Roobet
Source: Matchroom Multi Sport / Taka Wu

Fans from all over the world are descending on Sarajevo this week to watch some of the planet's finest pool players compete in the 2026 Roobet European Open Nineball Pool Championship.

The tournament, taking place from 10–15 March, promises to be one of the biggest and most consequential events on the World Nineball Tour's (WNT) 2026 calendar.

This year's field is wide open, and the question on the minds of fans and punters alike is who will emerge as champion. Will there be a repeat of the dominant performance by Joshua Filler in 2025, when he defeated Naoyuki Oi 13 racks to 1? Or will fans see another nail-biter like the 2024 final, when Mickey Krause edged out Johann Chua 13–8?

Fans will have to wait until the weekend for the final, but one thing is certain: the week will be filled with near-impossible shots, technical excellence, and the kind of upsets that make nineball pool one of the most dynamic and entertaining sports to watch.

Sarajevo, Host of the Roobet European Open Pool Championship

This is the first year the European Open — one of the jewels in the WNT crown — is sponsored by Roobet, the iGaming platform.

The partnership is bringing new energy to the tournament, connecting the WNT with Roobet's global online community. Team Roo has made the trip alongside fans, taking over the city for the week while soaking in the atmosphere of the host city.

Roobet
Source: Matchroom Multi Sport / Taka Wu

Sarajevo, often called the 'Jerusalem of Europe', hosted the European Open last year and is quickly becoming a hub of the European game.

Situated at the foot of Mount Trebević, the city offers dramatic scenery. Its streets feature a mix of churches, mosques, and synagogues–a reflection of the country's rich and complex history.

Today, Sarajevo has an energetic feel. The sun is shining, and the cafés are full.

But for the 256 nineball players competing in the 2026 Roobet European Open Pool Championship, the stakes are enormous: a place in the WNT history books and a $40,000 top prize.

Who to Watch at the Roobet European Open Pool Championship

So who are the big stars, the players to watch, and the potential underdogs?

It is hard to ignore world number one Fedor Gorst. A dangerous shot-maker and master table manager, Gorst will likely have a point to prove after falling short at both the World Championship and the US Open in 2025.

Duong Quoc Hoang is another player to watch closely. He arrives as the current Premier League Pool champion. Although ranked 24th on tour, he has a sharp eye for the pocket, a steely resolve under pressure, and now a taste for victory on the big stage.

If you are looking for a potential upset, Arseni Sevastyanov could be the one. Currently ranked 81st, the Finnish underdog made light work of former world champion Shane Van Boening at last year's US Open Pool Championship. Could he be the player to shock the Sarajevo crowd?

Joshua Filler, who won last year's Open in dominant fashion, should also be firmly on fans' radar. The German star, currently ranked 8th on the tour, is one of the game's greats, having won Mosconi Cup MVP honors in 2017, 2022, and 2023. He will enter the tournament with confidence, and it would be no surprise to see him defend his title.

Respected WNT pundit Michael McMullan has singled out Spaniard Jonas Souto as a potential breakthrough player for the 2026 season. Souto has steadily improved his form in recent years and has shown he can rise to the occasion on the big stage.

The Roobet European Open Pool Championship promises a week full of drama and spectacle. Will established champions reign supreme, or will an unexpected player shoot their way to glory in Sarajevo?

What is certain is that fans are in for a week packed with the drama, technique, and precision that make nineball pool one of the most thrilling sports to watch.