Yep.

Love me my Nitti...

jbart65 said:

Kaci has become much better at safeties and kicking since his injury. I just think he didn't show it today. I'd argue he is close to elite, if not elite.

Mortiz, on the other hand, is definitely elite. Amazing for such a young player. That's what really separates from so many under-30 players.

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We'll have to agree to disagree here. I don't think Kaci's tactical conceptualization is anywhere near where it has to be to beat guys like Gorst, Filler, Ko Ping Chung, and Biado to the shot in the biggest spots. Guys like Neuhausen and Labutis are, similarly, playing higher percentage pool than Kaci.

All of that said, as far as offensive firepower is concerned, Kaci is super-elite, but just as you suggest, not quite to the level it was pre-injury. I've chatted with him and he has confirmed to me that there are still a few shots on which he fails a little pain.

sjm said:

Let's see what we get from Moritz today. If we get the Moritz that beat Robbie Capito, his chances against Kaci are excellent. If he plays as poorly as he played against Duong, his chances are near zero. Kaci's play has been both solid and consistent from match to match, so he won't go down easily.

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Moritz played well in the first half of the match vs Hoang, but then he faltered. Both and he and Hoang missed shots they normally make.

I'd argue it was nerves more than anything, I contend Matchroom-run majors generate more tension than any event in pool. Once top players go up against each other in the late rounds, they know just one mistake can be costly given the format. The nerves and tension thicken.

Maybe it's the setup. Or the cameras. But most Predator events just dont have the same tension to me as a WNT one.

sjm said:

Filler a big favorite over Mario He, but I recall seeing Mario beat Filler in single elimination at the (?2022?) International 9ball, so you never know.

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Mario He was fading as a top player. This week is the best he has played since 2022 or 2023. He's controlled the table and made the shots he is supposed to make. Positioning and tactical play have been topnotch.

I have always thought his lack of conditioning was a hindrance. But he can beat anyone in a single game.

sjm said:

Josh is clearly the one to beat, but I will resist the temptation to call him a heavy favorite today just because his break hasn't really been working. If his break is even decent, though, he is a heavy favorite, regardless of opponent in the final.

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Filler definitely has not played his best. But he grinds as well as anyone.

jbart65 said:

Hard not to like Moritz, but I admit I was hoping Kaci would win. I wanted a Kaci-Filler matchup. When Kaci smashed Filler several years ago in the UK Open, it was the only time I ever saw Filler intimidated by another player. Kaci was on the verge of becoming on par with Joshua as the world's No. 1 player.

Then the injury happened. Kaci still twitches sometimes. The final shot he missed on the six, he never misses pre-injury.

Neuhausen earned it, and he has every chance to beat Filler if he plays like that again.

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Oh, yeah. I was ringside for that one in London in 2023. Filler's comments after the match spoke volumes. He called himself "a first-row spectator" in that final, the best match we have ever seen Kaci play.

Like you, I think Filler/Kaci in the final would have been exciting, but Moritz was sensational today and deservedly advanced.

sjm said:

Kaci was a little off here, but Moritz was superb, and Kaci has often struggled in matches that, like this one, call for lots of safety play and kicking. Although he has the firepower to run over almost anyone when he's full steam ahead, when he has to fight hard for control of the table, he is not one of the WNT's most elite.

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Kaci has become much better at safeties and kicking since his injury. I just think he didn't show it today. I'd argue he is close to elite, if not elite.

Mortiz, on the other hand, is definitely elite. Amazing for such a young player. That's what really separates from so many under-30 players.

trob said:

Thanks.. I do not . I don’t have the time or the will to go through every forum lol I was surprised it didn’t make it on the main page.

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Look a little harder, been there

Hard not to like Moritz, but I admit I was hoping Kaci would win. I wanted a Kaci-Filler matchup. When Kaci smashed Filler several years ago in the UK Open, it was the only time I ever saw Filler intimidated by another player. Kaci was on the verge of becoming on par with Joshua as the world's No. 1 player.

Then the injury happened. Kaci still twitches sometimes. The final shot he missed on the six, he never misses pre-injury.

Neuhausen earned it, and he has every chance to beat Filler if he plays like that again.

On a perfect kick safe, Moritz got a bonus when the one dropped, A nice safety on the three kept the heat on Kaci, who played a superb jump shot to turn the tables on Moritz. A really nice four ball by Kaci sets up a runout but a poor miss on the six ends his chances, and Moritz is on to the final.

Kaci was a little off here, but Moritz was superb, and Kaci has often struggled in matches that, like this one, call for lots of safety play and kicking. Although he has the firepower to run over almost anyone when he's full steam ahead, when he has to fight hard for control of the table, he is not one of the WNT's most elite.

Moritz gave a "how to" clinic in the kind of pool needed to win in WNT play today. If he plays this well in the final, he'll be dangerous.

Can someone with more technical prowess slow mo that last shot skid?
It looks like he just punted it before being fully set up on the shot.
Hard to see the ball turning at regular speed.

Fantastic run BTW.
Now I don't feel bad for not putting up any decent runs whatsoever on crappy diamonds with old cloth and tight pockets.

Need to go find some bucket GCs

[emoji257]SOLD THANKS[emoji257]


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I have the same questions? Who is knowledgeable about Schon Cues. I was wondering what the most sought after Evan Clarke Schon model was that wasn’t special or limited edition I heard from 93 to 97and what the most desirable skull Schon model that also was not special or limited edition?

well played moritz.