Joe Rogan Experience #1917 - Fedor Gorst

Gorst progressed from a Russian youth program with multiple coaches, then leveled up when European coach Johan Ruijsink took over their national team, showing how methodical coaching and constant fundamentals work outperform casual, self-taught approaches.

Because of the Ukraine conflict, Gorst and other Russians were banned from major events for months and reportedly overlooked for the Mosconi Cup despite his world‑class level, illustrating how geopolitics can override merit in sports selection.

Fedor describes winning $51,000 in a single one‑pocket session and seeing players on Adderall, cocaine, or heroin playing for days, underscoring how high-stakes action sharpens nerves and skills but also pulls players into risky, sometimes dangerous lifestyles.

Gorst outlines his routine—visualizing the shot and cue‑ball path while standing, then dropping down, pausing on the backswing, and delivering—which he relies on to handle intense pressure moments like shootouts and late-stage matches.

They compare Russian Pyramid, snooker, nine‑ball, ten‑ball, bar tables, Magic Racks, and different shafts (carbon fiber vs. Kiel wood vs. high‑deflection maple), showing how pocket size, table speed, and rack consistency shift what skills are rewarded.