Earl Strickland rolled back the years on the opening day of the 2026 US Open Pool Championship, defeating Eklent Kaçi in a dramatic hill-hill battle, while defending champion Aloysius Yapp, Shane Van Boening and World Champion Carlo Biado all safely progressed through the opening stage in Frisco, Texas.

The 2026 US Open Pool Championship final is set for a major television showcase this August, with ESPN2 broadcasting the climax of the championship live on 30 August. The full tournament will also be available to fans across the USA and Latin America on ESPN+ from Frisco, Texas.