The 2026 Premier League Pool delivered high drama on the penultimate day as top seed Aloysius Yapp was eliminated in a nail-biting decider, while the youngest player in the field, Albert Januarta, powered into the final day in sensational fashion.
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Yapp’s fate hung in the balance heading into his final match after four earlier defeats left him needing a result to survive. Standing in his way was the Indonesian rising star Januarta — and in a hill-hill thriller, it was the youngster who held his nerve to seal a statement victory and send the top seed home.
Yapp said: “This is one of the toughest tournaments on the calendar. The format is brutal and you can’t afford an off-session. Of course I’m disappointed to go out, but credit to Albert — he played brave pool when it mattered. He deserves his place in the final day and I’ll be supporting him. Now it’s time for me to reset and prepare for the next challenge.”
With 14 points on the board, Januarta secured fifth place in the standings to book his place in the final day — moving a step closer of a maiden major title and the chance to become the youngest champions in Premier League history.
Januarta said: “Honestly, I didn’t expect to be here on the final day. The level in this tournament is so high, so I’m very proud of how I’ve handled the pressure. Beating Aloysius in a hill-hill match gives me a lot of belief. I respect him a lot, but I’m here to win. I want to prove that I belong on this stage and that I’m ready for big moments.”
Chris Melling also survived a tense battle to secure sixth spot, with his progression coming down to a decisive final match against Jonas Souto. Having lost to Souto earlier in the event, Melling responded when it mattered most to clinch a crucial victory.
Melling said: “I’m relieved more than anything. Today was a grind and it all came down to that last match. Jonas beat me earlier in the week, so I knew I had to raise my level. On the final day there’s no room for mistakes. It’s going to be even tougher, but I feel ready for the fight.”
One of the standout performances of the day came from Duong Quoc Hoang, who surged to the top of the standings after defeating long-time leader Eklent Kaçi in the final match of the evening — a result that reshuffled the race heading into Finals Day.
Duong said: “I knew beating Eklent would be a big test because he’s been the best player this week. I stayed patient and waited for my chances. To finish the day at the top gives me confidence, but nothing is won yet. Tomorrow is about staying calm, playing smart and taking every opportunity. I’m ready for the biggest day of my career.”
The 2026 Premier League Pool reaches its climax tomorrow, where the remaining contenders will battle it out for the title and the chance to be crowned this year’s champion.
The 2026 Premier League Pool returns on Sunday, 22 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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