Quick Facts
| Tournament | US Open Pool Championship 2022 |
| Sport | 9-Ball Pool (American Pool) |
| Venue | Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
The US Open Pool Championship is one of the most storied titles in American professional pool, a 9-ball event that draws the world’s elite players to compete for what many consider the sport’s most prestigious crown. This page covers the 2022 edition of that tournament, not any other event that shares a similar name in a different sport.
Tournament Recap
The 2022 US Open Pool Championship returned to Caesars Atlantic City, continuing its long association with the New Jersey venue that has become synonymous with the event. The tournament kept its familiar double-elimination format for the bulk of the field, meaning players had to suffer two defeats before being sent home, which always produces dramatic late-bracket comebacks and keeps the atmosphere crackling well into the final days. With prize money that remains among the most competitive in American pool, the 2022 edition attracted a deep international field, with Filipino, European, and Taiwanese stars mixing it up alongside the best American talent.
The field in 2022 was as competitive as anyone following the game could have expected. Shane Van Boening, the dominant American force in 9-ball over the past decade and a half, was naturally among the contenders to watch, as he almost always is at this event. International challengers from the Philippines and Taiwan pushed hard through the bracket, and the later rounds featured the kind of high-pressure safety exchanges and long-distance pot-making that make elite 9-ball such a compelling watch for fans who know the game. The race-to-13 format in the later rounds put a premium on both shot-making and mental resilience.
I have to be straight with you here: I am not confident enough in the specific final result, including the champion, runner-up, and final score, for the 2022 edition to state those details as fact. Confusing one year’s winner with another at a tournament this competitive would be a disservice to the players and to you as a reader. The Quick Facts table above reflects only what I can confirm with genuine confidence. For the confirmed champion and full results from the 2022 draw, the US Open Pool Championship main page is the right place to check, and official sources such as Accu-Stats and the Billiard Congress of America will have the complete bracket on record.
What is not in doubt is the tournament’s standing in the calendar. The US Open consistently delivers some of the most watched pool content of any given year, partly because of the venue’s atmosphere and partly because the format is genuinely brutal. A player can lose a match on the winner’s side, battle back through the one-loss side, and still win the whole thing, and that possibility keeps every match meaningful. The 2022 edition was no exception in that regard. Fans who attended or watched the streams reported a strong field and competitive matches throughout the bracket, which is exactly what you expect from a tournament with this history behind it.
Format and Structure
The US Open uses a double-elimination bracket structure that has become a signature of the event. Early rounds are typically races to a lower number of balls, with the race length increasing as players progress toward the final. By the time the final is reached, the format demands sustained excellence over a long session, testing both physical endurance and the ability to execute under pressure with everything on the line. The cue ball control required at this level is exceptional, and players who want to go deep in the draw need a well-tuned game across all areas, from the break shot through safety play and into the clutch potting that decides close racks. If you are thinking about stepping up your own equipment ahead of watching or playing at events like this, it is worth reading through a pool cues buyer guide to understand what separates a tournament-grade shaft from an entry-level option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What format does the US Open Pool Championship use?
The tournament uses a double-elimination format, meaning players must lose twice before being eliminated. Race lengths increase as the event progresses, with the final stages typically contested as a race to 13 or higher.
Where was the 2022 US Open Pool Championship held?
The 2022 edition was held at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which has been the home venue for the tournament for a number of years and provides a well-suited setting for the scale of the event.
Who organizes the US Open Pool Championship?
The tournament is organized in association with the Billiard Congress of America and has historically been supported by Accu-Stats Video Productions, which has been responsible for filming and distributing match coverage to fans around the world.
Is the US Open Pool Championship open to international players?
Yes, the field is international. Players from the Philippines, Taiwan, Europe, and other regions compete alongside American professionals, making it one of the most globally representative events on the American pool calendar each year.
What game is played at the US Open Pool Championship?
The US Open Pool Championship is a 9-ball pool event. Players must pocket the balls in numerical order, with the player legally pocketing the 9-ball winning the rack, and matches are decided over a predetermined race to a set number of racks.