Capito Launches Title Defence at the 2025 UK Open Pool Championship

In an electrifying display, Robbie Capito has kicked off his title defence at the 2025 UK Open Pool Championship with remarkable vigor. The tournament, which unfolds from May 6 to May 11 at the iconic Telford International Centre, marks its fourth installment as the UK’s leading pool event. This highly anticipated championship is streamed live on WNT TV for the initial four days, followed by live broadcasts on Sky Sports throughout the UK and Ireland taking over the final stages.

A Strong Start for Capito

Capito radiated confidence from the moment he returned to the table, decisively defeating Belgium’s Kevin Lannoye with a staggering score of 9-1. The Hong Kong player demonstrated his prowess by maintaining a rhythm that left his opponent floundering. Following this commanding success, Capito faced off against Britain’s Marcel Price. Although Price put up a spirited fight, Capito pulled away towards the end, finishing the match with a convincing 9-5 victory. This solid performance keeps Capito’s campaign for a consecutive title alive and vibrant.

The Competition Heats Up

Capito wasn’t the only competitor making headlines. Former UK Open champion and current European Open titleholder, Joshua Filler, also appeared in excellent form. He quickly dispatched Filipino newcomer Lauro Catapang with a score of 9-2, before returning to the table to achieve another commanding victory over Finland’s Jere Virtaranta, finalizing the match with a score of 9-3. Filler’s early success hints at his ambitions for a second UK Open crown, as he builds momentum in this prestigious event.

Defending Champion Kaçi Faces Challenges

While Capito and Filler thrived, Eklent Kaçi, the top seed and 2023 UK Open champion, encountered more of a struggle on Day 1. The Albanian star managed to come from behind for a hard-fought 9-5 win over Roben Docampo. Later, he demonstrated resilience yet again by overcoming a significant 4-1 deficit against Finland’s Jani Siekkinen, securing his place in the Winners’ Qualification stage after a dramatic comeback.

Standout Performances from Team Asia

The event has also spotlighted exceptional performances from other competitors. Aloysius Yapp, who took home the MVP title from the Reyes Cup, and fellow Team Asia star Carlo Biado made commendable starts to their campaigns. Yapp triumphed over Greece’s Dimitris Siampanis and battled through a tense match against USA’s Anthony Grin to add two victories to his record. Biado, coming off impressive wins, secured victories against David Black and narrowly against rising star Landon Hollingsworth, exhibiting skill and tenacity throughout both matches.

Impressive Runs by Other Competitors

Naoyuki Oi has continued his stunning form from the European Open final in Sarajevo, achieving back-to-back wins against Paul Williams and Petr Urban. His consistent performance positions him as a contender for his first Matchroom Major title this year.

Surprising Upsets

In less predictable outcomes, Mickey Krause, fresh off a victory at the Scottish Open, produced a jaw-dropping performance by whitewashing Matchroom Sport President Barry Hearn OBE with a devastating score of 9-0. Hearn’s tournament came to an end shortly thereafter, losing 8-4 to Pakistan’s Hasan Shahid. In another shocking match, Andy Goldstein fell short, losing 9-1 to Ramazan Akdag before receiving a walkover to remain in the Losers’ Bracket.

What’s Next? Dates and Times

The 2025 UK Open Pool Championship continues with action-packed rounds, with the remaining half of the 256-player field set to make their tournament debuts. As the championship progresses, spectators can expect thrilling encounters and unexpected twists.

Session Times (All in BST)

• Days 1–4 (6–9 May) – 256 Players to Last 16, starting daily at 10 AM
• Days 5–6 (10–11 May) – Last 16 to the Championship Winner

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this thrilling championship as the 2025 UK Open Pool Championship unfolds in Telford! You can grab your spectator tickets here. For the latest updates, make sure to follow Matchroom Pool on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube for real-time updates and highlights throughout the tournament.