garczar said:

He still gets nervous at crunch times. Still makes the odd error when least needed. He does have great mechanics.

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jbart65 said:

This is true of all the top players, as you know. Filler make a pair of really big mistakes vs Shane that cost him the match. Not the first time I have seen that from Filler.

Shane played consistently well in Florida after a rusty opener against Payne McBride that he won 9-7. And the field he beat was impressive.

I'd offer a few caveats, though.

-Souquet is way past his prime.
-Albin is no longer a top 20 player. He's been on a downward arc since fall 2024.
-FSR has lost half a gear in the past few years.
-Kaci has been inconsistent since his injury a few years ago. He has yet to rediscover his form (maybe he never will).
-Kazakis played superb in the semis but he's a grinder who's leveled off the past few years.

SVB should have beaten all of these players, and he did. Only Josh was the real challenge, and Josh had SVB down for the count.

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dtroup64 said:

From Claude.ai:

Van Boening's case for GOAT is getting stronger — he's not just a great 9-ball player who dabbles elsewhere; he's a legitimate multi-discipline threat at the highest level, which is exactly the trait that used to be Reyes's calling card alone. Many current pros and commentators now put SVB in the true GOAT conversation, not just "greatest American" or "greatest 9-ball player."

Where I'd still lean Reyes, if pressed: era and mythology matter in GOAT debates, and Reyes did it against a global, less-specialized field over a longer stretch, with a reputation for shots and escapes that still gets replayed as the standard of creativity in the sport. But it's genuinely closer than I made it sound, and reasonable people who follow the sport closely go either way now — especially with SVB still adding to his case in real time, like this week.

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garczar said:

He still gets nervous at crunch times. Still makes the odd error when least needed. He does have great mechanics.

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1sttbone said:

I believe Shane has been working on his break a lot and has found something for him. He seldom scratched and his spreads were better. Hes even making the wing ball more often. this is no fluke. The nine on the spot is a Finess break and easier for someone with less power.

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Ed Keeney said:

Can someone give onsite to jumping balls on worn felt compared to new. I’m having g a tough time. E

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