Player: Jayson Shaw
Event: 2024 World Pool Masters
Location: Hildesheim, Germany
Date: April 25, 2024



With a field as stacked as the 16-player, single-elimination World Pool Masters, any first-round matchup could easily be mistaken for a final of a major international event. At the 2024 event, held in Hildesheim, Germany, Jayson Shaw faced Singapore's Alyosius Yapp in a race to nine.

Up 2-1 early, Shaw came to the table in the position shown in the diagram. With the 4 ball against the headrail, the cue ball's direct path to the object ball was blocked by the 6 and 9. Not only that, the natural one-rail kick shot was blocked by the 7-8 cluster just a few inches from the cue ball. For any chance at avoiding a foul, never mind trying to pocket the 4 or play safe, Shaw would have to get creative.

Grabbing the jump cue from his corner, he lined up a nearly full-table kick off the left rail. With a firm stroke, Shaw popped the cue ball over the 7 and 8 balls, having it bounce twice before ricocheting off the long rail and directly toward the 4 ball. The object ball headed directly into the top right corner, as the cue ball navigated through the other balls. It eventually came to a stop against the footrail, giving Shaw a long but manageable look at the 5.

Far from the Scotsman's first entry in the Stroke of Genius, this shot is another great example of Shaw's shot-making ability, creativity, and execution. Considering the power needed for the shot, controlling the cue ball as it bounced into and after hitting the first rail was especially impressive.

Energized by this highlight, he ran away with this first-round set, eventually winning 9-1. After winning his quarterfinal against Shane Van Boening, though, Shaw was sent packing in the semifinal by eventual champion Feder Gorst.

(Check out Accu-Stats' full library of great shots and amazing matches at www.accu-stats.com)