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I watched Capito's loss to Neuhausen in the European Open to see how he lost. Checked a few other matches, too. I couldn't find much to fault on his runout patterns. Where he faltered vs Moritz was on pushout decisions - either how he chose to push out himself or whether he chose to play a...

The 2025 WPC took place in the last week of July. The 2024 WPC took place in early June. Looking at the WPA calendar, July 21 to July 26, seems the most likely. The first two weeks of June would also work. Hard to see this conflict remaining on the front-burner for three more months, but who...

I have an Avid cue and used to have a Vikore shaft. Both are very good, but I prefer the Avid.

Last year the Ko brothers played in a bunch of big WPA/WNT events. If they stick to all the major Duya Chinese 9-ball tour events this year, however, the US Open appears to be the only major 9- or 10-ball event that is free and clear of any conflict. The Ko's could skip the WPC, even with its...

Some interesting names on this list. Atencio and Szolnoki being as high as they are. Not surprised to see Souto so low. He broke out in 2025, but was clearly not top tier before that.

I accidentally left big Ko off my list! He’s No. 8. Everyone else shifts down and Zielinski gets dropped. I think Wiktor has more pure talent than Maciol, but Maciol is mentally stronger and a better decision maker. Such a smooth player. Both of them should be winning more big majors, though...

Looking at my list again, I had a couple of choices that even I consider questionable. Ouschan was a reach at 19, in my eyes, given the past 2 1/2 years. He did win the 8 ball title last year, but he is far from his peak. I was going to put Wiktor in his spot. Yet Zielinski just can’t get over...

Didn’t you hint at Maciol and Chua? I would have guessed Yapp and SVB.

I have mixed views on the shootout. I do find them exciting, and yes, both players get an even chance. Ultimately, I tend to favor whatever makes the game of pro pool more commercially successful. Such success is what will support the game and its players. As such, credit to Predator for...

I concur that games other than 9 and 10 ball should be taken into account when judging a player. But only, imo, if they have had success in rotation games too. Filler, of course, has that in spades. I really credit Filler for broadening his game to include everything. He's made a concerted...

As far as I know, the only top women's player who has a child is Han Yu. And she doesn't play or travel as much as some other top women. I wonder what will happen pool couples like the Fillers, or the Styers. Can couples who are both among the best in their sport live a normal family life and...

Souto is 24, Matchroom site shows. If I went with under 25, he would have been No. 2 or 3 on my list. There a few big talents in the 24-26 age range. Souto, Capito, Zielinski, Maciol. Still not sure about Krause.

Carlo Biado and Johann Chua are the best players in the world who have young kids. Shaw and Sky have kids, as you noted. Kazakis and Alcaide, too. Szewczyk has a young son. I am not aware of any other very active top 20 or so player with kids.

Flash in the pan in terms of winning a big WPA or WNT event, or getting to the finals of one. Raga has also had several quarterfinal and final 16 finishes in big events. Talent is there. Commitment, we'll see.

Nothing has happened. Raga is still a very good player. High 800-plus Fargo. He does not travel as much as other Pinoys, however. Still Raga has had some good runs in big tourneys here and there. He's also had some bad losses. My suspicion is those bad losses shook his confidence. He looked...

Yes, he was. Kazakis is still a great player, though. I had him at 21. He got married a few years ago and had kids, so hasn't played as much on the global circuit.

FargoRate is great, but how you actually play in big events has to be taken into account. Participation does in fact matter. At the moment, Neuhausen's Fargo lags his actual results. He is playing like a top 5 or top 10 player in the world, based on actual performance.

Agreed. Not saying Predator events aren't intense. They are. But they seem different compared to Matchroom. Last year's 10 ball WPA World Championship in Vietnam was the first Predator event I thought matched a Matchroom major in intensity and nerves. Keep in mind, I am viewing from a distance...

Hence my qualifier. There is pre-injury and post-injury Kaci, and they are two different players. He has never played outside Asia or the Middle East.

My last list. Who are the emerging young stars in the game? I am unaware of generational talent like Filler or Gorst coming up through the ranks. Clearly Moritz Neuhausen is the best under-23 player in the world. After that it’s a scramble. My Top 10 players under 23: Moritz Neuhausen (22)...