Capito Powers into Title Defence at 2025 UK Open

The 2025 UK Open Pool Championship kicked off on May 6 at the Telford International Centre. Defending champion Robbie Capito made a strong statement on opening day, cruising past Belgium’s Kevin Lannoye 9-1 and Britain’s Marcel Price 9-5 to advance confidently to the Winners’ Qualification round.

Germany’s Joshua Filler, the reigning European Open champion, also impressed with dominant 9-2 and 9-3 victories, firmly setting his sights on a second UK Open title. 2023 champion Eklent Kaçi battled through two tough matches, including a comeback win, once again showcasing his resilience.

Asian players had a strong showing. Reyes Cup MVP Aloysius Yapp secured wins over opponents from Greece and the USA, while Carlo Biado overcame David Black and rising American talent Landon Hollingsworth. Japan’s Naoyuki Oi, runner-up at the European Open, maintained his fine form with two consecutive victories.

Other highlights included Scottish Open champion Mickey Krause delivering a 9-0 whitewash against tournament chairman Barry Hearn, who later bowed out. Andy Goldstein lost his opener but stayed alive in the Losers’ Bracket after receiving a walkover in his second match.

Action continues tomorrow as the remaining half of the 256-player field begins their first-round campaigns.