Player: Joshua Filler
Event: 2024 World Pool Masters
Location: Hildesheim, Germany
Date: April 28, 2024



Plenty of pool players are happy their endeavor can only be metaphorically compared to a heavyweight boxing match – though it's worth mentioning that BCA Hall of Famers like Darren Appleton and Danny DiLiberto have solid claim to success in the sweet science. Nevertheless, when it comes to trading blows and finding the courage to get back up, the 2024 World Pool Final is a great study in character.

Matching world champs Joshua Filler and Fedor Gorst, the race-to-13 had all the drama of a 12-round slugfest. But for this month's entry in all-time great shots, the masterpiece comes in the first rack of what grew into an instant classic.

Gorst worked his way through the end of the rack, but found himself an inch from the 9 ball without a natural angle at a pocket. Attempting to a two-way shot, he banked the 9 to the left corner, while the cue ball rolled to a stop against the footrail.

Filler came to the table facing the layout in the diagram. As you can see, it is pretty straightforward. The cue ball, the 9 ball a half-table away, and one of two corner pockets to choose from.

With a light touch that belies the difficulty of the shot, the German split the top left pocket while the cue ball slowly ricocheted off two cushions.

The first few rounds of the bout went to Filler, who took an early 3-0 lead. Gorst responded, grinding out racks on his way to a 10-8 lead. But Filler found a second gear and took four straight racks to get on the hill, 12-10. But the American found another gear, just like he has throughout his 2024 campaign, to take the final three racks including a break-and-run for the title-clincher.

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