SOUTO AVENGES UK OPEN FINAL DEFEAT AS SHAW, FILLER AND SZEWCZYK REACH SEMI-FINALS | 2026 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP

Jonas Souto gained sweet revenge over defending champion Aloysius Yapp to book his place in the semi-finals of the 2026 UK Open Pool Championship, joining former champion Joshua Filler, home favourite Jayson Shaw, and Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk in the final four.

The fifth edition of the UK Open Pool Championship continues at the Brentwood Centre from 26–31 May, delivering six days of world-class nine-ball action and drama on the World Nineball Tour as the sport’s biggest stars battle it out for one of the calendar’s most prestigious Open titles.

FULL BRACKET
WATCH THE ACTION ON WNT TV

Jonas Souto’s march into the semi-finals began with a commanding 10-4 victory over reigning Hanoi Open champion Pijus Labutis before setting up a rematch of last year’s UK Open final against defending champion Aloysius Yapp.

Twelve months ago, it was Yapp who emerged victorious to lift his maiden UK Open title. This time, however, Souto turned the tables, producing a composed performance to claim a 10-8 victory and end the Singaporean’s title defence.

Souto said: “Two very good wins today and I’m really happy with how I played. Everyone knows how strong Aloysius is. He proved that again this week and of course he beat me in last year’s final, so this win means a lot.”

“I thought I stayed patient and took my opportunities when they came. Against players like him, that’s what you have to do. I have so much respect for Aloysius. He’s one of the toughest competitors in our sport.”

“I feel confident heading into tomorrow. Sometimes you need things to go your way and today I felt like I had that little bit of luck when I needed it. Now I just want to keep doing my job, trust my game, and see where it takes me.”

Also returning to the UK Open semi-finals is former champion Joshua Filler, who continued his pursuit of a second UK Open crown with victories over Mario He and former World Champion Niels Feijen.

The German once again showcased his trademark resilience and firepower to move within two wins of reclaiming one of the sport’s most iconic titles.

Filler said: “I always enjoy coming to the UK Open because I’ve had some great memories here. Every year is different, but I try to approach every match with complete focus.”

“I was happy with my performances today. My break wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be, so I had to rely on my potting and overall game. Against someone like Niels, you know you’re going to get tested. He’s a great champion and I’m pleased with how I handled the match.”

“Making another UK Open semi-final feels great, but the job isn’t finished yet.”

Standing between Filler and a place in the final is home favourite Jayson Shaw, who continued his historic run by becoming the first British player ever to reach the UK Open semi-finals.

Shaw overcame fellow Brit Dean Shields before defeating former Mosconi Cup teammate David Alcaide to keep hopes alive of a first home winner in tournament history.

Shaw said: “David is always a tough opponent and he’s a good friend of mine, so it’s never an easy match. He played really well early on, but I managed to stay patient and capitalise when my opportunity came.”

“My break has been working really well this week and that’s a huge advantage. If you’re consistently making balls and controlling the cue ball, it makes life a lot easier.”

“Josh is one of the best players in the world and we’ve had some great battles over the years. I’m looking forward to it. If I continue playing the way I have been this week, I’ll give myself every chance.”

Completing the semi-final line-up is Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk, who moved within touching distance of a maiden Matchroom Major title after victories over former UK Open champion Eklent Kaçi and Japan’s Naoyuki Oi.

The Pole continued his impressive run through the field and now stands just two matches away from the biggest title of his career.

Szewczyk said: “I’m thrilled to be back in a semi-final. The last time I reached this stage at a Matchroom Major was the World Championship, so it’s a great feeling.”

“I knew I had difficult matches today. Eklent and Naoyuki are both world-class players, so to beat them back-to-back gives me a lot of confidence.”

“I’ve worked hard for moments like this. To win my first Open title would mean everything, but there is still a lot of work left to do.”

With defending champion Aloysius Yapp now out of the tournament, a new UK Open champion will be crowned on finals day. Will Souto complete his redemption story, can Filler reclaim the title, will Shaw make history on home soil, or can Szewczyk capture the first major crown of his career? By the end of tomorrow, only one player will be left standing with the iconic UK Open trophy in hand.

For the full draw and live scoring, visit www.wntlivescores.com.

For all the latest updates, follow Matchroom Pool on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.