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BREAKINGPECELJ QUALIFIES FOR TEAM EUROPEDEBUT IN ORLANDO · NOV 27–30UPSETGAMAS BEATS CAPITO 10–7ROUND 3 · NO. 11 ON RACK 9 POWER RANKINGSR3BIADO 10–RAMBER 8R3PECELJ 10–BERGMAN 2R3CHUA 10–ARANAS 8R3ALCAIDE 10–WOODWARD 6UPSETTIPAWAN BEATS NEUHAUSEN 10–6ROUND 1 · NO. 6 ON RACK 9 POWER RANKINGSOUTFRACASSO-VERNER OUT IN ROUND 1GALLIGUEZ WINS 10–5WNT #1YAPP $324,680WPBA #1TKACH 149,750NEXTMOSCONI CUPNOV 27–30 · ORLANDONEXTUP MASTERSOCT 23–25 · TELFORD
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MOSCONI CUP

Aleksa Pecelj qualifies for Team Europe at the 2026 Mosconi Cup

The Serbian locked up an automatic spot with his run at the Philippines Open. He'll make his Mosconi Cup debut in Orlando, Nov 27–30.

By Rack 9 ·

Aleksa Pecelj is going to the Mosconi Cup. The Serbian has qualified for Team Europe for the 2026 event in Orlando, Florida, November 27–30. Matchroom Pool congratulated him on Thursday, calling the spot "so, so well deserved."

It will be his Mosconi Cup debut. Matchroom also shared photos of Pecelj in a Team Europe shirt from a 2023 shoot, saying "We knew they'd come in handy one day."

How he locked it up

The top three players on each side of the World Nineball Tour's Mosconi Cup ranking list qualify automatically after the Philippines Open, the last qualifying event. Captains add two wildcards each.

Pecelj came to Manila third on the Europe list with $62,170, behind Francisco Sánchez Ruiz (already qualified) and Joshua Filler ($77,640). The closest chaser was Hungary's Olivér Szolnoki at $57,885.

Pecelj then won three straight matches in Quezon City: 10–1 over Paul Gulbrandsen, 10–3 over John Vincent Vicedo and 10–2 over American Justin Bergman. Szolnoki went out in Round 3, beaten 10–2 by Albert Januarta, which left him no way to catch Pecelj.

His 2026 season

  • Arizona Open runner-up. He reached the final in August, losing 13–5 to Denis Grabe.
  • Reyes Cup winner. He debuted for Rest of the World this month, winning the Day 2 doubles with Fedor Gorst and beating AJ Manas 5–1 on Day 3 as Rest of the World won 11–4. Read our Reyes Cup recap.
  • Power Rankings. He's No. 17 on the Rack 9 Power Rankings.
  • Philippines Open. Into the last 16, and still playing for the title this week.

What it means for Team Europe

Europe has won the Mosconi Cup six years running, including 11–3 in London last year. Captain Niels Feijen now has at least three of his five players: Sánchez Ruiz, Filler on the numbers, and Pecelj. The automatic spots are confirmed after the Philippines Open final on Saturday, and Feijen then names two wildcards.

Pecelj arrives in form. He hasn't given up more than three racks in a match in Manila, and he already has a team-event title this month from the Reyes Cup.

What's next

Pecelj is still in the Philippines Open draw, with the last 16 coming up. Then it's Orlando. Follow the rest of the qualifying picture on the Power Rankings and our Philippines Open recap.

Is Pecelj Europe's breakout star of 2026? Tell us at @rack9pool.

Sources

More news

All news →
PHILIPPINES OPENOCT 21 Philippines Open 2026: Bustamante and Neuhausen out, Alcaide survives, and Jaybee Sucal gets Denis Grabe Two days in at Gateway Mall, the single-elimination draw has taken out a legend and the world No. 6. Here's what happened, who's booming on the Rack 9 board and who to watch next. BY RACK 9 → MOSCONI CUPOCT 20 Fracasso-Verner out in Round 1 in Manila. His Mosconi Cup hopes now rest on a wildcard The Connecticut pro lost 10–5 to Saldy Galliguez at the Philippines Open, the last event that counts toward qualifying. The automatic route onto Team USA is closed. BY RACK 9 → REYES CUPOCT 19 Reyes Cup press conference: teamwork, the MVP and a return next year The morning after winning the Cup, Rest of the World's captain and players talked about the comeback. Matchroom's CEO said the Reyes Cup and Philippines Open will be back next year. BY RACK 9 →

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