US Open (9 ball) 2024, August 19-24, Atlantic City

Really tough to pick a favorite here.

Only Fedor has two world 9-ball championships among the semi-finalists. The others have just one.

Only Shane and Josh have won both the US Open and the World 9-ball championship, two of the three hardest titles to win in pool.

Only Josh has won each of the three hardest titles to win on the pool calendar (World 9-ball, US Open, China Open)

Only Shane has five US Open titles on his resume, and his pedigree in the event well might carry the day.

Fedor has certainly been the best player in 2024 to this point, pulling off the very difficult double of the World Pool Masters and the World 9-ball, so maybe that will be the key factor.

Niels is the most recent BCA Hall of Fame inductee with a World 9-ball title and a silver medal at the US Open.

I think the best story out there would be if Shane were to win the US Open in his Hall of Fame induction year.

Yes, it's true. I have no idea who will be hoisting the trophy come Saturday night. Whoever it is will have surely earned it!
 
skogstokig said:
haven't seen niels play at all but looking at the bracket he's beaten all his opponents with 4 or more racks.

to my knowledge niels hasn't been on the tv table at all, so that could favor fedor.
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That and he is a cyborg....and the #1 player I'm the world.

Neils still can play at a high level. A family man, but will always be the Terminator.

Filler could win just free stroking in 30 minutes.

SVB can win with his pool brain and his incredible will.

This is going to be an incredible finish.


Barry Hearns played this event!
He announced he is adding 200k to the event on 2025. To 500k with a 100k first prize.
Matchroom is doing so much for pool players and fans. It is great to see.
 
SA96 said:
SVB had all of the luck in the last match.

If he plays like this tomorrow vs Filler, he will lose.
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Did you see Fedor's last 2 sets?
That was luck....but skill as well.

SVB will be fresh and his game will be peak.
Filler absolutely can beat him though.
Going to be a crazy finish.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The first Matchroom US Open did have clocks on every table, IIRC. The problems were getting that many volunteers (basically) and the associated costs. Unless you go to chess clocks you're looking at 50 or 60 extra staff.
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Some genius is going to invent a CHESS CLOCK...for pool. Players tap in.
 
SBC said:
Did you see Fedor's last 2 sets?
That was luck....but skill as well.

SVB will be fresh and his game will be peak.
Filler absolutely can beat him though.
Going to be a crazy finish.
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yea, fedor got so many rolls that it felt like he was anointed by the pool gods to get the title he doesn't have.

played brilliant as well, of course. i can't call any match from here on, can see all four winning the title. i wonder if fatboy's svb and gorst vs the field got any takers?
 
Niels says he doesn’t consider himself a full pro anymore. Maybe the “I’m here for the ride and to have a good time” takes some of the pressure off and he freewheels his way to victory?

I’m rooting for SVB though. 6 US Opens might not be something we see again for a long time. The talent field is so deep and strong now the odds of repeat victories seem much harder to come by to me.
 

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BlueRaider said:
All 4 remaining players are world champions. And for all his titles, Filler is the only with just a single world title.
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For one, I don't see how filler ever loses to anybody. His 14.1 patterns applied to 9b are beautiful and he is playing a far easier game than his opponents.

I guess it speaks to how easy 9b is for these guys. They can all dominate or be dominated.

Whatever, always a good show (applies to highlights only)!
 
Black-Balled said:
For one, I don't see how filler ever loses to anybody. His 14.1 patterns applied to 9b are beautiful and he is playing a far easier game than his opponents.

I guess it speaks to how easy 9b is for these guys. They can all dominate or be dominated.

Whatever, always a good show (applies to highlights only)!
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I definitely think if they all play their absolute best game then Filler wins it, he seems to be peaking as the tournament goes on. Although I’d prefer Niels to get it and if not him then number 6 for Shane
 
JusticeNJ said:
Niels says he doesn’t consider himself a full pro anymore. Maybe the “I’m here for the ride and to have a good time” takes some of the pressure off and he freewheels his way to victory?

I’m rooting for SVB though. 6 US Opens might not be something we see again for a long time. The talent field is so deep and strong now the odds of repeat victories seem much harder to come by to me.
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I hope Neils has one more big one in him. He seems like a genuinely good guy.
 
skogstokig said:
yea, fedor got so many rolls that it felt like he was anointed by the pool gods to get the title he doesn't have.

played brilliant as well, of course. i can't call any match from here on, can see all four winning the title. i wonder if fatboy's svb and gorst vs the field got any takers?
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I will take Filler over them for 2 to 1 on the money....up to 1000
 
I am rooting for Shane first because he is home grown American. Fedor is a very close second because he is a USA citizen now and because he is the best player in the world using one of my machines to keep his cues in top notch playing condition..
 
Does anyone know SVB's track record against Filler deep in a major? I vaguely recall SVB winning a match or two maybe but my general sense is that Filler has been really hard for him to get past.
 
Tin Man said:
Does anyone know SVB's track record against Filler deep in a major? I vaguely recall SVB winning a match or two maybe but my general sense is that Filler has been really hard for him to get past.
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The only match I remember SVB winning against him in a major (or semi-major in this case?) is the 2021 World Pool Masters. That one went hill-hill in the semis. Then Shane got blanked by Kazakis in the finals.

Of course, he also beaten him plenty in the Premier League format, but everyone beats everyone there given how many times they all play each other.

YouTube search isn't helping much here, but I actually think the two haven't met very often in majors.
 
Yes, not much to separate the 4 and any of them will be a deserving winner.
Though hard to bet against Filler. Under extreme pressure, the consistency of his potting/shotmaking is higher than strengths of others in breaking, cue ball control etc. Plus his supreme self confidence mental game is also higher.

The writing is actually on the wall :ROFLMAO:

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