Congratulations to Joshua Filler for Winning the World 9-Ball Championship

Borrowed a friend’s car....figured I’d put in $10 in gas (just went to the store)
...so while I was waiting for the full service attendant, I checked the phone for results...
...then I got a call enquiring how the 9-ball match was going....
...just as I was answering, the attendant showed up at my window...
..I said to the phone “Filler up.”
It cost me an extra $35.40.....:angry:
The kid owes me

Near the end, Carlo weakened a bit...it showed up in his touch...hitting them too hard...
...Joshua kept his smooth delivery...his finesse looked like he was just practising...
...a worthy champion...:bow-down:
 
terryhanna said:
Not sure he wants to play SVB or Dennis just yet

He will prolly just play some more suckers like last time when he played Jeff Deluna, Ronnie Alcano and Roberto Gomez :rotflmao1:
Click to expand...

Was great to see him play all the pinoys last year. He made those tight pockets look like a valley.

Cant wait for the derby...
 
Huge mistake

With Filler winning 6 racks in a row and leading 11 to 7, he broke and made the 8. Easy shot on the 1 and balls wide open.
But NOBODY NOTICED that the 8 was down!! So Biado came to the table and won the rack.
Search Youtube for "Final Filler Biado."
 
millikenb said:
With Filler winning 6 racks in a row and leading 11 to 7, he broke and made the 8. Easy shot on the 1 and balls wide open.
But NOBODY NOTICED that the 8 was down!! So Biado came to the table and won the rack.
Search Youtube for "Final Filler Biado."
Click to expand...

Was it a legal break ?
 
millikenb said:
With Filler winning 6 racks in a row and leading 11 to 7, he broke and made the 8. Easy shot on the 1 and balls wide open.
But NOBODY NOTICED that the 8 was down!! So Biado came to the table and won the rack.
Search Youtube for "Final Filler Biado."
Click to expand...

JoeyInCali said:
Was it a legal break ?
Click to expand...

It was not a legal break....one ball was just short of crossing the balk line....
...Filler showed a momentary look of disgust.....but swallowed it quickly.
 
Nobody can be too surprised that the 2017 Mosconi Cup MVP, who had a 5-0 record with almost superhuman play, is the new World Champion.

Though few of us know much of him or his character, we all know that he has the pedigree and skills of a champion. At least as importantly, we all know that Josh Filler regularly matches up against elite players. Yes, he's match tested and tough.

In my thread about the 2018 Derby city Classic, one poster asked who had won the Louie Roberts Action Award. After noting that the award no longer existed, I commented that had it still existed, it would likely have been won by Josh Filler, who always seemed to be in action.

The many on AZB who profess the importance of regularly matching up in action matches to reach one's potential can certainly point to this moment as tending to validate their point of view.

Well played, Mr. Filler.
 
millikenb said:
With Filler winning 6 racks in a row and leading 11 to 7, he broke and made the 8. Easy shot on the 1 and balls wide open.
But NOBODY NOTICED that the 8 was down!! So Biado came to the table and won the rack.
Search Youtube for "Final Filler Biado."
Click to expand...
I am sure they noticed him making a ball and they also noticed it was a noncompliant break with no 3 point rule made.
 
My only gripe is the damn break. Can they make it more difficult?? It is not that easy at DCC or some of the other tourneys.
 
That was a treat for pool fans. Amazing play by both, the 9th rack Biado made some great shots to get difficult positions.

Buuuuuut so quiet and sterile/cold. Do pro players prefer this environment? I know there was clapping after each rack, but very minimal.
 
BTW here in Europe... annual european championships for youth make a huge meaning for young talents to mature as the players. These events are a great test of their potential. I remember some young raising stars of the last 18 years and Joshua is definitely one of those whose star was one of the brightest. I remember I noticed him first time back then at EPC for youth in Bad Wildungen, Germany when he was 12-13 y.o. kid. He had such a character and so much energy and emotions in him. Just look at his achievements at the EPC for youth in his profile here https://europeanpoolchampionships.eu/player-profiles/. He is definitely one of the biggest young talents in Europe. To be short I'm not surprised he managed to win the title. When it comes to some action with such monsters as SVB and Dennis...he's only 21 so he still has some time to mature and I guess we'll see some great battles.
 
Last edited:
My mistake re the 3 point rule. It was an illegal break. But with no commentators, no mic on the ref and horrendous background nose, and no mention on the Ted Lerner AZbilliard report, I missed it.
 
JAM said:
China Open is a country title, right? Not sure.

This is a world title, though. Might be a wee bit different. I'm not positive, however. :smile:
Click to expand...

You are correct in that the China Open doesn't have "World" in the title, but I would certainly consider it a "major" tournament in the pool world. Similar to the US Open, I consider that a major tournament with fields just as difficult (if not more difficult) than the W9BC.

For me, the list of definite "majors" goes:
World 9 Ball Championship
US Open 9 Ball Championship
All Japan Open
China Open

You could make an argument for Derby City, Turning Stone, Kuwait Open, but I know those 4 tournaments listed above definitely make the cut. I haven't been around pool for too long though (only 8 years), so what do I know? :)
 
Congrats Joshua! I told them last year, on this forum, you are the best and they laughed. You are truly a once in a lifetime talent!:thumbup:
 
weakfingers said:
You are correct in that the China Open doesn't have "World" in the title, but I would certainly consider it a "major" tournament in the pool world. Similar to the US Open, I consider that a major tournament with fields just as difficult (if not more difficult) than the W9BC.

For me, the list of definite "majors" goes:
World 9 Ball Championship
US Open 9 Ball Championship
All Japan Open
China Open

You could make an argument for Derby City, Turning Stone, Kuwait Open, but I know those 4 tournaments listed above definitely make the cut. I haven't been around pool for too long though (only 8 years), so what do I know? :)
Click to expand...

I'd have to give turningstone a no, not nearly the talent as the others.
Jason
 
JAM said:
China Open is a country title, right? Not sure.

This is a world title, though. Might be a wee bit different. I'm not positive, however. :smile:
Click to expand...

Chine Open is a WPA-sanctioned event, and i think it's one of the toughest tournaments. Top Filipinos, Taiwanese and Europeans would always participate in this event.
 
jay helfert said:
Let's see him get in the box with Dennis or Shane. Josh may be the "world champion," but Dennis and Shane are the World Champions when it comes to money games!
Click to expand...

reminds me of the day after Ronnie Alcano won his World 9-ball title. Efren beat him 25-7 in a money match. :grin:
 
China Open has definitely got to count as a 'major' tournament to me. For 9-ball, my big 4 (or 5) tournaments goes: US Open (also international open), China open, world championship, dcc. These events made my list since they all have international, strong fields where there are many potential winners. China open has a very strong field every year and filler beat some top players (including chang jun lin who would go on to win the us international!) in 2017
 
Jay I do not think Dennis or Shane were close to Filler's level at the age of 21. Give him a little more time and he will be spotting them both.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top