Buffalo's Pro Classic 2025

[AtLarge]

Here's a little evidence that Filler didn't win this event on just firepower, but is a heck of a good all-around one-pocket player.

Filler played 6 matches in the event. Four of them were on Table 1 and were included in the matches for which I did stats. In those 4 matches, Filler played 27 games and had a total ball count of 180 (160 in the 20 games he won and 20 in the 7 games he lost). Here are the counts on how he got that total ball count of 180 and on what his "out" runs were.

■ Filler's ball counts by length of run in his 4 matches (27 games) on Table 1:

1 ball -- 34 times​

2 balls -- 15​

3 balls -- 4​

4 balls -- 10​

5 balls -- 1​

6 balls -- 1​

7 balls -- 2​

8 balls -- 3​

Plus balls pocketed by opponents -- 24​

Minus fouls -- 9​

TOTAL ball count -- 180​

■ Filler's "out" runs in the 20 games he won on Table 1:

1 ball -- 8 (40% of 20 games)​

2 balls -- 2​

3 balls -- 3​

4 balls -- 2​

5 balls -- 1​

6 balls -- 0​

7 balls -- 1​

8 balls -- 3 (15%)​

Total -- 20​

Average (mean) "out" run -- 3.25 balls​

Average (median) "out" run -- 2.5 balls​

So in those 4 matches, he ran more than 4 balls just 7 times, 5 of which were out runs. The 24 balls pocketed for him by his opponents were, of course, mostly balls hung in the jaws of his own pocket by Filler. But Filler's longest run that was followed by his opponent pocketing one of those hangers was a run of 4.

 

[sjm]

I thought this might be a year when a one pocket specialist took the win at Buffalo's until it became obvious Filler was unstoppable. I thought knowledge of one pocket might trump raw horsepower. I don't buy streams because I don't watch most of the stream after buying one so I don't know, does Filler move well or was it more raw shot making ability? It doesn't really matter, just curiosity.

Let me open with the fact that I'm not a one-pocket guru. My sense of what happened this weekend is this.

Josh had a moves game that was elite, if not quite as elite as the top few. For example, I think Tony Chohan has a few more skills in dealing with balls near his opponent's pocket than Josh. Some of the shots Tony played to remove balls near opponent's pocket were breathtaking, while Josh went wrong once or twice in this area. Josh shows at least as much billiard knowledge as anyone in the game today, and his speed control is at least as good as anyone but Gorst.

Where Josh differed from the others was in his willingness to take on some missable shots, some of them bank shots, despite the fact that there was a ball near his opponent's pocket that he knew he'd give up on a miss. His aggressive play, of course, reflected his incredible, and possibly unprecedented, skills in offensive execution. Only Gorst plays one-pocket with a similar mindset.

Josh is only one of several truly elite stars of one-pocket, but he is probably the most fearless one pocket player that we have ever seen. The old schoolers practically dare you to shoot something chancy. Filler tends to accept the challenge and, more often than not, makes them regret it.

 

[pt109]

I’m pretty sure that Filler is his inherited name….but it could’ve been his pool hall moniker also….’cause that’s what he does to pockets.

 

[ShootingArts]

Let me open with the fact that I'm not a one-pocket guru. My sense of what happened this weekend is this.

Josh had a moves game that was elite, if not quite as elite as the top few. For example, I think Tony Chohan has a few more skills in dealing with balls near his opponent's pocket than Josh. Some of the shots Tony played to remove balls near opponent's pocket were breathtaking, while Josh went wrong once or twice in this area. Josh shows at least as much billiard knowledge as anyone in the game today, and his speed control is at least as good as anyone but Gorst.

Where Josh differed from the others was in his willingness to take on some missable shots, some of them bank shots, despite the fact that there was a ball near his opponent's pocket that he knew he'd give up on a miss. His aggressive play, of course, reflected his incredible, and possibly unprecedented, skills in offensive execution. Only Gorst plays one-pocket with a similar mindset.

Josh is only one of several truly elite stars of one-pocket, but he is probably the most fearless one pocket player that we have ever seen. The old schoolers practically dare you to shoot something chancy. Filler tends to accept the challenge and, more often than not, makes them regret it.

Thank You!

I would have thought his runs after making a ball would be higher than AtLarge shows. Then again I would have thought he would be weaker at moving than you indicate. Obviously I haven't been paying attention to the modern game! I would have guessed at least a half dozen there that would have outmoved Filler and Efren while not there might still be the best in the world when it comes to one pocket moves. He has faded considerably in other areas, no surprise. Corey was there, didn't notice where he finished. Corey has to be ranked one of the craftiest players in pool regardless of the game.

I find myself drawn to one pocket, straight pool, and eight ball as a spectator. I like to play nine and ten as much as ever but they have gotten less entertaining to watch with the modern game and players, one reason I haven't been watching as much pool. I am going to try to watch more, this new generation has gotten interesting to me. While I don't consider the high run records to be exactly apples to apples with Mosconi, I suppose Mosconi wasn't apples to apples with those that came before him. Seems very likely I could be around to see 1000 ran which I have to say would be quite an accomplishment if done in a manner similar to past efforts. It certainly seems doable now when it didn't seem that way to me even five years ago.

Interesting times! When it comes to pool I mean that in a good way.

Hu

 

[AtLarge]

... Corey was there, didn't notice where he finished. Corey has to be ranked one of the craftiest players in pool regardless of the game. ...

Deuel finished 17th-24th -- 2 wins (Tokoph and Calderon) and 2 losses (Gomez and Meglino).

 

[ribdoner]

i want to change my "silver member" to "milk drinker".

filler is more of coca cola drinker though. mcdonalds burgers and coke. can't tell from looking at him, i presume he burns the calories doing yoga

i like your post, however, you miss spelled pia