HK’s Capito claims UK Open Championship title
Hong Kong’s Robbie Capito won his first Matchroom Major on Sunday, taking the UK Open Pool Championship title, and urged the city’s government to reverse the decision to downgrade billiard sports.
The 22-year-old beat Mieszko Fortunski of Poland 13-10 at the Telford International Centre in England, a rare victory among Hong Kong’s cueists who have struggled to impose themselves internationally in recent years.
A failure to meet targets means that from 2025 billiards will drop out of the list of Tier A sports that get funding from the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).
“I’ve been working so hard for this moment. I made it clear at the start of the week that I wasn’t just here to participate,” said Capito, who was born to Filipino parents in Hong Kong. “I was here to win my first Matchroom Major, and today, I have achieved just that.”
The Hongkonger stormed to the final having chalked off former world champions Fedor Gorst and Joshua Filler along the way before “staying calm” to come back from two frames down against Fortunski to lay his hands on the US$30,000 winner’s cheque.
“This is a massive title for Hong Kong sports, especially since we are facing a substantial cut of 90 per cent in funding from the HKSI,” the world No 51 said.
“We may have to find [other] jobs, or rely on [tournament] bonuses to make a living, so 2025 is going to be difficult for us all. I just hope this title will make our government pay more attention to billiard sports.”
Capito, who started playing pool at the age of two after his parents bought him a mini pool table from a toy store, dedicated his victory to his late father.
“My dad passed away due to sickness when I was only 13. He was the one who introduced me to pool,” he said. “I couldn’t let him see me winning this when he was still around, but I believe I am making him proud still.”