On a tense Wednesday night of postseason pool action, the Billiard Kings delivered a commanding 5-2 victory over Cue Action, closing out a flawless three-match semifinal sweep and claiming the third-place honors at the 2026 National Pool Players Association (NPPA) Team Tournament. The three-game series unfolded as a study in contrasting narratives, marked by dramatic momentum shifts and standout individual performances that highlighted the intensity of elite competitive pool.
The opening clash of the series kept spectators on the edge of their seats, as Cue Action mounted a fierce late comeback from an early deficit and advanced to match point before ultimately falling by a narrow 5-4 margin in a decisive final rack. The following night, the Billiard Kings shifted into high gear, shutting out their opponents completely with a dominant 5-0 win that left Cue Action facing an almost impossible uphill battle to force a fourth match.
When the third and final match got underway, Cue Action appeared primed to mount the comeback they needed. Captain Wendy got his side on the scoreboard first, taking down the Billiard Kings’ Demolition Man in straight racks to draw first blood and spark early optimism among Cue Action’s camp. That momentum built further when Willy pulled out a tight 2-1 win over the Kings’ Marshall: after Marshall claimed the opening rack, Willy responded with back-to-back wins to push Cue Action to a 2-0 lead early in the contest.
From that point onward, however, the Billiard Kings seized full control of the table and never let go. The Kings’ Sniper kicked off their comeback with a calm, collected straight-rack victory over Randy, cutting Cue Action’s lead in half, before Killa extended the momentum by defeating Esmil 2-1 — marking the second straight night Killa had outperformed his opponent. Next, Henry secured the Billiard Kings’ first lead of the evening, outlasting Pachy 2-1 in another hard-fought battle that shifted the series firmly in the Kings’ favor.
One of the most compelling storylines of the night was the breakout performance of Grim, who has turned into one of the Billiard Kings’ most impactful postseason players after a winless regular season. Facing Cue Action’s import Alfredo, Grim dropped the opening rack before rallying for back-to-back wins to secure the point, putting the Kings one victory away from clinching the series. This win cemented Grim’s status as one of the most surprising and impressive turnaround stories of the entire tournament.
With the Kings holding a 4-2 lead and the finish line within reach, Jason Roberts stepped up to the table to close out the series. He delivered exactly when it mattered, defeating Cigarro in straight racks to lock in the decisive fifth point and seal the 5-2 match win. The final outcome wraps up a 3-0 clean sweep of the semifinal series for the Billiard Kings, capping off a standout postseason run that has cemented their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in the competition. After surviving a nail-biting opening match, dominating the second encounter, and closing out the series with confidence on Wednesday night, the Billiard Kings depart the 2026 NPPA Team Tournament with the third-place trophy and a massive wave of momentum heading into future competitions.