Cincinnati, OH, WPH Press, 7/1/26
Current and former Race 4 Eight pros Sam Esser, Ivan Burgos, Jab Bike, Abraham Montijo, and Matt Job headlined the Cincinnati Caples 3-Wall Invitational at Queen City’s Veterans Park 3-Wall courts on the last weekend in June.
Former Race 4 Eight top six pro and former WPH Icebreaker finalist Sam Esser dominated the 2026 Caples, winning the prestigious event without dropping a game.
Esser overcame Jab Bike’s power in the semifinals and controlled both games against R48 #5 Ivan Burgos in the final.
“I was mixing up my serve well down the left and right and just looking to end rallies as soon as I could,” Esser would later say. “My kill shot was consistent all weekend.”
Semifinals
Esser def Jab Bike 15-11, 15-4
Burgos def Montijo 15-12, 15-12
Final: Esser def Burgos 15-9, 15-11
Picture courtesy of the Sam Burgos
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer