Fedor Gorst: A Team Title In Manila, An American Ambition In Orlando
Fresh from Reyes Cup success alongside Shane Van Boening, Fedor Gorst returns to the Mosconi Cup seeking a victory he has experienced in European colours but is still chasing with Team USA.
Fedor Gorst had a simple explanation for the point he and Shane Van Boening secured on the opening night of the Reyes Cup.
“I think experience played a big part.”
At Makati Coliseum, the American pair had beaten AJ Manas and Albert Januarta 5–1 to bring Rest of the World level at 2–2. Gorst credited the understanding they brought from the Mosconi Cup, where both had learned what it takes to compete with a teammate beside them.
Three days later, they were celebrating a team title. Rest of the World’s 11–4 victory ended Asia’s two-year hold on the trophy.
Now Gorst’s attention turns to another team challenge. His return to USA’s Mosconi Cup side brings the opportunity to pursue a first American victory in a competition that has already taken him across both sides of the rivalry.
A winner before the switch
Gorst’s Mosconi Cup story began with Europe in 2020, a year after he won his first world nineball title.
On the second day in Coventry, the debutant beat Corey Deuel 5–2 as Europe swept all five matches to move 8–2 ahead. The week ended with Gorst part of the winning team.
His place in the contest changed in 2023. Having moved to the United States the previous year and been granted permanent residency, he began representing USA across World Nineball Tour events and qualified for the American Mosconi Cup team.
At the time, he spoke about the welcome he had received and the support during his run to the US Open final.
“I felt like I was truly home,” Gorst said when the change was announced.
The next time he entered the Mosconi Cup arena, at Alexandra Palace that December, players who had once been teammates were on the other side.
Individual honours, a collective challenge
Gorst’s standing in the individual game has continued to grow. In 2024, he won the World Pool Masters, a second World Pool Championship and the US Open.
Those titles demonstrated his ability to come through the sport’s biggest individual contests. The Mosconi Cup asks him to apply that ability within a team, where a singles win or a successful doubles partnership contributes to the same target.
His American appearances in 2023, 2024 and 2025 all ended in European victories. He returns this year still seeking his first Mosconi Cup title in USA colours.
Experience put to work in Manila
October offered a recent example of Gorst helping a team turn its opportunity into a trophy.
Beyond the opening-night partnership with Van Boening, he delivered a commanding singles performance on day three against Januarta. The Indonesian won the first rack; Gorst took the next five to complete a 5–1 victory.
“I think it came down to my experience again,” he said afterwards.
Rest of the World finished that evening 9–4 ahead and completed the job the following day. Gorst and Van Boening left Makati with a shared winning experience to bring into the American camp.
The Mosconi Cup presents a different opposition and a fresh test, but their contribution in Manila gives USA supporters a recent example of the pair succeeding together under team pressure.
The next challenge on home soil
Johan Ruijsink returns as USA captain for the 2026 Mosconi Cup, having led the Americans to their most recent victories in 2018 and 2019. Europe have won all six editions since.
For Gorst, Orlando offers the chance to help end that sequence. He has celebrated this trophy with Europe and, more recently, helped Rest of the World win in the Philippines. An American Mosconi Cup victory remains the next team achievement to pursue.
The 2026 Mosconi Cup takes place from 27–30 November at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Book your Mosconi Cup tickets and be there as Team USA attempt to reclaim the trophy on home soil.
