The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships is an annual professional men's nine-ball pool tournament that began in its current form in 1976, although previous versions of a "U.S. Open Nine-ball Tournament" had been held as early as 1970. 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. The Women's U.S. Open is a separate event, sanctioned by the Women's Professional Billiard Association.
History
In its first 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. The tournament is a male-only event, though it is otherwise a true "open" tournament, in that the only requirement is the payment of the entry fee, which was $1000 in 2015. The total purse for the tournament at that time was $200,000, where the winner was awarded $40,000. with Rob Sykora of Billiard Club Network at the 2004 event. The tournament's original venue was Q-Master Billiardspool hall, in Norfolk, Virginia, which hosted the event, other than one year, until 1988. From 1997 to 2011, the U.S. Open Men's Division was held at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. Q-Masters is still involved in the tournament. 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 Sport, who moved it to Las Vegas. ref name="USO9 2009">
Women's tournament
Unlike the men's tournament, the U.S. Open is not a true "open" event. Each female player must qualify through the Women's Professional Billiard Association, the professional women's billiards tour based in the United States, in order to compete in this annual event.
Format
The tournament format is essentially double-elimination 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. At the U.S. Open, matches are played in 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 games.
Past champions
Men
Records
Earl Strickland and Shane Van Boening, both of the U.S., share the record for winning the Men's U.S. Open the most times: five. Strickland in 1984, 1987, 1993, 1997, and 2000. Van Boening in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Van Boening holds the record for the most consecutive wins: three.
Van Boening is the winner of the largest first-place prize ever offered at the event, $50,000, in 2007. Van Boening remained undefeated in the field of 233 players, beating Ronato Alcano 13-10 in the final.
The oldest pool player to ever win the men's tournament to date is Mike Lebrón of Puerto Rico, 54 years old at the time of his victory. The youngest are Mike Sigel of the U.S., and Joshua Filler of Germany, both aged 21.
