EVENT GUIDE | 2026 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

The World Nineball Tour heads to Frisco, Texas this August for the 49th US Open Pool Championship, with 256 players competing for one of the most prestigious titles in professional pool at the brand-new home of Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco.

With a $500,000 prize fund, 16 former US Open champions in the field and the world’s best players battling across six days, the 2026 US Open promises to be a historic week for Nineball.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the event.

2026 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

Dates: 25–30 August 2026
Venue: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Frisco, Texas
Tagline: Witness history in Frisco, Texas

PLAYERS
A world-class 256-player field featuring players from more than 40 nationalities will compete for the 2026 US Open title, with 124 American players making up almost half of the field.

World No.1 and defending champion Aloysius Yapp will return to Frisco looking to retain the title he won in 2025, while a host of former champions and major winners will challenge for glory.

Among the star names competing are:

Aloysius Yapp – World No.1 and defending champion
Shane Van Boening – Five-time US Open champion
Fedor Gorst – Former US Open champion
Carlo Biado – Reigning World Champion
Francisco Sánchez Ruiz – Former US Open champion
Joshua Filler – UK Open champion and former US Open champion
Earl Strickland – Five-time US Open champion

A total of 16 former US Open champions will compete in Frisco, with Shane Van Boening chasing a record-breaking sixth title after claiming the 2026 Florida Open earlier this month.

World Champion Carlo Biado will also be looking to continue his charge towards World No.1 status, while Yapp aims to defend his crown at the new home of the US Open.

FORMAT
The 2026 US Open will begin with a double-elimination format, giving players a second chance to fight their way through the opening stages.

The tournament will remain double elimination through to the Last 64, before switching to single elimination for the remainder of the championship.

The action will build across six days, with the Last 64, Last 32 and Last 16 taking place on Friday before the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals on Saturday.

Sunday will see the WNT NXTGEN Junior Final take place before the 2026 US Open Final, with the championship match broadcast live on ESPN2 in the USA.

PRIZE FUND
The 2026 US Open Pool Championship features a total prize fund of $500,000, with the champion taking home $100,000.

Prize Breakdown

Winner – $100,000
Runner-Up – $50,000
Semi-Finalists (x2) – $25,000
5th–8th – $15,000
9th–16th – $8,000
17th–32nd – $5,000
33rd–64th – $3,000

SPECTATOR TICKETS
Experience the 2026 US Open Pool Championship live at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Frisco, Texas from 25–30 August.

The weekend is sold out, with limited tickets still available from Tuesday through Friday.

Secure your tickets HERE.

SCHEDULE (CDT)

25–27 August: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM – Double elimination through to Last 64
28 August: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM – Last 64, Last 32 and Last 16
29 August: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM – Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals
30 August: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – WNT NXTGEN Junior Final
30 August: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM – US Open Final, LIVE ON ESPN2

LIVE SCORING
Follow every match, result and draw update throughout the 2026 US Open Pool Championship via the WNT Live Scoring platform.

Track every match here.

BROADCAST DETAILS
The 2026 US Open Pool Championship will deliver extensive worldwide coverage across ESPN+, WNT TV and international broadcast partners, with fans able to follow the action across multiple tables throughout the tournament.

Table One will be available worldwide on ESPN+, WNT TV and select international broadcast partners.
Tables Two and Three will stream exclusively on WNT TV.
Table Four will be available on the talkSPORT YouTube channel, Matchroom Pool YouTube channel and WNT TV.

The US Open Final will receive a major television showcase, with ESPN2 broadcasting the championship match live from 4:00–7:00 PM CDT / 5:00–8:00 PM ET on 30 August.

International Broadcast Partners (Table One) | 25–30 August

AMC Network/Prago – Hungary (Also available on WNT TV)
Canal+ – Poland
ESPN – USA & Latin America (Also available on WNT TV)
Fox Sports – Australia (Also available on WNT TV)
Nova – Czech Republic & Slovakia (Available on WNT TV)
Setanta Sports – Ukraine & CIS
Sportcast – Chinese Taipei (Also available on WNT TV)
Sky Network Television – New Zealand
talkSPORT – United Kingdom (Also available on WNT TV)
TV3 Group – Baltics (Also available on WNT TV)
Viaplay – Iceland (Also available on WNT TV)
Viaplay – Netherlands (Also available on WNT TV)
Viasat – Scandinavia (Also available on WNT TV)
WNT TV – All other territories

ESPN: A NEW ERA FOR THE US OPEN
The 2026 US Open Pool Championship will reach a major new television audience this August, with ESPN showcasing the tournament from Frisco, Texas.

The full tournament will be available to fans across the USA and Latin America on ESPN+, while the US Open Final will be broadcast live on ESPN2 from 4:00–7:00 PM CDT on 30 August.

The ESPN2 showcase will bring the conclusion of one of pool’s biggest events to an even wider audience, introducing the drama, personalities and elite competition of Nineball to new sports fans across the United States.

WHEN TO WATCH
The opening session begins at 11:00 AM CDT in Frisco. Check the guide below for the local start time in selected cities:

Frisco – 11 AM
Las Vegas – 9 AM
New York – 12 PM
London – 5 PM
Central Europe – 6 PM
Cape Town – 7 PM
Hanoi – 11 PM
Manila – 12 AM (next day)

WNT NXTGEN FRISCO
The next generation of Nineball talent will take centre stage alongside the US Open, with WNT NXTGEN Frisco running from 27–30 August at Embassy Suites.

A field of 32 juniors aged 16 and under will compete for the NXTGEN Frisco title and a share of a $10,000 prize fund, including a top prize of $2,500.

Running alongside the US Open, NXTGEN provides a platform for the next generation of players to compete on the same stage as the world’s best and highlights the pathway from grassroots Nineball to the professional game.

MERCHANDISE
Shop official World Nineball Tour and US Open merchandise, with event-specific merchandise available throughout the tournament.

Shop the full range HERE.

SOCIALS
Follow World Nineball Tour for all the latest event updates, behind-the-scenes action and exclusive content: