Arequipa, Peru | 8 November 2026
The 2026 Pan American Heyball Open came to a spectacular conclusion in Arequipa, Peru, with Jordan Shepherd of Wales and Diana Khodjaeva of Belgium crowned champions in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively.
Six days of international competition brought together 128 athletes – 64 men and 64 women – for a championship featuring some of the leading players in the international Heyball community. With a combined prize fund of USD 116,000, equally divided between the two categories, the event delivered high-level competition and memorable performances across the week.
Jordan Shepherd Claims the Men’s Pan American Crown
The Men’s championship concluded with a special all-Welsh final as Jordan Shepherd faced defending champion Stephen Ellis.
Shepherd produced a commanding performance in the final, defeating his fellow Welshman 7–4 to claim the 2026 Pan American Heyball Open title.
For Ellis, the result marked the end of his title defence after winning the championship in 2025. Shepherd, meanwhile, secured a major international victory and added his name to the list of Pan American champions.
Men’s Final Standings
- 🥇 Champion: Jordan Shepherd – Wales
- 🥈 Runner-up: Stephen Ellis – Wales
- 🥉 Joint Bronze: Craig Brown – England
- 🥉 Joint Bronze: Alex O’Donoghue – Ireland
Diana Khodjaeva Wins Women’s Championship
Belgium’s Diana Khodjaeva emerged as the Women’s champion following a closely contested final against South Africa’s Nicola Rossouw.
In a race to six, the match reached the 100-minute time limit with Khodjaeva leading 5–3, securing the championship victory.
Khodjaeva’s triumph capped an impressive tournament campaign, while Rossouw earned a well-deserved runner-up finish after reaching the final.
Women’s Final Standings
- 🥇 Champion: Diana Khodjaeva – Belgium
- 🥈 Runner-up: Nicola Rossouw – South Africa
- 🥉 Joint Bronze: Sara Rocha – Portugal
- 🥉 Joint Bronze: Marina Jacobs – South Africa
WPALive Brings the Championship to a Global Audience
Digital coverage played an important role in connecting the 2026 Pan American Heyball Open with billiards fans around the world.
WPALive.tv delivered live coverage of the championship through its designated TV Table broadcast, allowing audiences to follow the competition from the opening stages through the decisive knockout rounds and championship finals.
Fans could relive the action through the official viewing platform www.wpalive.tv
Through its live-streaming coverage, WPALive continued its commitment to making international billiards accessible to a wider global audience and bringing major WPA-sanctioned competitions closer to fans, players and the wider cue sports community.
A Championship Bringing the Americas and the World Together
The 2026 Pan American Heyball Open was hosted by the Pan American Billiard Confederation (CPB) and the Peruvian Billiard Sports Federation (FDPB), with the support of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA).
JOY Billiards supported the championship for the second consecutive year, continuing its commitment to the development and international growth of Heyball.
The competition was played on 16 JOY 9ft Heyball International tables, equipped with Liberwin cloth and Dynaspheres balls, providing a professional playing environment for the participating athletes.
The historic city of Arequipa, whose city centre is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provided a memorable setting for the international championship.
Looking Ahead
The conclusion of the 2026 Pan American Heyball Open marks another important chapter in the continued development of Heyball across the Americas.
The WPA and CPB extend their appreciation to the participating athletes, officials, organisers, sponsors and partners whose contributions helped deliver the championship.
Special recognition goes to JOY Billiards for its continued support, alongside Liberwin, Dynaspheres and all the partners who contributed to the event.
Congratulations once again to Jordan Shepherd and Diana Khodjaeva, the 2026 Pan American Heyball Open champions.
Arequipa, Peru – 3–8 November 2026
The World Pool-Billiard Association is the international governing body for pool, working with continental and national federations to promote, regulate and develop the sport worldwide.
