Fedor Gorst secured his first World Pool Masters title in a thrilling fashion, overcoming Joshua Filler 13-12 in the longest match in the tournament’s history. The match was a see-saw battle, with both players experiencing ups and downs. Gorst was handed an early advantage after Filler’s win in the lag from the opening break, but was hooked after an attempt to pot the 8 ball. Filler clinched the first rack and went on to win three in a row.
Gorst picked up his first rack win in the fourth frame following Filler’s dry break, but conceded the advantage with his own dry break in the sixth. Gorst capitalized on Filler’s miss on the 4-ball with a safety shot in the eighth, which forced Filler to falter on a 5-ball jump shot. The American took the lead in the ninth after clearing the table.
Both Filler and Gorst engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the next few racks. Filler’s impressive jump shot leveled the score, but by rack 17, Gorst had established a two-rack advantage, 10-8, over his German opponent. However, Gorst failed to pot the 3-ball in the 19th, allowing Filler to come back into play and bring himself to a hill. Filler’s dry break in rack 23 halted his momentum, allowing Gorst to tie the match and bring it to a hill-hill. Gorst cleared the rack to secure the title.
Gorst’s victory is a testament to his skill and determination. The World Pool Masters is a prestigious tournament, and Gorst’s win is a major accomplishment in his career. The first signature Matchroom major open event comes next at the Telford International Centre, Telford for the UK Open Pool Championship from May 7-12 live on Sky Sports.
