The 2026 Las Vegas Men’s and Women’s Open concluded with two decisive performances in 10-ball pool. The events were held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas as part of the Pro Billiard Series calendar during CSI Expo week.
In the men’s division, Joshua Filler defeated Fedor Gorst in a three-set final. In the women’s division, Tzu-Chien Wei overcame Chezka Centeno in straight sets. Both finals were played under a best-of-three sets format, with each set a race to four racks.
Men’s Final: Filler Overcomes Gorst After First Set Loss
Joshua Filler def. Fedor Gorst
2–1 in sets (3–4, 4–0, 4–0)
The match opened with a competitive first set. Gorst edged Filler 4–3, taking advantage of small openings and controlling the pace in key racks. However, from the second set onward, the momentum shifted completely.
Filler orchestrated a masterclass, winning 8 consecutive racks to sweep both remaining sets 4–0. This clinical run closed the match without allowing Gorst back to the table for a recovery opportunity.
The Turning Point
The shift occurred between the first and second sets. After losing the opener by a single rack, Filler adjusted his break and shot selection. Winning eight straight racks in a race-to-four format is exceptionally rare at the championship level, as the short set structure leaves almost zero room for error.
Tactical Notes
- Cue Ball Control: Filler maintained tight control and avoided low-percentage attempts.
- Rhythm: Gorst stayed competitive early but struggled to regain visits once Filler established flow.
Women’s Final: Wei Wins Two Hill-Hill Sets
Tzu-Chien Wei def. Chezka Centeno
2–0 in sets (4–3, 4–3)
Unlike the men’s final, the women’s match was a nail-biter from start to finish. Both sets reached 3–3 before being decided in the final rack. In the first set, Wei built a 3–1 lead before Centeno fought back to force a decider. A well-placed safety from Wei created the opening needed to run out the final rack.
The second set followed a nearly identical pattern. Centeno led early, but Wei leveled the score. At 3–3, Wei again executed under pressure to secure the championship.
The Turning Point
The key moments came down to “hill-hill” composure. Wei showed superior decision-making in safety exchanges and controlled her final runouts. While Centeno displayed incredible resilience, she was unable to convert the final rack in either set.
Paths to the Title: By the Numbers
Both champions navigated deep, high-caliber fields to reach the winner’s circle:
- Men’s Open: Featured a 128-player field.
- Women’s Open: Featured a 64-player field.
Paths to the Finals and Head-to-Head Context
The match-by-match paths below use the official scoring logs maintained via CueScore (opponents and sets result), supplemented by published set-score breakdowns where available.
Men’s Finalists: Round-by-Round
| Date (local) | Filler Path | Gorst Path |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 18 | def. Billy Thorpe 2–1 | def. Alan Rolon 2–0; def. Gregory Hogue 2–0 |
| Feb 19 | def. George Hatjidakis 2–0 | def. Wiktor Zieliński 2–0 |
| Feb 20 | def. Juan Carlos Expósito 2–0 | def. Huan Fu 2–0 |
| Feb 21 | def. Chris Robinson-Reinhold 2–0 | def. Naoyuki Oi 2–1 |
| Feb 22 | def. Carlo Biado 2–0; def. Shane Van Boening 2–1 | def. Daniel Macioł 2–0 |
| Feb 23 | def. Max Lechner 2–0; def. Gorst 2–1 | def. Wojciech Szewczyk 2–0; lost to Filler 1–2 |
Women’s Finalists: Round-by-Round
| Date (local) | Wei Path | Centeno Path |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 19 | def. Kennedy Meyman 2–0 | def. Eva Myers 2–0 |
| Feb 20 | def. Onyee Ng 2–1 | def. Ashley Benoit 2–0 |
| Feb 21 | def. Savannah Easton 2–0 | def. Chihiro Kawahara 2–1 |
| Feb 22 | def. Meng-Hsia Hung 2–0; def. Chieh-Yu Chou 2–1 | def. Meyman 2–0; def. Jasmin Ouschan 2–1 |
| Feb 23 | def. Kristina Tkach 2–1; def. Centeno 2–0 | def. Kristina Zlateva 2–0; lost to Wei 0–2 |
Filler advanced through multiple grueling elimination rounds before facing Gorst. Wei recorded an unbeaten run in the knockout stages, including a semifinal victory over a former world champion.
What the Results Mean for 2026
The Las Vegas Open serves as an early-season benchmark on the Pro Billiard Series calendar. For Filler, the win reinforces his position as one of the sport’s most consistent big-event performers, especially in high-pressure short formats.
For Wei, the victory strengthens her standing in international women’s pool. Winning two pressure-filled sets against a former world champion like Centeno demonstrates a level of composure that will make her a favorite for the remainder of the 2026 season.