World Champion Fedor Gorst and five-time US Open Champion Shane Van Boening are set to clash in a historic all-American final at the 2024 US Open Championship, with both cueists on the brink of making history.
The 47th edition of this prestigious tournament returns to Harrah’s Resort for the fourth consecutive year, supported by Caesars Entertainment, the Atlantic City Sports Commission, and broadcasters Sky Sports and DAZN.
In a tense semi-final, World Champion Fedor Gorst faced 2014 World Champion Niels Feijen, with both players vying for their first US Open title. Feijen started strong, winning the lag and taking an early 2-0 lead. However, a missed 3-ball cut in the third rack opened the door for Gorst, who capitalised by running the racks to seize a 5-2 lead.
The match saw a back-and-forth exchange, with Feijen narrowing the gap through strategic safety play and by capitalising on Gorst’s errors. Yet, fortune favoured Gorst as a golden break brought him to the hill. The World Champion then cleared the table to secure an 11-6 victory, booking his place in the US Open final for the second time.
©Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Meanwhile, Shane Van Boening showcased his experience and skill against Joshua Filler. Winning the lag, Van Boening quickly established a lead, though Filler remained close on his heels. A scratch on the break in the fourth rack handed Filler an opportunity, but he squandered it by missing a crucial 6-ball, allowing Van Boening to regain control.
The five-time champion surged ahead to 8-3, but a foul in the twelfth rack and a scratch in fifteenth rack allowed Filler to close the gap further. The match intensified as the pair engaged in a safety battle on the 2-ball in the seventeenth rack, which Van Boening ultimately won, regaining command of the table. The South Dakota Kid then secured the final racks, defeating Filler 11-7, and moving one step closer to his dream of a record-breaking sixth US Open title.
The final showdown will see World Champion Fedor Gorst face off against five-time US Open champion Shane Van Boening in what promises to be an electrifying conclusion to the tournament. With Van Boening aiming for an unprecedented sixth title and Gorst striving to become the reigning champion of the World Pool Masters, World Championship, and US Open all in the same year, this is a finale pool fans won’t want to miss.
FINAL
Saturday 24th August – 16:00 pm EDT time – Fedor Gorst (USA) vs Shane Van Boening (USA)
Live rack-by-rack scoring will be available throughout the event at www.wntlivescores.com.