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As the sun sets on the 2026 Roobet European Open Pool Championship, it is no exaggeration to say that this year’s event delivered thrills from start to finish.
There were plenty of upsets and dramatic wins, and ultimately, it was Moritz Neuhausen who claimed the crown, defeating Mario He in an epic final.
Moritz Neuhausen’s path to victory
Neuhausen’s win comes off the back of a huge 2025 for the 22-year-old German. He captured his first Matchroom Major title, whitewashing Francisco Sánchez Ruiz in the Premier League Pool Championship.
In the same year, Neuhausen not only made his Mosconi Cup debut but also secured the MVP title after Team Europe secured their sixth consecutive victory.
2026 has clearly started well for him, but his journey to claiming the Roobet European Open title here in Sarajevo was anything but smooth.
In the first round of the race to 10, the German fought off a scare against Menillo Guglielmo, winning 10-7. He then returned to his usual form, seeing off Albanian Xhulio Albrahimi 10–2, before surviving another close encounter on day 3, edging past Vietnamese player Phuong Nam Pham 10–9.
On day 4 Neuhausen eliminated “The Sniper” Robbie Capito 10–7 before eventually defeating fan favourite “The Martian” Duong Quoc Hoang 10-9 in an incredibly close match.
In the semi-final, which is played to 11, Neuhausen dominated, capitalising on surprising errors made by his opponent, Eklent Kaçi, aka “The Golden Eagle”. In the final rack Kaçi missed a sitter. Neuhausen didn’t blink twice. He stepped up to the table, seeing off the final three balls to calmly book his place in the final.
The final
In the final Neuhausen faced off against Mario “The Panda” He.
The atmosphere on Sunday night was electric and the arena was packed. So much was on the line. Both players had the chance to win their first European Open title and write their names in the history books.
The match began with He breaking first. Moments later it was 7–2 to “The Panda,” and Neuhausen had barely had an opportunity to play. However, an error from He gave Neuhausen the chance to work his magic. The German then went on a stunning run, leaving “The Panda” without a shot for six racks. The rest of the match was flawless pool from Neuhausen, which showed why he is one of the most exciting talents in nineball at the moment.
At 12–7 down He missed a tough shot and handed the German a chance. The crowd knew there and then that “The Panda” had given away the rack, the match and the title. Neuhausen stepped up, cleared up, and jumped up onto the table as the newly crowned European Open Pool Champion.
2026 Roobet European Open Pool Championship
This year’s European Open Pool Championship proved to be the biggest and most successful edition yet. It featured many incredible partners, led by chief commercial sponsor Roobet, the online crypto casino, whose partnership helped fuel the electric atmosphere while bringing the action to their global audience.
Packed with drama and world-class matches, the event delivered everything fans could have hoped for. And while champion Moritz Neuhausen wasn’t perfect throughout the tournament, he delivered when it mattered most, securing a fully deserved title.
With Roobet already confirmed as sponsor for next year’s European Open Pool Championship, the future of the event looks brighter than ever. If this year’s tournament is anything to go by, fans can expect a serious show in 2027.
