Shane Van Boening has successfully completed his Florida redemption mission by winning the 2026 Florida Open Pool Championship title at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. In a commanding final, he defeated Alexander Kazakis with a score of 13-5 to claim another major trophy after missing out on this crown last year. The five-time US Open champion stated that his focus and trust in his game were key factors as he moved from beating Josh in the Last 16 to securing victory over Kazakis.
Van Boening reached the final by defeating Eklent Kaçi with a score of 11-6 earlier in the day, overcoming four former World Champions on his way there. His win secures him $40,000 and significant ranking points, placing him at the top of Team USA rankings for the upcoming Mosconi Cup. The tournament took place from August 4–9 as part of the World Nineball Tour’s August USA Swing event in Florida.
Looking ahead to his schedule following this victory, Van Boening is preparing for the inaugural Arizona Open Pool Championship starting on August 13-16 at Quechan Casino Resort with a $125,000 prize fund. This marks another Matchroom Major opportunity where he hopes to continue building momentum toward winning more majors including his sixth US Open title.
What do you think of Van Boening's performance in the final?