I was waiting for you to challenge my statement, sjm. Based on what? Watching all three play a ton the past few years, especially Chua.
Lots of players, of course, could beat Filler and Gorst when in the highest gear.
In my view, Chua has the third highest gear in pro pool as of right now.
Doubt it. Depends on what you mean by demolish. I'd favor Filler. I could see him winning 120-100 in a long race. But not much more than that.
One could argue the difference in Fargo between Filler and Chua is of statistical significance.
Being very familiar with statistical significance in my day job, I can assert quite confidently that a 12-point gap between Filler and Gorst, and a 12-point gap between Gorst and Chua, is statistically insignificant. Margin of error.
Filler is the better player, but not for a moment do I believe that Filler is better at everything in 9 ball compared to Chua. Chua is just too good.
More generally:
Nobody now playing in the WNT is as good as Chua at thin cuts. Filler wouldn't even try some of the shots Chua regularly takes and makes, preferring to play safe instead. And for good reason. As you point out, Filler is a great safety player. Chua isn't.
Chua is more accurate than Filler or Gorst, imo, at shots that require very hard hits to get good position. He is as good as anyone I've seen now playing. I'd only maybe put SVB and pre-injury Kaci in Chua's company.
Chua is better than Filler at swinging the ball around the table to get good or better position. Chua is the most aggressive player on the tour at doing this.
Chua is definitely behind Filler and Gorst on defense. Which is why I do not believe Chua is below either of them on offense.
He is arguably the most aggressive offensive player in the game. And that's how he makes up for a less comprehensive defensive game.
Agreed. Based on major wins, you are of course correct. Chua's career performance pales in comparison to Filler. Gorst has also separated himself from most other players in the past few years.
There are different kinds of conversations when talking about the best players in any sport. There's talk about who's the best, period. Filler is already in that conversation. Gorst might be entering it soon.
Then there's the conversation about who is playing at a high level now. In the present.
A few years ago, FSR was playing better than anyone. For a two-year stretch he was the most successful player in pool. A few years before that, it was Albin Ouschan.
Chua is in that conversation now imo, but as you point out, he has a way to go. Heck, he's is not even at FSR or Ouschan territory yet.
Can he get there? As much as I love Chua for his style of play and personality, I am skeptical. He would need to bring his defensive game to a whole new level and just be more consistent overall.
Filler and Gorst are so good in large part because they are so consistent.
Chua is 33. Not old for a pool player, but I think the next big challenger to Filler-Gorst will come from someone who is much younger.
