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S'porean pool player wins US Open championship, now World No. 2
"To finally lift the US Open is unbelievable."
August 26, 2025, 12:49 PM
On Aug. 23, professional pool player Aloysius Yapp defeated American pool player Fedor Gors and clinched the coveted United States Open Crown at the U.S. Open Pool Championship held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Gorst is the world’s number 1 pool player in the Nineball rankings.
Now World No. 2 in Nineball
Yapp previously claimed both the United Kingdom Open and the Florida Open in May and August respectively.
According to organiser Matchroom Pool, with his win in the U.S. open, Yapp becomes the first ever player to win three consecutive Matchroom majors.
This makes him the World No. 2 in the rankings, right behind Gorst.
"I've wanted this title for so many years, and there were times I wondered if it would ever happen. To finally lift the U.S. open is unbelievable."
Yapp also made history in 2024, where he became the first Asian player to qualify for the Reyes Cup, which is a tournament contested between teams representing Asia and Rest of the World, and also claimed the first ever Reyes Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
The next Reyes Cup is set to take place from Oct. 15 to Oct. 18 in Manila, Philippines.
Yapp beat Gorst 13-11 in the finals
The U.S. Open final between Yapp and Gorst was a tense, nail-biting battle that left everyone at the edge of their seats.
At the start of the match, Yapp made a mistake, which Gorst capitalised on.
However, Yapp quickly regained his composure and surged ahead 10-5 with clinical cueing and sharp safety play.
Despite this, Gorst refused to back down and made a fierce comeback, tying the game at 10-10.
At 11-11, both players missed key shots, but Gorst's mistake allowed Yapp to clear the table, seal his victory and achieve his long-awaited U.S. Open dream.
In a post on Instagram, Gorst was gracious in his defeat, admitting that "[his] nerves got the best of [him]".
"I didn't always handle my emotions the right way. That's on me, and I take full responsibility."
Paid tribute to late Taiwanese player Chang Jung Lin
According to Matchroom Pool, after his win, Yapp also took the opportunity to pay tribute to his friend, late Taiwanese player Chang Jung Lin.
The 40-year-old passed away suddenly in July this year, while competing in the Indonesia Open in Jakarta.
"There are so many people I want to dedicate this title to, but most of all I want to give it to my friend, Chang Jung Lin, who recently passed away," Yapp said.
"He taught me so much throughout my life, and I truly believe I wouldn't be here today without his guidance. This one is for you, my friend."
Top photos via @matchroompool/Instagram
