A few comments after reading the posts (IMO of course):
-TAR 1 between Corey and Shane brought 10 ball to the masses and abandoned 9 ball as the “Pro” game of choice.
-If you ask the Pros from that moment until today, I’d guesstimate 90% of them would prefer both tournaments and gambling matches they are personally involved in to be 10 ball.
-Shane has had the no 9ball strong preference for over a decade. The only time he slipped was with Donny Mills. Shane beat him, and said he’d never gamble at that game again. Him turning down 9 ball by Filler is to be expected, and Filler/Roy know this.
-If I was Shane, I’d write on Fillers FB: “10 ball is the game of kings. 9 ball is the game of peasants”
-Mars mentioning Shane is fine with a neutral racker as long as players can request and inspect “all balls are frozen” should put to rest all the claims Shane is cheating the rack. Touching the balls very easily ensures they are all frozen.
-This all looks bad on Filler for backing down. Reminds me of Shaw not playing Bergman due to the pockets. But this is worse, because filler is fearless, or rather was