Defending champion Moritz Neuhausen’s 2026 Premier League Pool campaign came to an devestating end on Day Three, as the German suffered four defeats from five matches to miss out on a place in Stage Two.
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Neuhausen’s title defence unravelled following losses to Thorsten Hohmann, Robbie Capito and Jesús Atencio, before a decisive hill-hill defeat to Pijus Labutis — a repeat of last year’s Hanoi Open final — ultimately confirmed his exit from the competition.
Reflecting on the disappointment, Neuhausen said: “It’s tough to go out this early, especially as defending champion. But that’s the nature of pool — the level is so high and the margins are so small. I didn’t find my best game this week and in this format you get punished for that. Now it’s about resetting, putting in the work and coming back stronger at the next event.”
Neuhausen was joined on the sidelines by AJ Manas, John Morra, Jesús Atencio and Thorsten Hohmann, while Kledio Kaçi endured a difficult campaign, finishing bottom of the standings to bow out at the end of Stage One.
In stark contrast to his younger brother’s exit, Eklent Kaçi continued his commanding charge at the summit. The Albanian extended his remarkable winning streak to 13 consecutive matches, completing another perfect five-from-five day to close Stage One as table leader and firm favourite heading into the next phase.
Kaçi said: “I feel very confident right now. I’ve been putting in a lot of practice before this event and I can see the difference in my game. I feel more in control and more disciplined. Of course, in a race to five anything can happen and you need a bit of luck at times, but I’m playing well and making good decisions. My focus is simple — keep winning, keep earning points.”
Albert Januarta emerged as one of the standout performers of Stage One, with the youngest player in the field securing progression in a hugely impressive Premier League debut.
Januarta said: “I’m really happy to make it through. The field is so strong, so to reach Stage Two means a lot to me. But this is only the beginning. It will be even tougher from here and I need to raise my level again. I’ll keep working hard and give everything I have.”
Jesús Atencio produced a determined turnaround to secure his place in the top ten and advance to Stage Two. His fate came down to the final match of the day against John Morra, where he held his nerve to clinch the decisive victory and claim the last qualifying spot by one rack difference.
Atencio said: “This tournament has been really tough, but I’m grateful to make it through. The first day didn’t go my way at all, but I told myself to stay focused and keep believing. I’ve been practising after each session and today every single match felt like a battle. I’m proud to qualify, but I know the pressure only increases from here. I need to be ready for what’s coming next.”
Stage Two of the 2026 Premier League Pool begins tomorrow, with the stakes rising further as four more players will be eliminated end of tomorrow in the race for Finals Night.
The 2026 Premier League Pool returns on Saturday, 21 February from 12 EST on WNT TV, along with Viaplay, Fan Duel, and Nova. Find where you can watch in your country here.
You can track the action on all 183 matches at Premier League Pool via the WNT Live Scores website here.
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