2016 US Open Straight Pool Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

After a 16-year hiatus, the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship returned in April 2016 at Pool Table Magic in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Filipino player Dennis "RoboCop" Orcollo won the tournament, becoming the first champion of the modern era.

The revival of this straight pool event was significant for the sport, as 14.1 continuous had become less prominent compared to 9-ball and 8-ball formats. The tournament used a format with 20 players divided into four round-robin groups of five, with the top three from each group advancing to single elimination. The group winners received first-round byes.

Orcollo, a native of Surigao, won the championship after developing his skills through high-stakes games in the Philippines. His victory added to his accomplishments that include the 2011 WPA World Eight-ball Championship and multiple Derby City Classic titles.

The final matched Orcollo against Shane Van Boening, an American player who would win the event in 2019. The tournament featured pay-per-view streaming through CueSports International, with 14 of the 51 total matches broadcast.

Orcollo's championship continued his success across multiple formats during the 2010s. The victory also showed that interest remained in reviving the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. The 2016 championship proved significant both for Orcollo's career and for straight pool's presence in competitive billiards.

Sources: Dennis Orcollo – Wikipedia U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship – Wikipedia

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