KAÇI AND SOUTO STRIKE GOLD ON U.S. SOIL | WNT RANKING

Two Europeans. Two titles.

Eklent Kaçi and Jonas Souto have claimed back-to-back WNT Ranking event victories in the United States, with Kaçi taking the 2025 McDermott Open crown and Souto clinching the Seattle 9-Ball Open—both crucial results that bolster their positions on the World Nineball Tour.

Jonas Souto was the first to strike, earning his second WNT Ranking title after a standout performance in Seattle at the end of last month. The young Spaniard, who previously won the Mexico Open in 2024, went undefeated through a tough 64-player field to reach the final, where he faced off against 2024 Mosconi Cup Team USA captain Skyler Woodward. The pair battled in a tense race-to-13 showdown that went all the way to a hill-hill decider. When Woodward produced a dry break in the final rack, Souto seized the moment—clearing the table with clinical precision to claim his first win of the 2025 season.

Not long after, Eklent Kaçi added his name to the 2025 winner’s list, bouncing back from an early exit in the recent Premier League Pool to dominate the McDermott Open in Connecticut. The Albanian star also went unbeaten on his way to the title, and in the final, he faced his Mosconi Cup teammate Francisco Sánchez Ruiz. Kaçi delivered a commanding performance against El Ferrari, securing a 13-7 win and securing his first WNT title since the 2023 UK Open Pool Championship.

Kaçi’s win sees him climb back into second place on the WNT Rankings, reaffirming his status as one of the game’s top contenders. Souto’s Seattle success moves him from 23rd to 18th, edging closer to the top 10 and continuing his steady rise in the ranks.

Next on the World Nineball Tour is the Super Billiards Expo | Diamond Open Nineball Professional Players Championship, taking place in Philadelphia from 10–13 April. Fresh off his Seattle triumph, Jonas Souto will be looking to double up on U.S. soil, joining a star-studded field that includes WNT No.1 Fedor Gorst, Francisco Sánchez Ruiz, Jayson Shaw, Skyler Woodward, Niels Feijen, and more—all in pursuit of the next WNT title of 2025.

The next Matchroom Major, the UK Open Pool Championship, follows shortly after, taking place from 6–11 May in Telford. Defending champion and Premier League Pool semi-finalist Robbie Capito will return to face a 256-player field, looking to retain his title for the first time. Purchase your spectator tickets for the 2025 UK Open Pool Championship here.

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