A Final To Remember: 2024 US Open Pool Championship
The 2024 US Open Pool Championship final was more than a battle for the trophy — it was a collision of legacies.
Fedor Gorst and Shane Van Boening entered the arena in Atlantic City knowing one of them would make history. For Gorst, it was the chance to become the first player ever to simultaneously hold the World Pool Championship, World Pool Masters, and US Open titles — a modern-day Triple Crown. For Van Boening, it was an opportunity to break his own record and claim an unprecedented sixth US Open title.
Their meeting on pool’s biggest stage felt inevitable. Just days earlier, the two Americans had waged war in a gruelling race-to-120 exhibition — a test of stamina and nerve that Van Boening edged. But both knew the true challenge lay ahead in Atlantic City.
Neither man had a smooth path to the final. Gorst’s run was marked by revenge — none sweeter than his victory over defending champion Ko Ping Chung in the Last 64, a rematch of the 2023 final. It was a crucial turning point that propelled the 24-year-old forward with renewed purpose. Van Boening, meanwhile, faced a gauntlet of threats, taking down Duong Quoc Hoang and Jayson Shaw before dispatching “The Killer” Joshua Filler in the semi-finals.
The semi-final line-up was historic in its own right — four former World Champions fighting for a place in the final. Gorst, the reigning world titleholder, produced a commanding 11–6 win over Niels Feijen. Van Boening followed with a composed 11–7 victory over Filler. And with that, the stage was set for an all-American final — the first since 1999.
Van Boening won the lag and opened the scoring, but a dry break in the second rack gave Gorst an early opportunity to counter. He did so with authority, building a 3–1 lead before a misfired 2–7 carom brought the match back level at 3–3. It set the tone for what became a relentless back-and-forth — a showcase of power, precision, and pressure.
Neither player could break free. Gorst’s aggression met Van Boening’s calculated control in a chess-like middle stretch. At 6–5 up, Van Boening looked to seize momentum after a failed safety from Gorst, only for the youngster to strike back when Van Boening stumbled on the 3-ball. The match became a high-wire act, with each mistake punished, every rack fought for.
Van Boening attempted to snooker Gorst on the 4-ball in rack 16, but the reigning World Champion pulled off a stunning jump shot to retake control. The pressure mounted. At 11–10, Van Boening scratched — a cruel twist of fate in such a finely poised battle. Gorst, unflinching, completed a clinical runout to reach the hill. Then, in the final rack, he cleared the table with the composure of a champion — finally sealing a 13–10 victory.
For Gorst, it was redemption and glory. After the heartbreak of 2023, he returned to Atlantic City with a mission — and delivered on it in the most emphatic way possible.
No player before him has ever held all three of pool’s most prestigious singles titles at once. At just 24, Gorst has done it — and in doing so, has established himself not only as the world’s best player right now, but as a generational talent reshaping the modern game.
As for Van Boening, his sixth US Open title may have slipped through his fingers, but his legacy remains untouchable. A six-time finalist and five-time champion, he continues to define American pool with his consistency, class, and championship pedigree.
Two greats. One unforgettable final. And a night that reminded us why the US Open remains nine-ball’s greatest stage.
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