Hohmann Declines Team USA Spot as Mosconi Cup Race Closes

Thorsten Hohmann has stepped aside from Team USA for the 2026 Mosconi Cup, declining the automatic berth he earned at the Philippines Open and leaving captain Johan Ruijsink with a roster question less than five weeks before Orlando.

What Hohmann said

In a Facebook statement Saturday, the 47-year-old asked fans to hear the decision from him directly:

"I'm proud to have earned my place. Playing alongside Shane would be a dream. But I also have to be honest about my game. At times in practice, I feel I'm playing as well as ever. Under tournament pressure, I haven't found that same freedom and consistency."

He added that "several new business ventures" have demanded considerable time and energy, and stressed the decision covers this year's Cup only: "My pride in representing the United States remains unchanged."

Born in Fulda, Germany, Hohmann has lived in the United States for more than two decades and became a US citizen last year. The two-time world champion (2003 and 2013) played three Mosconi Cups for Europe between 2003 and 2009 without lifting the trophy; his run in Manila would have given him an American debut in the event.

The $180 race he walked away from

Manila was the last event on the Mosconi Cup ranking list, and per Rack 9's tally the American standings behind Shane Van Boening — already qualified — ended remarkably tight:

2. Thorsten Hohmann: $27,550 (last 16 in Manila)
3. Tyler Styer: $27,470 (did not play)
4. Fedor Gorst: $27,370 (last 16)

Hohmann's $2,500 last-16 cheque in Manila put him $80 clear of Styer, with Fedor Gorst just $100 further back after a 10-9 loss to Jayson Shaw. With Hohmann out, Styer is locked in; whether the vacant slot drops down to Gorst or becomes a third captain's pick is for Team USA to decide — no announcement has been made.

Europe's three are set

There is no drama on the other side. Francisco Sánchez Ruiz — the standout of the Rest of the World's Reyes Cup rout — and Joshua Filler qualified before Manila, and Aleksa Pecelj clinched the third automatic spot during the week for what will be his Mosconi Cup debut.

What is still open

Wildcards: each captain adds two players. Ruijsink and Europe's Niels Feijen — an eight-time Cup winner and record four-time MVP taking his first turn in the captain's chair — have named none yet.
The stakes: Europe has won six straight, including an 11-3 result in London last year. The USA's last win came in 2019, 11-8 in Las Vegas, the second of back-to-back triumphs masterminded by Ruijsink, who returns as non-playing captain.
The details: five players per side; team, doubles and singles matches race to 5 for one point each, first team to 11. November 27-30 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. ESPN+ carries every session in the US alongside WNT TV.

Sources: Thorsten Hohmann via Facebook, AZBilliards, Absolute Pool, Rack 9 Pool, World Nineball Tour.