STRICKLAND BOWS OUT AS US OPEN BATTLE INTENSIFIES | 2026 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

Earl Strickland’s pursuit of a historic sixth US Open title came to an end on Day Two, while former US Open champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and World Champion Carlo Biado both faced huge scares to keep their campaigns alive as the battle for the Last 64 intensified in Frisco, Texas.

Marking the 49th edition of the historic tournament, the 2026 US Open Pool Championship takes place at Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas from 25–30 August, bringing six days of world-class nine-ball action as a 256-player field competes for the prestigious Barry Behrman US Open Trophy, with the tournament showcased live on ESPN+ and WNT TV.

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Strickland’s dream of a record sixth US Open title came to an end after two defeats on Day Two. The American was first sent into the Losers’ Bracket after a 9-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Chang Tzu Chien before facing fellow American Marc Vidal Claramunt with his tournament life on the line.

Strickland raced to a 7-4 lead, but Claramunt mounted a late comeback to overturn the deficit and seal the victory, bringing the five-time champion’s US Open campaign to an end.

Strickland said: “Looks like my luck ran out today, but that’s how it goes. Two losses is obviously not ideal, but I had fun.

“I showed yesterday that I can still compete with the best players in the world at 65, and I’m happy with that. That’s something I can take away from this week.”

Also dropping into the Losers’ Bracket on Day Two was former US Open champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, who suffered a shock 9-4 defeat to Serbia’s Ivica Putnik in his opening match of the day.

The Spaniard was left fighting for survival against Australia’s Vincent Goh and responded when it mattered, recovering from 6-4 down to secure an 8-6 victory and keep his US Open hopes alive.

Ruiz said: “It hasn’t been the best day. I didn’t play great and the luck wasn’t really on my side either. Sometimes the balls just don’t seem to roll your way, but that’s nine-ball.

“Hopefully a tough day like this can make me stronger later in the tournament. Tomorrow is a new day and I know I have to go all in. I didn’t get the results I wanted today, but I’ve got nothing to lose now.”

World Champion Carlo Biado was also forced to dig deep to keep his title hopes alive, overcoming Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan in a dramatic 9-8 comeback.

Biado trailed 8-4 before turning the match around, eventually taking the final rack to secure his place in the Last 64.

Biado said: “I’m really glad to get the win, but the truth is I played badly at the beginning. I struggled a lot with the break and had four dry breaks in that match, which gave him the lead.

“But I kept telling myself that if I got a chance, I had to take it. At 8-7 he had a chance to win but missed a tough shot, and from there I was able to get the victory. I was lucky, to say the least.

“Now I need to get back to the table and work on my break.”

Joining Biado in the Last 64 are former Reyes Cup teammates Aloysius Yapp and Duong Quoc Hoang, while last year’s Reyes Cup MVP AJ Manas also secured his place in the next stage after defeating Jayson Shaw 9-4.

Manas said: “I played well. I broke and ran at the start but missed the 9-ball to make it 5-0, which gave him a chance to get back into the match. He then made a few mistakes and I took advantage of them.

“I naturally play quite aggressively and that style seems to be working for me recently. It gives me confidence regardless of who I’m playing, so I just trust my game and keep going.

“I’m really excited to be here. This is my first US Open and I remember watching it when Carlo won. That was inspirational for me. I’ve dreamed about winning this tournament ever since, so it would be amazing to do it this week.”

Defending champion Aloysius Yapp also booked his place in the Last 64 after overcoming Mustafa Alnar 9-3, keeping his bid for back-to-back US Open titles firmly on track.

After defeating Eduard Bregu 9-7 today, five-time champion Shane Van Boening will return tomorrow with his place in the Last 64 on the line when he takes on Holland’s Marc Bijsterbosch.

Van Boening will be joined in the fight for survival by former champions Joshua Filler and Fedor Gorst, with the trio among the star names still hunting another US Open crown.

The battle continues tomorrow in Frisco as the double-elimination stage reaches its conclusion, with every match carrying the weight of elimination and a place in the Last 64 on the line. For some, it will be another step towards US Open glory; for others, the dream ends in Texas.

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