template:Flagicon Mike Lebrón | 11-5 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,800 | $23,000 |
| 1986[14] | Template:Flagicon David Howard (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Allen Hopkins | 11-9 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,000 | $22,200 |
| 1987[15] | Template:Flagicon Earl Strickland (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Jim Rempe | 11-7 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $7,000 | $24,000 |
| 1988[16] | Template:Flagicon Mike Lebrón | Template:Flagicon Nick Varner | 11-6 | Q-Master Billiards, Norfolk, VA | $8,000 | $30,000 |
| 1989[17] | Template:Flagicon Nick Varner | Template:Flagicon Kim Davenport | 13-6 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $35,000 |
| 1990 | Template:Flagicon Nick Varner (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Johnny Archer | 11-10 | Lake Wright Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $10,000 | $41,000 |
| 1991 | Template:Flagicon Buddy Hall | Template:Flagicon Dennis Hatch | 9-8 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $65,000 |
| 1992 | Template:Flagicon Tommy Kennedy | Template:Flagicon Johnny Archer | 9–1 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $61,600 |
| 1993 | Template:Flagicon Earl Strickland (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Tony Ellin | 11–8 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $58,400 |
| 1994 | Template:Flagicon Efren Reyes | Template:Flagicon Nick Varner | 9–6 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $15,000 | $53,200 |
| 1995 | Template:Flagicon Reed Pierce | Template:Flagicon Efren Reyes | 11–6 | Holiday Inn, Chesapeake, VA | $20,000 | $77,800 |
| 1996 | Template:Flagicon Rodney Morris | Template:Flagicon Efren Reyes | 11–6 | Virginia Beach Convention Center, VA | $25,000 | $116,250 |
| 1997 | Template:Flagicon Earl Strickland (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Efren Reyes | 11–3 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $25,000 | $124,500 |
| 1998 | Template:Flagicon Buddy Hall (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Tang Hoa | 11–5 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $25,000 | $105,500 |
| 1999 | Template:Flagicon Johnny Archer | Template:Flagicon Jeremy Jones | 11–7 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $131,600 |
| 2000 | Template:Flagicon Earl Strickland (5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Takeshi Okumura | 11–5 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $50,000 | $211,000 |
| 2001 | Template:Flagicon Corey Deuel | Template:Flagicon Mika Immonen | 11–0 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $148,200 |
| 2002 | Template:Flagicon Ralf Souquet | Template:Flagicon Alex Pagulayan | 13–11 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $150,000 |
| 2003 | Template:Flagicon Jeremy Jones | Template:Flagicon Jose Parica | 11–4 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $125,000 |
| 2004 | Template:Flagicon Gabe Owen | Template:Flagicon Thorsten Hohmann | 11–3 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $145,000 |
| 2005 | Template:Flagicon Alex Pagulayan | Template:Flagicon Jose Parica | 11–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2006 | Template:Flagicon John Schmidt | Template:Flagicon Rodolfo Luat | 11–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $159,000 |
| 2007 | Template:Flagicon Shane Van Boening | Template:Flagicon Ronnie Alcano | 13–10 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $50,000 | $182,000 |
| 2008 | Template:Flagicon Mika Immonen | Template:Flagicon Ronnie Alcano | 13–7 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $212,000 |
| 2009 | Template:Flagicon Mika Immonen (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Ralf Souquet | 13–10 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2010 | Template:Flagicon Darren Appleton | Template:Flagicon Corey Deuel | 15–13 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $40,000 | $180,000 |
| 2011 | Template:Flagicon Darren Appleton (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Shawn Putnam | 13–6 | Chesapeake Conference Center, VA | $30,000 | $175,100 |
| 2012 | Template:Flagicon Shane Van Boening (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Dennis Orcollo | 13–7 | Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Norfolk, VA | $25,000 | $170,000 |
| 2013 | Template:Flagicon Shane Van Boening (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Lee Vann Corteza | 13–10 | Marriott Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA | $30,000 | $135,000 |
| 2014 | Template:Flagicon Shane Van Boening (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Dennis Orcollo | 13–10 | Marriott Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA | $30,000 | $165,000 |
| 2015 | Template:Flagicon Kevin Cheng | Template:Flagicon Karl Boyes | 13–6 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $40,000 | $192,000 |
| 2016 | Template:Flagicon Shane Van Boening (5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Template:Flagicon Chang Jung-lin | 13–9 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| 2017 | Template:Flagicon Jayson Shaw | Template:Flagicon Eklent Kaci | 13–4 | Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA | $40,000 | $200,000 |
| 2019 | Template:Flagicon Joshua Filler | Template:Flagicon Wu Jiaqing | 13–10 | Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2021 | Template:Flagicon Carlo Biado | Template:Flagicon Aloysius Yapp | 13–8 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2022[18] | Template:Flagicon Francisco Sanchez Ruiz | Template:Flagicon Max Lechner | 13–10 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2023 | Template:Flagicon Ko Ping-chung | Template:Flagicon Fedor Gorst | 13–6 | Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ | $50,000 | $300,000 |
| 2024 | Template:Flagicon Fedor Gorst | Template:Flagicon 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 | $100,000Template:Fact | $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
| Name | Nationality | Winner | Runner-up | Finals | Semi-final or better |
Final stage appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Van Boening | Script error: No such module "flag". | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Earl Strickland | Script error: No such module "flag". | 0 | 5 | 8 | 16 | |
| Mike Sigel | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | 2 | 12 | ||
| Nick Varner | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | |
| David Howard | Script error: No such module "flag". | 4 | 10 | |||
| Mika Immonen | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| Allen Hopkins | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | 12 | |||
| Buddy Hall | Script error: No such module "flag". | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | |
| Darren Appleton | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 6 | |||
| Efren Reyes | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| Johnny Archer | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | |
| Steve Mizerak | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 | |
| Ralf Souquet | Script error: No such module "flag". | 4 | 9 | |||
| Alex Pagulayan | Script error: No such module "flag". | 7 | ||||
| Corey Deuel | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | 8 | |||
| Mike Lebron | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 5 | |||
| Jeremy Jones | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | ||||
| Rodney Morris | Script error: No such module "flag". | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| Jayson Shaw | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Jimmy Reid | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 6 | |||
| Francisco Sanchez Ruiz | Script error: No such module "flag". | 4 | ||||
| Joshua Filler | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Louie Roberts | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Carlo Biado | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | ||||
| Fedor Gorst | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Ko Ping-chung | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Tommy Kennedy | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Gabe Owen | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | ||||
| Reed Pierce | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | ||||
| John Schmidt | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | ||||
| Kevin Cheng | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Jose Parica | Script error: No such module "flag". | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Jim Rempe | Script error: No such module "flag". | 11 | ||||
| Dennis Orcollo | Script error: No such module "flag". | 6 | ||||
| Ronnie Alcano | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 5 | |||
| Rodolfo Luat | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |
| Chang Jung-lin | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | 5 | |||
| Kim Davenport | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | 7 | |||
| Lee Vann Corteza | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | ||||
| Aloysius Yapp | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | ||||
| Tony Ellin | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Thorsten Hohmann | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | 5 | |||
| Karl Boyes | Script error: No such module "flag". | 4 | ||||
| Dennis Hatch | Script error: No such module "flag". | 3 | ||||
| Max Lechner | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Ray Martin | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Tang Hoa | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Takeshi Okumura | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Eklent Kaci | Script error: No such module "flag". | 2 | ||||
| Pete Margo | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Mike Zuglan | Script error: No such module "flag". | 1 | ||||
| Shawn Putnam | Script error: No such module "flag". | |||||
| Wu Jiaqing | Script error: No such module "flag". |
- 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.
Women's U.S. Open
Unlike the U.S. Open Pool tournament, the Women's U.S. Open is not a true "open" event. Each female player must qualify through the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA), the professional women's billiards tour based in the United States, in order to compete in this annual event.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Template:Flagicon Jean Balukas |
| 1985 | Template:Flagicon Belinda Bearden |
| 1986 | Template:Flagicon Jean Balukas (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1987 | Template:Flagicon Jean Balukas (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1988 | Template:Flagicon Ewa Mataya |
| 1989 | Template:Flagicon LoreeJon Jones |
| 1990 | Template:Flagicon JoAnn Mason |
| 1991 | Template:Flagicon Ewa Mataya (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 1992 | Template:Flagicon Robin Bell |
| 1994 | Template:Flagicon Jeanette Lee |
| 1999 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher |
| 2002 | Template:Flagicon Helena Thornfeldt |
| 2003 | Template:Flagicon Karen Corr |
| 2004 | Template:Flagicon Kim Ga-young |
| 2005 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2006 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2007 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2008 | Template:Flagicon Kelly Fisher |
| 2009 | Template:Flagicon Kim Ga-young (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2010 | Template:Flagicon Kim Ga-young (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2011 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher (5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2012 | Template:Flagicon Allison Fisher (6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2016 | Template:Flagicon Kim Ga-young (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 2017 | Template:Flagicon Karen Corr (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
References
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- ↑ USOpen9BallChampionships.com Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Retrieved 21 October 2007
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