Tight match, what was the bet?
Filler Vs. Gorst
- Thread starter mnorwood
- Start date
Tight match, what was the bet?
InsertCleverNameHere
Well-known member
I think Fedor has a solid edge playing banks for what that’s worth. I’d take Josh playing straight pool for any amount you can count though. Rotation games, who cares.
Not a marathon by today's standards, but certainly a long race.
Raph Cleary
Active member
Not sure was in the azbilliards archives if you want to check-
Goldmine - National Billiard News - 1985 - AZBILLIARDS.COM
The A to Z of Pool and Billiards Online
Fedor's resume at the most elite events doesn't compare to that of Josh, who has each of a World 9ball, a World 8ball, 3 China Opens a US Open 9ball, and a World Games gold medal. In these same events, Fedor has 2 World 9ball titles and a US Open 9ball.
Obviously, this match would be fairly close, but on paper, Filler brings slightly better credentials to the table. in rotation pool games.
I love Efren, great player, nice guy, and an outstanding ambassador to represent our game. But in terms or rotation GOATS, didn't Buddy Hall beat Efren 20-some times in a row in tournaments? Could you imagine that? I'm not sure if that's fact, but I heard Buddy claimed it. I also heard Buddy and Parica mostly avoided matching up against each other.
The only rotation game in which Efren was the best was full-rack 15 ball rotation. At 9ball, he's definitely top fifteen ever, but not one of the top few. Looking at his contemporaries only, I would agree that, at their best, Hall, Parica, Archer, Strickland, Sigel, and Varner were all a small cut above Reyes at 9ball.
What we love about Efren is how he adapted to all the other games. He won a $500,000 first prize at the IPT 8-ball in 2006. He is surely the best ever one pocket player. When he tried his hand at straight pool, he came third in the 1993 US Open. He was great at bank pool, too. He was capable at both snooker and three cushion billiards. Most of all, he played cue sports with more imagination than anyone we have ever seen.
Fedora’s resume is similar in the majors if not better. Filler has one World 9 ball, one US Open 9 ball, one DCC Master of the Table, one AZ Billiard player of the year.
Gorst has 2 World 9 ball championships, one US Open 9 ball, 3 DCC Master of the Table titles, one Billiard Digest player of the year.
They both have won several lesser tournaments.
I will also add that Fedor at the top of his game missed several tournaments due to being banned because of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. He might have added another major or 2 if he had been given the opportunity. The odds might have been against it, but he was dominating when banned.
Everyone has an opinion and rightfully so. Mine is that Gorst has proved that he is as good or better than anyone. Filler’s resume is impressive but not better.
Gorst has 2 World 9 ball championships, one US Open 9 ball, 3 DCC Master of the Table titles, one Billiard Digest player of the year.
They both have won several lesser tournaments.
I will also add that Fedor at the top of his game missed several tournaments due to being banned because of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. He might have added another major or 2 if he had been given the opportunity. The odds might have been against it, but he was dominating when banned.
Everyone has an opinion and rightfully so. Mine is that Gorst has proved that he is as good or better than anyone. Filler’s resume is impressive but not better.
Sorry, but a China Open 9ball title is every bit the equal of the US Open 9ball, and Josh has three of them to Fedor's zero. DCC Master of the Table is a giant step down from any of the World 9ball, US Open 9ball, the China Open 9ball or the All-Japan.
The Russian ban lasted from about March-July of 2022, which was about five months. I believe Fedor missed just one WPA major in that period.
InsertCleverNameHere
Well-known member
Yes, the China Open is a major and prestigious, but not on a US Open level, because it is a relatively new event. It started in 2009. So, give Mr. Filler his due for winning it, but in my opinion, it is not the same as a US Open title. As for the Master of the table at DCC, I have shared my opinion before it is probably the toughest of all titles to win due to the duration, scheduling, and skill required to be at the top in the disciplines you must excel at. I am not debating that Mr. Gorst is a better player, but to say his resume is the equal or better than Mr. Filler's. You can flip a coin when those 2 play. I attempted to see what their head to head record is, again in all disciplines, not just 9 ball. I would imagine it is very close
Actually, for many years, the China Open 9ball offered a more elite field than the US Open 9ball, but the over the past 7 years or so, the US Open 9ball field has caught up with and, quite possibly, as you suggest, passed that of the China Open. Still, a China Open title is every bit on a par with the US Open 9ball as a resume item.
With the exception of the World 9ball, the China Open (and possibly the almost as difficult to win "All Japan" Championship) were the only events in which all the stars of Asia participated until about 2019., As tests, these events were very stiff and only the giants of the game managed to capture these titles. Shane has played in over 80% of the China Opens and All Japan Championships ever contested and has never won either. Shane, Josh, and Fedor have all failed to win the All-Japan to this point. These are two of the most rigorous tests in the history of our game.
Still, in the end, I'm conceding your point. Since the Matchroom takeover of the US Open 9ball in 2019, it has offered an almost unimprovable internationally comprehensive field, and I'm excited that I'm attending the 2025 edition next month.
Thanks for your well-judged thoughts here. The continuing evolution of the US Open 9ball, which may be on track to become as stiff a test as the World 9ball, is something every American pool fan can celebrate.
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I also remember Varner going to Phillippines and playing Efren on his home court in his prime, I think it was over a 3 day period, or? And Nicky beat em.After the break Efren is the GOAT any game imo.. well maybe not banks and 14.1
What I'd like to see now that the chats going, Varner and Efren play a one pocket match 2025, who yah like there?
Based on the form he showed in a third-place finish at the 2023 Derby City One Pocket, I'd pick Efren.
that's what would make it very exciting. especially if it would be multi discipline