2 out of 3 ain't bad for "Rita" Chou & Easton has her best finish yet
The 2026 WPBA Island US Open delivered everything fans could have hoped for — electrifying performances, dramatic battles, and a showcase of the very best talent in women’s professional pool. With $60,000 added and a world-class field assembled at the stunning Island Resort & Casino, the event stood as a shining example of excellence, intensity, and global competition.
At the center of it all was Chieh-Yu “Rita” Chou, who continued her remarkable rise with a dominant, statement-making performance. Chou stormed through the tournament undefeated, displaying precision, poise, and relentless consistency against an elite lineup. Her path to the title was nothing short of extraordinary, defeating a gauntlet of world-class opponents including Han Yu, Ashley Rice, Tzu-Chien Wei, Margarita Fefilova Styer, Meng-Hsia Hung, and Silviana Lu before closing out her championship run against Savannah Easton in the finals.
This victory marks Chou’s second title in the last three WPBA events, solidifying her status as one of the most formidable and in-form players on the planet today. Her composure under pressure and clinical execution throughout the event defined a truly championship-caliber performance.
On the other side of the story was the incredible run of Savannah Easton, who delivered a breakthrough performance that will be remembered as a defining moment in her career. Easton showcased grit, resilience, and heart in a spectacular B-side charge after suffering a razor-thin 8-7 hill-hill loss to Brittany Bryant early in the event.
Refusing to back down, Easton mounted an inspiring comeback, battling through a stacked field by defeating Sakura Muramatsu, Shui Ching Chiang, Ashley Rice, Teruko Macklin, Pia Filler, Chia Hua Chen, avenging her earlier loss against Brittany Bryant, and continuing her surge past Tzu-Chien Wei and Silviana Lu to earn her spot in the finals.
Though she ultimately fell to Chou, Easton’s runner-up finish stands as the best result of her career to date, and a powerful statement that she is a rising force on the WPBA Tour.
The 2026 WPBA Island US Open was more than just a tournament — it was a celebration of elite competition, sportsmanship, and the continued growth of the women’s professional game. The event featured unforgettable matches, clutch performances, and a level of play that captivated audiences from start to finish.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible host venue, Island Resort & Casino, for providing a first-class setting that elevated the entire experience for players and fans alike.
The WPBA also extends its deep appreciation to its valued tour sponsors — Diamond Billiard Products, Aramith Balls, and Simonis Cloth — whose continued support makes events of this magnitude possible.
From dominant champions to breakout performances, the 2026 WPBA Island US Open will be remembered as a thrilling, high-caliber showcase of excellence — and a powerful reminder of why the WPBA Tour continues to represent the pinnacle of women’s professional pool.
Final 8 Results
1st – Chieh-Yu “Rita” Chou — $17,000
2nd – Savannah Easton — $12,000
3rd – Silviana Lu — $7,500
4th – Tzu-Chien Wei — $5,500
5th/6th – Brittany Bryant & Meng-Hsia Hung — $4,200 each
7th/8th – Chia Hua Chen & Kelly Fisher — $3,300 each
MARGARITA FEFILOVA STYER WINS EPIC HILL-HILL FINAL AT THE RAXX MEZZ OLHAUSEN CPBA INVITATIONAL
The 2026 Raxx Mezz Olhausen CPBA Invitational delivered everything fans could hope for — dominant performances, breakout runs, dramatic battles, and a championship match that came down to the final rack. When it was all over, it was Margarita Fefilova Styer standing tall, capturing the title after a spectacular hill-hill victory over Rubilen Amit in one of the most thrilling finals of the WPBA season.
Held at Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, New York, the tournament brought together some of the best players in women’s professional pool, and the level of play throughout the weekend was nothing short of outstanding.
A Dominant Path to the Finals
Fefilova Styer looked nearly unstoppable on the winner’s side of the bracket. In the hot seat match, she delivered one of the most dominant performances of the event, defeating Rubilen Amit 8–1 to secure her place in the championship match. The commanding victory forced Amit to battle her way back through the one-loss side if she wanted another shot at the title.
Amit Shows Championship Heart
True champions never go quietly — and Rubilen Amit proved exactly why she remains one of the most feared competitors in the sport. Facing elimination, Amit squared off against Kristina Zlateva in the third-place match. In a pressure-packed battle, Amit came through with an 8–5 victory, punching her ticket to a finals rematch with Fefilova Styer.
A Championship Match Fans Won’t Forget
The rematch delivered fireworks.
What had been a one-sided hot seat match turned into an absolute war in the finals. Rack after rack the two champions traded punches, neither willing to give an inch. With the score tied and the entire tournament on the line, Fefilova Styer broke the final rack and ran out under maximum pressure, closing out a stunning 10–9 hill-hill victory to capture the championship.
Zlateva and Mast Impress
Kristina Zlateva put together an outstanding run to finish third, defeating Kaylee McIntosh Driskell 8–5 to reach the semifinals and later edging Sofia Mast 8–6 in the fourth-place match. For Sofia Mast, the tournament marked a major breakthrough. The rising star battled her way to fourth place, the best WPBA finish of her young career, highlighted by an impressive 8–5 win over Savannah Easton.
Battles Across the Final Eight - The intensity was high throughout the final rounds.
Zlateva delivered a dominant 8–0 victory over Brittany Bryant in the opening final-eight match. Bryant showed tremendous resilience during the event after suffering an early 8–0 loss to Amit, fighting her way through the one-loss side to earn a 7th–8th place finish.
In the other eighth-place match, Savannah Easton defeated Ashley Benoit 8–2. Benoit had earlier pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by eliminating reigning WPBA Champion Kristina Tkach to reach the final eight.
Final Results
🥇 Margarita Fefilova Styer
🥈 Rubilen Amit
🥉 Kristina Zlateva
4️⃣ Sofia Mast
5️⃣/6️⃣ Savannah Easton
5️⃣/6️⃣ Kaylee McIntosh Driskell
7️⃣/8️⃣ Ashley Benoit
7️⃣/8️⃣ Brittany Bryant
Thank You to Our Host and Sponsors
The WPBA would like to extend a huge thank you to Holden Chin, owner of Raxx Billiards, for his incredible hospitality and for providing a fantastic venue for this outstanding event.
Special thanks as well to our event sponsors whose continued support helps grow professional women’s billiards:
Mezz Cues
Olhausen Pool Tables
CPBA Billiard Cloth
HSunami Cues
From dominant wins to heart-stopping hill-hill drama, the Raxx Mezz Olhausen CPBA Invitational showcased exactly why the WPBA Tour continues to deliver some of the most exciting professional pool in the world.
Full bracket and match results:
https://digitalpool.com/tournaments/2026-wpba-raxx-mezz-olhausen-invitational/bracket
