2002 US Open 9-Ball Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Ralf Souquet
2	Alex Pagulayan

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Germany’s Ralf Souquet, known as The Kaiser, won the 2002 US Open 9-Ball Championship, defeating Canadian player Alex Pagulayan in the final. Souquet went on to build one of the most decorated careers in professional pool.

The US Open title was a major achievement for Souquet in American pool tournaments. The victory occurred during the peak years of his career, following his 1996 World Nine-ball Championship and preceding his eventual induction into the BCA Hall of Fame. Souquet won the championship by advancing through a field of 256 players.

Pagulayan finished as runner-up in an important match early in his international career as a Filipino-Canadian player. The final featured Souquet’s experience against Pagulayan’s emerging talent. This championship experience proved valuable as Pagulayan went on to win major titles of his own.

The 2002 US Open victory solidified Souquet’s status as one of the strongest competitors in nine-ball. Over his career, Souquet accumulated over 100 professional tournament victories, including six World Pool Masters titles and seven Mosconi Cup victories for Team Europe. The US Open championship awards winners the green blazer and lifetime entry privileges, representing a permanent place among pool’s elite champions.

Souquet’s 2002 US Open victory stands as a significant moment in a career recognized as among the most decorated in nine-ball championship history. The win demonstrated his ability to compete at pool’s highest levels and established his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest players.

Sources: Ralf Souquet – Wikipedia, Ralf Souquet – Matchroom Pool, U.S. Open Pool Championship – Wikipedia

This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.