Players
Efren 'Bata' Reyes: The Legend Behind the Cup's Name
Every October the world's best gather in Manila to compete for a trophy that carries one man's name — the only player alive who could carry it.
Billiard News — Pool and cue sports news
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Players
Carlo Biado: The Filipino World Champion Comes Home to Manila
Carlo Biado, the reigning world nine-ball champion, led Team Asia at the 2026 Reyes Cup in Manila. A look at the career of the two-time world champion.
Learn
How to Test Your Pool Skills and Build a Better Practice Plan
Use Billiard University's playing tests to assess your pool skills, identify weak areas, and give each practice session a clear purpose.
Players
Duong Quoc Hoang: Vietnam's Nine-Ball Pioneer Comes Home to Ho Chi Minh City
From racking balls at a Saigon pool hall to Vietnam's first WNT champion — Duong Quoc Hoang returns home for the Universal Open in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tournaments
Universal Open Ho Chi Minh Preview: No. 1 Duel, Mosconi Stakes and a Homecoming
WNT's first stop in Ho Chi Minh City, Nov 11-15: Yapp vs Biado for world No. 1, Chua's hot hand, Szolnoki's Mosconi push and Vietnam's home hopes.
Tournaments
Cousins Beats Styer in Hill-Hill Final to Win National Open at Grand Finals
Tom Cousins beat Tyler Styer 6-5 in a hill-hill final to win the National Open at the Ultimate Pool USA Grand Finals in Cherokee, closing out the week's last event.
Learn
BU Ratings Explained: Exam Scores to A–D Player Levels
Your Billiard University score is the sum of two playing-ability exams. Here is how the 0–200 scale maps to pro, advanced and traditional A–D ratings.
Tournaments
Rack Of Ages Win 8-Ball Teams Title and $112,000 at Grand Finals
Rack Of Ages beat Amigos 25-17 in an overnight final to win the 8-Ball Teams title and $112,000 at the Ultimate Pool USA Grand Finals in Cherokee.
TournamentsSee more
Tournaments
Philippines Open Opens Monday With Biado Leading the Home Charge
The 2026 Philippines Open runs October 20-24 at Gateway Mall in Quezon City, with Carlo Biado and David Alcaide headlining a 128-player field.
Tournaments
Rest of the World Ends Asia's Reign With an 11-4 Reyes Cup Rout
Team Rest of the World won its first Reyes Cup, beating Team Asia 11-4 at Makati Coliseum behind MVP Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.
Tournaments
Universal Open Ho Chi Minh Preview: No. 1 Duel, Mosconi Stakes and a Homecoming
WNT's first stop in Ho Chi Minh City, Nov 11-15: Yapp vs Biado for world No. 1, Chua's hot hand, Szolnoki's Mosconi push and Vietnam's home hopes.
Tournaments
Cousins Beats Styer in Hill-Hill Final to Win National Open at Grand Finals
Tom Cousins beat Tyler Styer 6-5 in a hill-hill final to win the National Open at the Ultimate Pool USA Grand Finals in Cherokee, closing out the week's last event.
Tournaments
Rack Of Ages Win 8-Ball Teams Title and $112,000 at Grand Finals
Rack Of Ages beat Amigos 25-17 in an overnight final to win the 8-Ball Teams title and $112,000 at the Ultimate Pool USA Grand Finals in Cherokee.
Tournaments
8-Ball Teams Final Tonight: $112,000 on the Line at Grand Finals
The $112,000 8-Ball Teams final goes at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at the Grand Finals in Cherokee — as of noon, Amigos and How You Like Me Now were level at 8-8 in the first semi.
Tournaments
Armstrong All-Stars Win 10-Ball Teams Title at Grand Finals
Armstrong All-Stars beat In The Stroke Of Time 23-7 to win the 10-Ball Teams title at the Ultimate Pool USA Grand Finals, rallying from a 9-3 semifinal deficit on the way.
Tournaments
Husband-and-Wife Styers Win National Pairs at Grand Finals
Tyler Styer and Margaret Fefilova-Styer beat Van Boening and Melling 6-2 to win the National Pairs; two more Grand Finals finals rolled past midnight at Harrah's Cherokee.
Tournaments
8-Ball Teams Final Set for Saturday Night as Grand Finals Hit Championship Weekend
The $112,000 8-Ball Teams final is set for 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Harrah's Cherokee; the 10-Ball Teams title and both pairs events are decided Friday, with the National Open running through Sunday.
Tournaments
Bustamante Beats Van Boening to Win National 10-Ball Showdown
Joven Bustamante beat Shane Van Boening 5-3 to win the National 10-Ball Showdown in Cherokee, capping a run through Mast, Morris and Styer.
Tournaments
National 10-Ball Showdown Takes the TV Table as National Open Begins
The National 10-Ball Showdown puts 16 invited players on the Cherokee TV table Thursday, while the sold-out 512-player National Open begins.
Tournaments
Oscar Dominguez Edges Tom Cousins to Win National Shootout
Oscar Dominguez beat Tom Cousins 5-4 in the National Shootout final at Harrah's Cherokee, capping a four-match run that also ended Waddingham's title defense.
Tournaments
Shootout Final Tonight: Van Boening, Cousins Into Last Eight
Shane Van Boening and Tom Cousins won their second-round matches to set the first quarter-final of the National Shootout, whose champion is decided at about 10:30 p.m. ET tonight in Cherokee.
Tournaments
Van Boening, Waddingham Roll as Styer, Archer Exit Shootout Opener
Shane Van Boening and Craig Waddingham cruised into the National Shootout last 16 while Tyler Styer and Johnny Archer fell in the first round in Cherokee.
Tournaments
Waddingham, Van Boening Headline National Shootout Field in Cherokee
The National Shootout begins Tuesday at Harrah's Cherokee: Waddingham defends, Archer gets a rematch, Van Boening and Woodward in the evening session.
PlayersSee more
Players
Efren 'Bata' Reyes: The Legend Behind the Cup's Name
Profile of Efren 'Bata' Reyes, the Filipino icon whose name is on the Reyes Cup and whose career defined modern pool.
Players
Shane Van Boening, the American Anchor, Gets His Manila Moment
Profile of Shane Van Boening, the five-time US Open champion who helped Team Rest of the World win its first Reyes Cup.
Players
Carlo Biado: The Filipino World Champion Comes Home to Manila
Carlo Biado, the reigning world nine-ball champion, led Team Asia at the 2026 Reyes Cup in Manila. A look at the career of the two-time world champion.
Players
Duong Quoc Hoang: Vietnam's Nine-Ball Pioneer Comes Home to Ho Chi Minh City
From racking balls at a Saigon pool hall to Vietnam's first WNT champion — Duong Quoc Hoang returns home for the Universal Open in Ho Chi Minh City.
GearSee more
Gear
Prather #08 vs #06: Two $1,800 Custom Cues Compared
At the same $1,800 price, the Prather #08 and #06 custom cues differ in shaft material, length, weight and design. Here is how the published specs compare.
Gear
Maple vs. Carbon Fiber: What a Shaft Material Actually Changes
What shaft materials change for real players: maple versus carbon fiber deflection, feel, upkeep and cost.
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Are Jump Shots Legal? WPA, APA & CSI Rules Explained
Learn when jump shots are legal in pool, how scoop shots differ, and which cues are permitted under current WPA, APA, and CSI rules.
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How to Test Your Pool Skills and Build a Better Practice Plan
Use Billiard University's playing tests to assess your pool skills, identify weak areas, and give each practice session a clear purpose.
-
BU Ratings Explained: Exam Scores to A–D Player Levels
Your Billiard University score is the sum of two playing-ability exams. Here is how the 0–200 scale maps to pro, advanced and traditional A–D ratings.
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How to Choose a Pool Instructor Using BU’s Three Designations
Understand Billiard University’s three instructor designations and use a practical checklist to choose the right pool coach for your goals.
FeaturesSee more
Features
How the Philippines Became the Heart of Nine-Ball
One country keeps supplying champions, filling arenas and now hosting the tour's biggest weeks. It did not happen by accident.