Shane vs. Fedor

He's not that but he is past his prime.

Gorst? He's been inconsistent so there is that.

I look at it as "passing of the torch" match. If SVB lose then its over for him as a marque player. It's the Gorst generation.

People will watch this historical event. Gorst being the new face of American billiards and SVB riding off into the sunset. Or SVB wins and stays relevant for the time being.
You paint a pretty picture, but I seriously doubt anyone rides off into any sunsets any time soon. This is what they do. Whoever loses will request a rematch. This is likely the beginning of a trilogy, and I'm in there like swimwear!

Im excited and can't wait. Spot the ball
 
I like SVB, but i favor Gorst in this. I can't remeber the last time SVB won a Major Torunament. Gorst just won a Major one.
 
well shane showed in the PLP that he still has stamina. gorst showed the same in the worlds. coin flip.
 
I think this suits SVB's style the most. It allows him to settle in and get the table and break going. Some years ago I watched Shane play Alex 10 ball in Derby City a race to 100 over three days and it was quite amazing. Race to 35 day one and 70 day two and finish at 100 games. On day one Alex had Shane down 34-26 and Alex broke dry. Shane ran the set out day one for a 35/34 lead and came back day two with another 9 pack. End of story. Even the great Alex was put into a serious coma. Final score was something like 100 to 83? Watch out for a similar match.
 
I think this suits SVB's style the most. It allows him to settle in and get the table and break going. Some years ago I watched Shane play Alex 10 ball in Derby City a race to 100 over three days and it was quite amazing. Race to 35 day one and 70 day two and finish at 100 games. On day one Alex had Shane down 34-26 and Alex broke dry. Shane ran the set out day one for a 35/34 lead and came back day two with another 9 pack. End of story. Even the great Alex was put into a serious coma. Final score was something like 100 to 83? Watch out for a similar match.
I'm not sure if the general public can handle that.

If it put Alex in a coma imagine what it would do to us.
 
Sign of the times here that Shane has to say this, for many would have assumed it's an exhibition regardless of the money indicated.

Shane knows that these days, many of the posted "high money" matches are ones in which the advertised money has little, if anything to do with what the players have at stake.

Let's hope this is on the level.
I wish we be privy to the cuetec contract...

Very different from earl's perspective when he was its star.

I wonder if the difference (gamble/ no gamble) is contractually defined or not.
 
I wish we be privy to the cuetec contract...

Very different from earl's perspective when he was its star.

I wonder if the difference (gamble/ no gamble) is contractually defined or not.
Well, what Shane and Fedor are doing is not gambling, they are playing a game of skill against one another for money. Anyone else putting any money on the line is gambling.

I would prefer them to just say "they will get a cut of the PPV, once the PPV reaches X amount". I would gladly contribute to a PPV knowing a cut is going to the players.
 
These types of matches are essentially a glorified exhibition or a marketing exercise designed to build hype/sell PPV. They’re not betting their own money and they get paid regardless of what happens so there is nothing on the line for either of them. Maybe bragging rights but I doubt they care too much about that as you can’t pay the rent or buy fancy Louis Vuitton belts with bragging rights.
I think you under estimate the pride of a pool player.
 
I'm guessing this match is for real money. Gorst can easily post 50K from the 250K he just won at the WPC. Shane has deep pockets too, although he has even more deep pocketed backers. A 100K match is easily doable for these two pool stars. I say it's the real deal!

Yes, they will each get a perk from the Pay For View money, but that's just the gravy for playing a popular match. In the highest echelons of Pool (or any sport for that matter) the top guys all want to be accepted and acknowledged as the very Best, #1! Even in the NBA Finals where the players are are all multi millionaires, to be the NBA Champions means more to them than just the money.
 
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I'm guessing this match is for real money. Gorst can easily post 50K from the 250K he just won at the WPC. Shane has deep pockets too, although he has even more deep pocketed backers. A 100K match is easily doable for these two pool stars. I say it's the real deal!

Yes, they will each get a perk from the Pay For View money, but that's just the gravy for playing a popular match. In the highest echelons of Pool (or any sport for that matter) the top guys all want to be accepted and acknowledged as the very Best, #1! Even in the NBA Finals where the players are are all multi millionaires, to be the NBA Champions means more to them than just the money.
From Shane’s post on Facebook: “I will be ready and prepared to play against #1 in the world. My backers are ready!” (Emphasis mine)

No shot these guys are putting up the $50k on their own. Maybe a piece, but definitely not the full amount. There’s no reason for them to.
 
I am looking forward to this.

Curious if they are using a template rack or a triangle rack. I think these days I'd assume it's a template. I think a triangle would give SVB a big edge. And I agree with that the pocket sizes will be bigger than 4", I'm sure they will be between 4 1/8-4 1/2.

This is one match that isn't entirely clear to me. In the days that SVB was dominating 10 ball in long sets he had a prohibitive breaking advantage. He could catch his gear and start laying down 2s, 3s, and 5s, and no one could keep up. These days the other players have all learned the break, particularly with template racks. I don't know that SVB will have much of a high gear edge.

On the other hand, back in the days that SVB had that high gear edge he needed it because his game was offense heavy and he was new enough to the scene he wasn't entirely rounded. For example, when he played Alex races to 100 between 2008-2011 Alex won about 2/3rds of the games that lasted multiple innings, meaning SVB was at a moving disadvantage. Of course Alex was the premier mover at the time, but I think SVB's moving game has gotten quite a big stronger since then.

So when looking at this match up there might be some small edges with the break and high gear for SVB, the jumping for Fedor, etc, we are talking about two absolute top level players with all skills developed. I don't see huge gaps on either side.

Could it come down to the mental side? Desire and comfort playing in this format? I would probably give Fedor the desire edge, but maybe not. Maybe SVB has gotten fatigued at what feels like flipping coins in short set tournament formats against robots, and is excited to stretch his legs with the long set format that favors old school gear catching style. He feels he is the best in the world in this format and it is one that he feels is actually a good measure of prowess. It might mean a lot to him to send a message to the world that he wasn't the best of 2010, but that he is still able to dominate today's players in a long set format. So I think they're both hungry.

And SVB definitely has more experience in these long set formats, and playing for big cash. Years ago I wouldn't have thought that made a huge difference, but I've seen big money affect tournament players in surprising ways, and this format can be one that favors experience. Easy to say 'just play your game and let the score take care of itself', but in practice I've seen it make a difference. I know Fedor has gambled before andplayed long sets before, but SVB definitely has much more comfort in this format.

I really don't know what will happen, which is why this is going to be a fun match to sweat. I can totally see SVB catching massive gears and putting up big packages and a technically solid but someone tight Fedor being unable to keep up. But I can also see Fedor playing robot perfect, calmly matching SVBs big innings with sound play, grinding out little edges, and frustrating SVB who just wants to freewheel his way to victory but can't make that happen.

But while I don't know who will win, I definintely know I'm going to be picking a horse and sweating the action!
 
Race to 120 in 10 ball over 3 days is unnecessary. Make it a 100 or it just becomes a long drawn out snooze fest with viewers tuning out.
 
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