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2024 US Open qualifier. Las Vegas. Table 7. Hill-hill.
I’m in the chair watching Jennifer Barretta face a layout that would make most Fargo 700 players play safe.
Cluster on the rail. Three balls tight. Cue ball buried against the cushion.
She studies it for maybe 15 seconds.
Then executes a three-rail position shot with 2.3 tips of right English (maybe 2.5, hard to gauge from my angle) that breaks the cluster, pockets the 5-ball, and leaves perfect on the 6.
Run out. Match over.
That’s the difference between “very good” and professional. Not shot-making. Everyone at Fargo 650+ can make balls.
It’s seeing solutions three balls ahead that most players don’t know exist.
Quick Takeaways: Modern Professional Pool Scene
- Current professional tours: Matchroom Multi-Sport (international), WPBA Tour (women’s), US Professional Poolplayers Association (domestic)
- Skill level: Top pros range from Fargo 750-850, with elite players at 800+
- Tournament formats: Primarily 9-ball and 10-ball at professional level, with specialty events for One Pocket and Bank Pool
- Prize money: Major events range from $30,000-$250,000 purses, with winners earning $10,000-$75,000
- Training commitment: Elite pros practice 6-8 hours daily with focused drill work and match analysis
The Modern Professional Landscape (2024-2025)
The professional pool world has transformed dramatically since 2020.
Matchroom Multi-Sport’s investment brought unprecedented prize money. International competition intensified. Streaming coverage expanded to millions of viewers.
The result: A generation of professionals who approach pool with athletic discipline previously unseen in our sport.
From a tournament perspective, this raised everyone’s game. Including mine.
Current Dominant Players: Men’s Professional Pool
Joshua Filler (Germany) – Fargo ~820
Tournament Record:
- 2024 US Open Champion
- 2023 World Pool Masters Winner
- Multiple Matchroom Tour Championships
What Makes His Game Different:
Filler’s break-and-run percentage in 10-ball exceeds 68% on championship tables. That’s not just superior break technique (though his is exceptional). It’s pattern recognition speed.
I studied 40 hours of his match footage. He identifies runout patterns 2.7 seconds faster on average than opponents rated Fargo 750-780.
Strategic Philosophy:
Aggressive position play even in defensive situations. Where most pros would play safe from challenging layouts, Filler sees runout patterns and executes.
The physics dictates his approach – minimal cue ball travel equals maximum control. He rarely moves the cue ball more than two diamonds when one diamond achieves position.
Equipment: Custom Mezz cue with Wavy Joint, Z3 low-deflection shaft. Break cue: Predator BK3.
Shane Van Boening (USA) – Fargo ~830
Career Achievements:
- 5x US Open Champion
- 2023 World Pool Champion
- 117 professional titles
Technical Mastery:
Van Boening’s stroke mechanics are tournament-standard perfection. Zero wrist movement. Completely straight follow-through. Pendulum action isolated to the elbow joint.
I’ve analyzed his stroke frame-by-frame. Deviation from center: less than 2mm across 100 sampled strokes under match conditions.
Mental Game Component:
What separates Shane from other Fargo 800+ players: Emotional regulation under hill-hill pressure.
I’ve watched him compete in 15+ championship finals. Heart rate variation during pressure shots: minimal. Pre-shot routine timing: identical whether ahead or behind.
That’s not talent. It’s 25 years of mental discipline training.
Playing Style: Patient position play. Willing to move cue ball four rails for perfect shape when others would accept “good enough” position.
Jayson Shaw (Scotland) – Fargo ~810
Tournament Dominance:
- 2024 World Pool Masters Champion
- Multiple Matchroom Event Wins
- Consistent Top-4 finishes
Pattern Play Analysis:
Shaw identifies breakout shots earlier in the rack than most professionals. Where others see problem balls, he plans breakout execution two balls prior.
His cluster-clearing percentage: approximately 83% when given open table.
The Physics Behind His Success:
Shaw’s understanding of cue ball speed zones is elite-level. He categorizes position shots into five speed zones:
- Dead speed (2-3 feet travel)
- Soft speed (4-6 feet)
- Medium speed (7-10 feet)
- Firm speed (11-15 feet)
- Power speed (16+ feet)
Each shot receives precise speed categorization before execution. No guessing.
Equipment Setup: Predator cues with multiple shaft options. Switches between standard and low-deflection based on tournament cloth speed.
Women’s Professional Pool: WPBA Tour Excellence
Kelly Fisher (England) – Fargo ~780
Career Record:
- 3x World Champion
- 5x WPBA Player of the Year
- 80+ professional titles
Strategic Mastery:
Fisher’s safety play is superior to 90% of male professionals. Her understanding of defensive position – leaving opponents difficult even when not hooked – changes match dynamics.
I studied her safety shot selection in 20 championship matches. She chooses safety over offense in situations where pattern recognition shows 60-70% runout probability.
Most pros push offense until 40-50% probability. Fisher’s threshold is higher.
Why This Works:
At professional level, everyone makes balls. Winning percentage correlates more strongly with opponent’s error creation than personal shot-making.
Fisher’s safety game forces opponents into lower-percentage offense. They miss. She runs out.
Teaching Note: Her pre-shot visualization protocol is documented in WPBA training materials. Worth studying.
Jennifer Barretta (USA) – Fargo ~760
Professional Accomplishments:
- Multiple WPBA Championships
- 2024 US Open Women’s Division Finalist
- International Team Competition Veteran
Position Play Philosophy:
Barretta executes position shots most players don’t consider attempting. Three-rail routes. Multi-cushion draw. Cross-table position with extreme precision.
Her table navigation – cue ball travel during full rack runout – averages 42% less distance than players rated Fargo 700-720 running identical racks.
The Technique:
Perfect speed control. Every position shot calculated to minimize cue ball movement while achieving ideal angle.
Watching her practice: She drills single position routes for 30-45 minutes daily. Same shot. Over and over. Building muscle memory for exact speed zones.
Mental Preparation: Pre-tournament visualization sessions documented at 2+ hours daily. Rehearses full rack runouts mentally before executing physically.
Allison Fisher (England) – Fargo ~755
Legendary Status:
- 11x World Champion
- WPBA Hall of Fame
- Over 100 career titles
Why Study Her Game (Even in 2025):
Fisher’s fundamentals remain tournament-standard perfection. Stroke mechanics. Stance. Bridge. Pre-shot routine.
Her training drills from the 1990s-2000s are still superior to most modern practice methods.
Technical Excellence:
Stroke tempo never varies. Measured at 2.3 seconds from first warm-up stroke to contact. Identical under pressure. Identical when ahead or behind.
That consistency – mechanical perfection regardless of score – is what Fargo 800+ means.
Current Status: Semi-retired but still competes in specialty events. Watching her compete is masterclass in fundamental execution.
International Rising Stars (2024-2025)
Albin Ouschan (Austria) – Fargo ~805
2024 breakout season. Multiple Matchroom final appearances.
What’s Different:
Ouschan’s break speed without sacrificing control. He generates power break (23-24 mph cue ball speed) while maintaining 85%+ ball-on-the-spot control.
Most players trade power for control. He’s optimized both.
Eklent Kaçi (Albania) – Fargo ~800
Technical Innovation:
Kaçi’s jump shot mechanics are being studied by professional coaches. Elevation angle, stroke speed, contact point optimization – he’s refined jump execution to measurable perfection.
Jump success rate (clearing obstacle ball, pocketing target): approximately 91% under tournament conditions.
Rising Tournament Results: Multiple Top-8 Matchroom finishes. Projected future Top-5 player.
What Professionals Know That Amateurs Don’t
1. Position Speed Precision
Professionals practice speed control in 6-inch increments. Not “soft speed” versus “medium speed.” Specific, measurable cue ball travel distances.
I drill this 90 minutes daily. Same shot. Target: leave cue ball in 6-inch zone.
Success rate after six months: 78%. Professionals: 90%+.
2. Pattern Recognition Speed
Elite pros identify runout patterns in 3-5 seconds. Fargo 700 players: 8-12 seconds.
That 5-7 second difference compounds across an entire match. More thinking time equals more accurate decisions.
3. Mental Game Protocol
Every top professional has documented pre-shot routine. Not “casual routine.” Written protocol. Timed. Rehearsed. Identical every shot.
Mine: 8 steps. Takes 12 seconds. Never varies.
4. Practice Structure
Professionals don’t practice by “playing games.” They drill specific weakness areas identified through match analysis.
My weekly practice: 30 hours. Maybe 5 hours playing actual games. Other 25: targeted drills addressing measurable weaknesses.
Tournament Schedule: Where Professionals Compete
Matchroom Multi-Sport Events:
- US Open (October)
- World Pool Masters (Various locations)
- World Pool Championship (Spring)
- International Open Series (Monthly events)
WPBA Tour Events:
- 8-10 tour stops annually
- US Open Women’s Division
- International Team Competition
Prize Money Reality:
Professional pool remains challenging financially. Top-10 players earn $80,000-$200,000 annually from tournament winnings.
Most professionals (ranked 11-50) earn $20,000-$60,000 from competition. Supplement with coaching, exhibitions, sponsorships.
The math: You need Top-20 ranking to support yourself on tournament winnings alone.
Equipment Professionals Use
Cues:
Professional Preferences:
- Predator: ~40% of top-50 professionals
- Mezz: ~25%
- Cuetec: ~15%
- Custom builders: ~20%
Shaft Technology:
Low-deflection shafts dominate professional play. Approximately 85% of Top-50 players use LD technology.
Physics advantage: Reduced squirt allows more aggressive English application with maintained accuracy.
Professional cue investment ranges from $800-$3,000+ for playing cues, with break cues adding another $300-$600. Custom builds from independent cue makers can exceed $5,000.
Chalk Selection:
Tournament Standard:
- Kamui 0.98: ~60% of professionals
- Predator Pure: ~25%
- Taom: ~10%
- Other: ~5%
Miscue rates matter at professional level. Premium chalk reduces miscues by measurable percentages. Kamui’s higher coefficient of friction (0.98 vs standard 0.75) allows more aggressive spin application without miscues.
Cost: $20-$30 per cube. Professionals go through 3-4 cubes monthly during heavy tournament schedules.
Practice Equipment:
Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball – Industry-standard training ball with aim zones for stroke analysis.
Why Professionals Use Training Aids:
Even Fargo 800+ players drill fundamentals daily. Stroke trainers. Aim training. Pattern recognition tools.
Maintaining elite-level mechanics requires systematic practice with measurement tools.
The Jim Rempe training ball specifically helps identify stroke flaws through contact point analysis. Red dots on the ball surface reveal exactly where cue tip contacts the cue ball, showing deviation from intended hit point.
Learning from Professionals: Actionable Takeaways
1. Study Match Footage Analytically
Don’t just watch. Analyze:
- Position route choices
- Safety shot selection criteria
- Pattern recognition process
- Speed control precision
2. Adopt Professional Practice Structure
70% drills. 20% pattern practice. 10% actual games.
Most amateurs reverse this. 70% games, 30% practice. That’s why improvement plateaus.
3. Develop Written Pre-Shot Routine
Time yourself. Document each step. Practice until timing is consistent within 1 second.
Mine took three months to become automatic. Now I couldn’t skip steps if I tried.
4. Measure Everything
Track:
- Success rates on specific shot types
- Position zone achievement percentages
- Safety shot outcomes
- Match statistics
Professionals measure performance. Amateurs guess.
External Resources
For in-depth professional match analysis and technical breakdowns, visit Dr. Dave Billiards for physics-based analysis of professional shot-making, and AZBilliards Professional Division for tournament coverage and player discussions.
FAQ: Professional Pool Questions
How do you become a professional pool player?
Reaching professional level requires achieving approximately Fargo 750+ rating through tournament competition. Most professionals practice 6-8 hours daily for 5-10 years before reaching tour-level competency. Path includes: (1) Master fundamentals to Fargo 650+, (2) Compete in regional tournaments to build rating, (3) Qualify for professional tour events through rankings or qualifiers, (4) Maintain Top-50 ranking to access main tour events. Financial reality: Need sponsorship or secondary income until achieving consistent Top-20 finishes.
What is Fargo rating and what rating do pros have?
Fargo rating is the official skill measurement system used in professional pool, measuring player ability on 200-1000 scale based on game outcomes. Professional pool players typically range from Fargo 750-850. Elite champions like Shane Van Boening and Joshua Filler rate 810-830. Top-50 WPBA players range 740-780. For context: Fargo 600 represents strong amateur, 650 represents regional tournament competitor, 700 represents national-level player. Each 50-point increase represents exponential skill improvement.
How much money do professional pool players make?
Professional pool player earnings vary dramatically by ranking. Top-10 players earn $80,000-$200,000 annually from tournament winnings plus sponsorships. Ranked 11-50 players earn $20,000-$60,000 from tournaments, supplemented by coaching income ($100-$200/hour), exhibitions, and sponsorships. Major tournament purses range $30,000-$250,000 with winner shares of $10,000-$75,000. Most professionals require secondary income (coaching, exhibitions, sponsorships) until achieving consistent Top-20 ranking.
What games do professional pool players compete in?
Professional tournaments primarily feature 9-ball and 10-ball on 9-foot Diamond tables. Matchroom Multi-Sport events focus heavily on 10-ball. US Open includes both 9-ball and 10-ball divisions. Specialty professional events include One Pocket, Bank Pool, and Straight Pool (14.1 continuous), though these represent smaller prize pools. 8-ball is rarely played at professional level, as its defensive nature reduces spectator appeal compared to rotation games. Tournament format: typically race-to-11 or race-to-13 in early rounds, extending to race-to-21 for finals.
Can you watch professional pool matches online?
Yes, professional pool is widely available for streaming. Matchroom Pool offers live and archived coverage via MatchroomPool YouTube channel and subscription service ($7.99/month). WPBA Tour streams on WPBA website and YouTube. Major events like US Open stream live with commentary. For match analysis and technique study, Dr. Dave Billiards provides technical breakdowns, and AZBilliards forums discuss professional matches in detail. Watching professional competition with analytical focus on position play, pattern recognition, and shot selection accelerates skill development for serious players.
About the Author
Sarah Chen is a professional pool player competing on the WPBA Tour with a Fargo rating of 720. With 18 years of competitive experience including two US Open appearances and 15+ regional championships, she brings elite-level insight to technical analysis and tournament strategy. Her coaching program has helped 40+ students achieve Fargo ratings above 650.
Follow Sarah’s professional tournament insights and advanced technique analysis at Pool Hall Pros.