18/01/2026
9th place finish for Team USA at the Heyball World Cup in Logan, Australia!
Heyball and I go way back… but I never thought it would bring me here, wearing Team USA colors in Australia.
Heyball and I first met seven or eight years ago.
I even bought my own table back then and kept it in the Philippines. But with no real competitions around and then Covid hitting, I eventually sold it. Life moved on… or so I thought.
Fast forward to now.
Out of nowhere, Corey Deuel reaches out. He heard about my newly obtained U.S. citizenship, remembered me from the good old IPT 8-ball days, and asked me to join Team USA for the Heyball World Team Cup in Logan, Australia. Just like that, the circle closed.
Completing our team was Sargon Isaac from California, an American snooker champion. At the time, I didn’t really know him, but I quickly learned what a solid competitor and great teammate he is.
Right before flying to Brisbane, I squeezed in six long Heyball training sessions at Pacman Cue Club in Manila. Real grinding. Getting my feel back, learning patterns, understanding the table again. And I’ll say this: I gained a whole new level of respect for Heyball.
This game is tough.
It challenges your precision.
Your tactics.
Your mindset.
Everything gets tested.
We only had three teams in our group. First up: New Zealand.
I lost a heartbreaker in my singles match, 2–3. Corey went into full warrior mode and won both of his singles. The last one was insane – down 0–2, then pulling Houdini-level pool to turn it around and clinch it for us. Sargon played super solid in his doubles match. Calm. Composed. Rock steady.
Our second match was against Portugal – basically for the group win.
This was my moment.
I won both of my singles matches, 3–1 and 3–1.
We tied the match overall 2–2, but it was enough to secure first place in the group. Big confidence boost for all of us.
In the final 16, we ran into a red-hot Singapore team.
They played lights out and beat us 3–1.
No excuses – they earned it.
What really stood out was the overall level of play.
Heyball has grown. A lot.
Across all nations.
Even the super favorites, Great Britain, exited early. That says everything.
Considering none of us hadn’t played much Heyball in years, I think we performed really well as a team. And honestly, it left us hungry for more.
Representing the United States meant something special to me.
I’ve lived in the U.S. for over twenty years.
It gave me a home.
A way to earn a living.
Friends that became family.
A life.
I spent my entire adult life there.
After leaving the German national team two years ago and finally receiving my U.S. citizenship after 16 years of holding a green card, it felt natural. Clear.
I wanted to represent the United States.
Not for headlines.
Not for any single event.
People always bring up the Mosconi Cup.
That’s not why I made this choice.
I chose this because this is where my life is.
Where I built everything.
Wearing that jersey motivates me.
It feels like a new chapter.
I will always be proud to be German.
Always grateful for what I achieved for my country.
Those years shaped me.
But this decision isn’t about the past.
It’s about where I am now.
And that’s Team USA.
Getting to know Corey and Sargon better was one of the best parts of this trip. Great guys, great energy, so much fun to compete with. Real teammates.
Heyball is pushing hard to become an Olympic sport, and after this experience, I understand why. It deserves it.
I truly hope I can enter more events in this game.
It can only elevate my overall level.
I’ve won most of my money playing 8-ball, but this table demands a different kind of precision and strategy. There’s so much to learn.
And that excites me.
Big thank you to my sponsors for the support:
🙏 Molinari Cues
🙏 Gabriels Tables
🙏 DynaSpheres Balls
🙏 Amsterdam Billiards
🙏 Onboard Sportswear
Couldn’t do this without you.
More to come.
