The 26th Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship got underway this morning and the crowd got a tight match right off the bat. Defending champion Earl Strickland went 6-10 down against Winterhaven Florida's Joshua Degler. Strickland was plagued by uncharacteristic position errors that forced a kick on the 7-ball in the 19th game and a kicking duel in the case game before Strickland was able to to win the match 11-10. Strickland will face Donnie Mills in his next match.