--- title: "Hohmann Declines Team USA Spot as Mosconi Cup Race Closes" url: https://billiardnews.net/hohmann-declines-team-usa-spot-as-mosconi-cup-race-closes published: 2026-10-25T21:32:50Z updated: 2026-10-25T21:32:50Z summary: "Thorsten Hohmann gave up his automatic Team USA berth days after earning it in Manila, leaving captain Johan Ruijsink a hole to fill before Orlando." author: "BilliardNews Editorial" categories: ["Tournaments"] tags: ["Mosconi Cup", "Nine-ball", "Shane Van Boening", "USA", "World Nineball Tour"] lang: en --- # Hohmann Declines Team USA Spot as Mosconi Cup Race Closes *The German-born American qualified second on the US list in Manila, then asked fans to hear the decision from him: his tournament game isn't where it needs to be.* 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](/players/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](/players/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](/rest-of-the-world-ends-asia-s-reign-with-an-11-4-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. Read next: [Chua Tops Raga 11-9 to Win All-Filipino Philippines Open Final](/chua-tops-raga-11-9-to-win-all-filipino-philippines-open-final) · [Rest of the World Ends Asia's Reign With an 11-4 Reyes Cup Rout](/rest-of-the-world-ends-asia-s-reign-with-an-11-4-reyes-cup-rout) *Sources: Thorsten Hohmann via Facebook, AZBilliards, Absolute Pool, Rack 9 Pool, World Nineball Tour.*