Based on what? Of course, he and many others can beat them both when in highest gear, but Chua's only major championship came at an event in which Filler did not play.
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.
Personally, I think Filler would demolish Chua in a long 9ball race.
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.
Filler 858 Fargo, Gorst 846 Fargo, Chua 834 Fargo
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.
When we're talking 9ball, I'm not sure there is anything that Chua does as well as Josh.
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.
I am a Chua fan. He is a superb player and is a threat to win anything anytime, but he is below Filler and Gorst at both offense and defense, and I'll keep an eye open for the day he wins a major championship in which both appear.
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.
Until he starts winning big at the majors, he is not even in the conversation with the best.
At 9ball, Filler's resume of major titles includes wins ... Filler has accomplished all of this by age 27.
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.
In short, Chua has done nothing to suggest that he belongs in the conversation with the two best.
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.
I think we'd both like to see that change.
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.
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