2005 US Open 9-Ball Championship
Part of the US Open 9-Ball Championship archive
US Open 9-Ball Championship
Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Pagulayan | |
| 2 | Jose Parica |
Recap
Published April 13, 2026
The 2005 US Open 9-Ball Championship saw Alex Pagulayan capture his first major American title at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Virginia. The Filipino-Canadian player, known as The Lion, had won the 2004 World 9-Ball Championship and used the US Open victory to establish himself among pool's elite competitors.
Pagulayan's final match was against veteran Jose Parica, a Filipino competitor with decades of experience at the highest levels of professional pool. Pagulayan, 27 years old, played an aggressive style while Parica employed a methodical approach honed through years of championship competition. For Parica, the final represented a chance to win the US Open title and add to his record of major accomplishments across multiple disciplines.
The tournament field included top players such as Francisco Bustamante, who finished third, and Earl Strickland, who reached the final four. The event featured a $200,000 total prize pool and drew 256 players competing in a double-elimination format. Pagulayan's victory earned him the $40,000 winner's share. His win continued a period of strong performance by Filipino players in professional pool, following Efren Reyes' 1994 US Open championship.
Pagulayan turned professional in 1998 and reached his peak competitive years by 2005. The US Open victory validated his world championship from the previous year and made him one of a select group of Filipino players to win this prestigious American title, a group later joined by Carlo Biado in 2021.
The 2005 championship featured two players of Filipino heritage competing in the final for America's most coveted 9-ball title. Pagulayan's victory earned him the traditional green blazer and lifetime entry to future US Open events, reinforcing his status as one of the most accomplished players of his generation.
Sources: Alex Pagulayan – Wikipedia U.S. Open Pool Championship – Wikipedia 2021 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.