Francisco Sanchez Ruiz is a two-time US Open champion.
The Spaniard survived a dramatic hill-hill battle against Robbie Capito, winning 13–12 to capture the 2026 US Open Pool Championship in Frisco, Texas and take home the $100,000 top prize.
It was a fitting conclusion to the 49th edition of the US Open, with Sanchez Ruiz and Capito trading momentum throughout a final that eventually came down to one deciding rack.
Sanchez Ruiz Defeats Capito 13–12 in US Open Final
| 2026 US Open Final | Result |
|---|---|
| Champion | Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 🇪🇸 |
| Runner-Up | Robbie Capito 🇭🇰 |
| Final Score | 13–12 |
| Winner’s Prize | $100,000 |
| Runner-Up Prize | $50,000 |
| Venue | Embassy Suites, Frisco, Texas |
A Final That Went All the Way
There was little separating the two finalists from the beginning.
Sanchez Ruiz and Capito were tied at 4–4 before the Spaniard moved ahead 7–5. Capito responded by winning three of the next four racks to level the match at 8–8 before continuing his surge to take a 10–8 advantage.
With the championship beginning to tilt toward Capito, Sanchez Ruiz answered immediately and pulled the match back to 10–10.
The tension only increased from there as the final remained closely contested, eventually reaching 12–12 and sending the US Open title into a winner-take-all deciding rack.
The win gives the Spaniard his second US Open championship, adding the 2026 title to the crown he captured in 2022.
Four years after his first victory, Sanchez Ruiz once again leaves the US Open with the Barry Behrman Trophy and another major title on his résumé.
Capito Falls One Rack Short
For Robbie Capito, the defeat brings an outstanding tournament run to a painful end just one rack short of his first US Open championship.
Capito had already eliminated 2024 champion Fedor Gorst 10–8 in the quarterfinals before defeating Phoenix Open champion Aleksa Pecelj 10–5 in the semifinal.
He then pushed Sanchez Ruiz to the absolute limit in the championship match, at one stage moving two racks ahead at 10–8 before the Spaniard fought his way back.
Despite missing out on the title, another deep run at one of the biggest tournaments on the World Nineball Tour further establishes Capito among the game’s leading players.
A Memorable Showcase on ESPN2
The final also arrived on one of pool’s biggest television stages in recent years.
After the tournament returned to ESPN+ during the week, the championship match was broadcast live on ESPN2 in the United States, giving the US Open a national television platform for its conclusion.
Sanchez Ruiz and Capito delivered a final worthy of that stage, with multiple momentum swings before the championship was ultimately decided at 12–12.
US Open Final Also Settles Reyes Cup Qualification
The result carries significance beyond the US Open, with the tournament serving as the final ranking event for automatic qualification to the 2026 Reyes Cup.
Sanchez Ruiz’s championship run puts him in position as the highest-ranked European qualifier for Team Rest of the World, while Capito’s runner-up finish lifts him to the top Asian qualifying position for Team Asia.
The two US Open finalists will therefore head from opposite sides of the table in Texas to opposing teams when the Reyes Cup returns to Manila from October 15–18.
What You Need to Know
- Champion: Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 🇪🇸
- Runner-Up: Robbie Capito 🇭🇰
- Final Score: 13–12
- Champion’s Prize: $100,000
- Runner-Up Prize: $50,000
- Sanchez Ruiz: Now a two-time US Open champion after also winning in 2022
- Reyes Cup: Sanchez Ruiz and Capito emerge from the US Open in the automatic qualifying positions for Team Rest of the World and Team Asia respectively