Grand Finals Qualifiers
Both qualifier weekends at Fast Eddie's Braun are in the books: the results, the replays, and what comes next at the National Grand Finals. Past season winners are further down this page.
Both qualifiers were played over a full weekend at Fast Eddie's Braun. The winners take a paid entry to the National Grand Finals, Jam Up team jerseys and a travel fund, and every team that played can enter alongside them.
Slick Sticks are your 2025–2026 8-Ball champions, back to back
That is the hat trick: last year's 8-Ball, the 10-Ball a week ago, and now the 8-Ball again, without losing a match all weekend. Slick Sticks represent San Antonio in the 8-Ball at the Grand Finals in November, with free entry and the $8,000 travel fund. The Lucky 8 are headed to North Carolina too, on a free entry.
- Champions
- Slick Sticks
- Runner-up
- The Lucky 8
- Semi-finalists
- Drunken Masters · The Scorpions
- 5th–6th
- The Rogue Squad · Paine Killers
Standouts
- Fabian Maltos and Jose De La Vega (Slick Sticks) didn't drop an individual match all weekend, and De La Vega beat a 661 in the winners' qualification.
- Serge Belanger (The Lucky 8) went the whole weekend unbeaten, including a win in the final.
How the weekend went
- Slick Sticks — Never lost a match. Sixteen teams started Saturday, and Slick Sticks went through The Matrix 21–1, The Lucky 8 12–6, The Rogue Squad 25–4, The Scorpions 16–10 in the semis, and The Lucky 8 again 24–11 in the final.
- The Lucky 8 — Earned it the hard way. Slick Sticks knocked them to the 1-loss side on Saturday afternoon and they won four straight to get back: 28–10 over Hells Rejects, 20–17 over Rack Em Up, 23–10 over Paine Killers on Sunday morning, then 19–16 over Drunken Masters in the semis.
- Drunken Masters — Undefeated until Sunday afternoon, starting with a 22–21 win over Hells Rejects on Saturday morning.
- The Scorpions — Run 22–2 by Paine Killers on Saturday, then won three straight on the 1-loss side to play Sunday afternoon.
- The Rogue Squad — Out Sunday morning, after opening the tournament 27–15 over 210 Pocket Psychos.
- Paine Killers — Out Sunday morning, two points from the semis after an 18–16 loss to Drunken Masters.
Sixteen teams, two days, and the second of two weekends like it. Congratulations to everybody who made Sunday, and thanks to all the players, the staff at Fast Eddie's Braun and the spectators for making both qualifiers an electrifying and memorable event. Season 3 brings bigger and badder things.
Slick Sticks are your 2025–2026 10-Ball champions
Slick Sticks represent San Antonio in the 10-Ball at the Grand Finals in November, with free entry and the $4,000 travel fund. Drunken Masters are headed to North Carolina too, on a free entry.
- Champions
- Slick Sticks
- Runner-up
- Drunken Masters
- Semi-finalists
- Rackaholics · The Rogue Squad
- 5th–6th
- Team Megan · Can't Get Right
Standouts
- Joe Cumpian and Fabian Maltos (Slick Sticks) both went 4–1 on the weekend.
- Nikolas Gonzales (Drunken Masters) never dropped an individual match all weekend.
How the weekend went
- Slick Sticks — Knocked to the 1-loss side by Rackaholics on Saturday, then won four straight to take it back: 16–15 over Can't Get Right Sunday morning, 18–11 over Rackaholics in the semis to settle up, and 23–6 over Drunken Masters in the final.
- Drunken Masters — Didn't lose a match until the final, and earned it the hard way: 13–12 over Can't Get Right and 18–16 over Team Megan.
- Rackaholics — The only team all weekend to beat Slick Sticks.
- The Rogue Squad — Lost their first match Saturday morning, then won four straight on the 1-loss side.
- Team Megan — Played tough all weekend and missed the semis by two after taking Drunken Masters to 18–16.
- Can't Get Right — Out by one — both losses came by a single point, to the two teams that played in the final.
Twelve teams, two days. Thanks to everyone who came out to Fast Eddie's Braun and watched the stream — and to pro Gerson Martinez, back-to-back winner of the UPL Kansas City Open and the Florida Open, who was in the house all weekend sweating the action.
Two weekends at Fast Eddie's Braun
Twenty-eight team entries, four days of pool and two finals, and the room stayed full for all of it. Thank you to every player who made the trip, to the staff at Fast Eddie's Braun, and to everyone who came to watch or followed the stream.
12 teams in the 10-Ball · 16 teams in the 8-Ball · 7 rounds a weekend · every round streamed live
Next stop: the Grand Finals
November 2–7, 2026 · Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Resort · Cherokee, NC
Every team at the GFQ can go to Nationals
For 2026, every team that played a Grand Finals Qualifier can enter the National Grand Finals, not only the winners. In most years entry is limited to the top finishers.
- Win your GFQ and your $2,750 entry is paid.
- Every other team can pay to enter, in the format it qualified in.
- Deadline: September 21, 2026 — firm, and the same date for every format including National Singles. Payment is arranged through your league operator.
A week at Harrah's Cherokee with your team, with $112,000 to the 8-Ball Teams champion and $35,000 to the 10-Ball champion.
Buy-in closes Monday, September 21.
League room rate through September 29 · Book your room
What the winners get
- $8,000 travel fund for the 8-Ball GFQ winner
- $4,000 travel fund for the 10-Ball GFQ winner
- Two paid Nationals entries at $2,750 each
- Jam Up team jerseys for both winning teams
- Travel assistance for both runner-up teams
$17,500+ in cash before jerseys and runner-up assistance.
10-Ball GFQ
Saturday August 29 – Sunday August 30, 2026
Fast Eddie's Braun · 12 teams
Champions Slick Sticks · Runner-up Drunken Masters
The 12 teams that qualified
- Hells Rejects: Session 2 Monday FE Braun winner
- Pooligans: Session 2 Monday FE Braun runner-up
- Slick Sticks: Session 2 Monday Ryda's winner
- Can't Get Right: Session 2 Monday Ryda's runner-up
- The Rogue Squad: Session 2 Thursday Embassy Oaks winner
- Rackaholics: Session 2 Thursday Embassy Oaks runner-up
- Mac House: Session 3 Monday FE Braun winner
- Drunken Masters: Session 3 Monday FE Braun runner-up
- 210 Pocket Psychos: Session 3 Monday Ryda's winner
- Pete's Billiards: Session 2 wild card
- Soul Stick: Session 3 wild card
- Team Megan: Session 3 Thursday Embassy Oaks winner
8-Ball GFQ
Saturday September 5 – Sunday September 6, 2026
Fast Eddie's Braun · 16 teams
Champions Slick Sticks · Runner-up The Lucky 8
The 16 teams that qualified
- We're Just Efren Around: Session 1 Monday Canyon Lake winner
- Out 4 Hide: Session 1 Monday Canyon Lake runner-up
- The Matrix: Session 1 Monday FE Braun winner
- The Rogue Squad: Session 1 Thursday FE Embassy winner
- Slick Sticks: Session 1 Thursday FE Embassy runner-up
- Mac House: Session 1 wild card
- Rack Em Up: Session 2 wild card
- Shark Shooters: Session 2 Monday Canyon Lake winner
- Stick Stroking Ball Droppers: Session 2 Monday Canyon Lake runner-up
- Hells Rejects: Session 2 Monday FE Braun runner-up
- Paine Killers: Session 2 Monday Ryda's runner-up
- Team Megan: Session 2 Thursday Embassy Oaks runner-up
- Drunken Masters: Session 3 Monday FE Braun winner
- The Lucky 8: Session 3 Monday FE Braun runner-up
- 210 Pocket Psychos: Session 3 Monday Ryda's runner-up
- The Scorpions: Session 3 Thursday Embassy Oaks runner-up
How teams qualify
- The top 2 teams in each division, each session, qualify for their format's GFQ.
- Plus one wild card per format, drawn from teams that haven't otherwise qualified.
- 8-Ball and 10-Ball are separate qualifiers. Qualifying in one does not qualify you for the other.
- Qualification does not pass down. If a division winner has already qualified, that spot is not reassigned to third place.
For the record: how the 2026 qualifiers ran
The schedule, brackets, eligibility, on-the-day rules and captains' FAQ as they were published for the 2026 weekends.
Schedule
Both weekends run the same 7 rounds.
| Round | Day | Time | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Saturday | 8:30 AM | Opening round |
| Round 2 | Saturday | 12:30 PM | Winners + B-side |
| Round 3 | Saturday | 4:30 PM | Winners + B-side |
| Round 4 | Saturday | 8:30 PM | B-side |
| Round 5 | Sunday | 9:00 AM | B-side |
| Round 6 | Sunday | 1:00 PM | Top 4 redraw + semis |
| Round 7 | Sunday | 5:00 PM | Final |
Opening round
Winners + B-side
Winners + B-side
B-side
B-side
Top 4 redraw + semis
Final
Round times are targets. Rounds may start early once all teams and tables are ready, so be on site and ready to play 15 minutes before yours.
Bracket
You are guaranteed at least two matches in both formats. Lose once and you drop to the B-side, twice and you are out.
10-Ball
Bracket12 teams
Double elimination down to the top 4, then the top 4 redraw into semi-finals and the final.
Teams remaining: 12 → 10 → 7 → 5 → 4 → 2
16-team bracket. With 12 teams the top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
8-Ball
Bracket16 teams
Double elimination down to the top 4, then the top 4 redraw into semi-finals and the final.
Teams remaining: 16 → 12 → 8 → 6 → 4 → 2
16-team bracket, exactly full. No byes and no preliminary match: every team starts at 8:30 Saturday.
UPscore & handicaps
- UPscore is calculated through the last week of Session 3. That is the cut-off.
- GFQ matches do not affect UPscore, and do not count toward the National Singles Leaderboard.
- Your handicaps are locked for both GFQ weekends and will not move between August 29 and September 5.
Player & team eligibility
- Teams play the GFQ and Nationals with their Session 3 roster.
- Every player needs 10 total plays for the year.
- Every player needs 4 plays on that team in Session 3.
- 8-Ball and 10-Ball plays count together, so two league nights of double-play gets a player to 4.
- No exceptions are granted on plays. A team short on plays cannot play at Nationals, even if it wins its qualifier.
- Teams must retain 5 players from the qualifying roster.
- Teams must finish in the top 50% of their division in each remaining session. Falling short does not automatically disqualify anyone. It triggers a review by the UP board, which investigates and votes.
- Once qualified for the Grand Finals, players' UPscores lock and can only drop 25 points from the qualified value until after Nationals.
- A player rostered on both teams in a match sits that match out entirely, with no playing, coaching or assisting either side.
On the day
- No dress code at the GFQ. Note that jerseys are required at Nationals, and winning teams receive Jam Up jerseys as part of the prize package.
- No practice during the event. All tables are reserved for scheduled matches across both days, including tables not currently in use.
- Bring a charged phone with the league app installed and working.
- All dues must be paid in full before the event, no exceptions.
What changes from league night
- No double play. It is not allowed at GFQ or Nationals, and it is not the opposing team's call.
- Individual forfeits are worth 20 points, not 8. Team forfeit is 25.
- The 6-Ball Shootout is live as the tiebreaker. There is no shootout during weekly play.
- Leaving the playing area requires the allotted player break.
- 15-minute grace period, then a walkover. That counts as a no-show, not a played win.
Questions captains asked
What's the bracket format?
It depends on the size of the field. 8 teams or fewer is true double elimination the whole way through, with no redraw. With 9 or more it runs double elimination down to the final 4, and those four redraw into the semi-finals. Both qualifiers are over that line this year, so both run the redraw.
Source: UPL League Manual v4.0, p.13
Do we play on the app?
Yes. Captains log in on a mobile device to manage scoring and timekeeping, and matches are pushed to the table tablets by QR code. Make sure every player has the app working before the day.
Source: League practice
Is coaching allowed?
Yes, but only for players rated 450 and under, and only during an extension. The extension must be selected in the app before the coach approaches the table, and the clock keeps running. Coaching a player rated 451 or above is a standard foul, and an unentitled timeout is ball-in-hand to your opponent.
Source: 8-Ball Teams Manual, p.11
Who can call a foul?
Only the two players in the match. A foul called by anyone else is void, and the offending team receives a sportsmanship violation. Time fouls are the timekeeper's call alone.
Source: 8-Ball Teams Manual, p.9
How do I request a watch on a close hit?
Call an 'All Stop' and ask for a neutral third party (someone unaffiliated with either team), or film the shot. Clocks stop until the observer is in place or the camera is ready.
Source: 8-Ball Teams Manual, p.10
What happens on a stalemate?
The player must ask for it. A referee or neutral third party decides, disregarding player ability. If a stalemate is confirmed the rack is re-racked and the original breaker restarts.
Source: UPL League Manual v4.0, rule 6g
Is double play allowed?
No. Double play is prohibited at GFQ and Grand Finals events, and it is not the opposing team's decision. If you can't field five players, speak to the League Operator before the round starts.
Source: 8-Ball Teams Manual, p.12
What do we do when we win or lose?
Shake hands and confirm the match in the app. The League Operator enters the result in Referee Mode. If you finished on a 6-Ball Shootout, flag it down, because shootout times are entered by hand. Check the bracket before you leave.
Source: 8-Ball Teams Manual, p.12
What if our tablet dies?
Call an 'All Stop' and find the League Operator straight away. We switch to paper scoring and keep the match moving. Don't try to fix it yourselves and don't play on a guess. Play resumes once the clock is working and visible to both teams.
Source: League practice
Is there a cut-off for UPscores?
Yes. UPscore is calculated through the last week of Session 3. GFQ matches don't affect it, so your handicaps are locked across both qualifier weekends.
Source: Ultimate Pool USA
What do we need to stay eligible after the GFQ?
Every player must be on an active team roster in the new season's Session 1 to hold Grand Finals eligibility, and qualified teams keep 5 players from the qualifying roster.
Source: UPL League Manual v4.0, pp.14–15
National Singles Leaderboard
Finish the qualification period in the top 8 of your UPScore class and you are seeded straight into the money round at Nationals, which means you have secured a payout before you play your first match.
- Your ranking is built from the individual matches you already play for your team every week.
- $3,000 to each class champion, based on a 100-player field.
- Entry is $110 for the year, purchased through the UPL app.
- Complete at least 10 eligible individual matches during the qualification period to appear on the official leaderboard.
- Deadline to enter: September 21, 2026 — the same firm date as team entries for every format.
- GFQ matches count toward neither the National Singles Leaderboard nor your UPscore.
- New for 2026: NSL Singles runs separate divisions, with no more combined C/D competition.
Classifications
| Class | UPScore |
|---|---|
| Semi-Pro | 641 and above |
| A Class | 561–640 |
| B Class | 481–560 |
| C Class | 401–480 |
| D Class | 400 and below |
Your class is set by your UPScore rating, and you are ranked only against players in the same class.
UPL Manual, section 8.4
Where you finish (UPL Manual v4.0)
- 1st–32nd in your class: straight into group play at the Grand Final Singles, with guaranteed prize money.
- 33rd–128th: free entry into the preliminary rounds.
- 129th and below: direct entry at $175.
Every ranked player nationally, with San Antonio's starred.
Season Winners
Past division champions, runners-up and top players from completed sessions.
2025-2026 Season
Grand Finals Qualifiers
Each division's top two, the winner and runner-up, advance to their format's Grand Finals Qualifier (GFQ). GFQ winners earn travel and entry to Nationals.
August 29–30, 2026
Fast Eddie's Braun
Champions Slick Sticks
Runner-up Drunken Masters
September 5–6, 2026
Fast Eddie's Braun
Champions Slick Sticks
Runner-up The Lucky 8
Qualifier winners earn travel & entry to Nationals: Grand Finals · November 2–7, 2026 · Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Resort · Cherokee, NC
Session 3
May – August| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday FE Braun | Mac House | Drunken Masters | — |
| Monday Ryda's Action Spot | 210 Pocket Psychos | Can't Get Right | — |
| Thursday Embassy Oaks | Team Megan | Rackaholics | — |
| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Canyon Lake | Out 4 Hide | Shark Shooters | — |
| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday FE Braun | Drunken Masters | The Lucky 8 | — |
| Monday Ryda's Action Spot | Paine Killers | 210 Pocket Psychos | — |
| Thursday Embassy Oaks | Team Megan | The Scorpions | — |
Session 2
February – May| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday FE Braun | Hells Rejects | Pooligans | Alfredo Narvaez |
| Monday Ryda's Action Spot | Slick Sticks | Can't Get Right | Adam Hinojosa |
| Thursday Embassy Oaks | The Rogue Squad | Rackaholics | Jaden Acuna |
| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Canyon Lake | Shark Shooters | Stick Stroking Ball Droppers | Tripp Marsalis |
| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday FE Braun | The Matrix | Hells Rejects | Pablo Munoz |
| Monday Ryda's Action Spot | Slick Sticks | Paine Killers | David Gonzalez |
| Thursday Embassy Oaks | The Rogue Squad | Team Megan | Ty Birdsong |
Session 1
September – January| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Canyon Lake | We're Just Efren Around | Out 4 Hide | James Mccallister |
| Division | Winner | Runner-Up | Top Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday FE Braun | The Matrix | Rack Em Up | Paul Rivas |
| Thursday FE Embassy | The Rogue Squad | Slick Sticks | Juan Longoria |