CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:42
Meeting Fedor Gorst: early start in Russian Pyramid and world-class status at 22
Joe introduces Fedor as the first pro pool player on the show and establishes how unusual it is to be elite at 22. Fedor explains he started in Russian Pyramid at age six with a coach and has been around the game his whole life.
- •Fedor’s age (22) and Joe’s assessment of him as top-tier globally
- •Fedor’s first discipline: Russian Pyramid, starting around age six
- •Early coaching and constant exposure to billiards
- •Why rankings in pool can be inconsistent across systems
- 0:42 – 2:57
Being banned as a Russian athlete: tournament access and politics in cue sports
They discuss how Russian athletes were temporarily banned from international pool events after the Ukraine invasion and how that affected Fedor’s tournament schedule and ranking points. Joe contrasts this with other sports (UFC, hockey) where Russian athletes continued competing.
- •Timeline of the ban and when it was lifted
- •Impact on rankings due to missing official events
- •Pool’s smaller ecosystem: banning only a handful of Russian internationals
- •Differences in how sports organizations handled Russian participation
- 2:57 – 5:52
First trip to America: Derby City Classic at 16 and the ‘hustler convention’ subculture
Fedor recounts coming to the U.S. in 2016 to play the Derby City Classic and performing remarkably well as a teenager. Joe explains Derby City as a massive festival-like event where tournament pool and gambling culture collide.
- •Fedor’s first U.S. event: Derby City Classic (2016) at age 16
- •Deep run in nine-ball among 500+ players
- •Derby City as an eight-day ‘pool fest’ with gambling, cues, and characters
- •Joe’s interest in documenting the Derby City subculture
- 5:52 – 8:24
Action vs tournaments: high-stakes one-pocket and the economics of gambling matches
They move into pool gambling (“action”), including what separates an action player from a tournament pro. Fedor describes his biggest win ($51,000) and how bets escalate, plus how handicaps (“spots”) work in one-pocket.
- •Defining ‘action’ (gambling) vs tournament professionalism
- •Fedor’s biggest single-session win and how per-rack betting escalated
- •Explaining one-pocket rules and ‘race to eight’ goals
- •How and why stronger players give ‘spots’ (handicaps)
- 8:24 – 11:56
Switching from Russian Pyramid to pool: coaching culture and disciplined training systems
Fedor explains why he transitioned from Pyramid to pool as a child, and how Russia treats cue sports more like formal athletics with coaches and facilities. Joe compares this to U.S. bar-culture pool and to other countries’ development systems.
- •Table height/reach issues and the push to switch to pool to go pro
- •Russia’s sport-style structure: coaches, programs, facilities
- •Contrast with U.S. pool as entertainment/bar activity
- •Examples of countries with structured training (China, Taiwan, Germany, etc.)
- 11:56 – 17:55
What Russian Pyramid looks like: 12-foot table, tiny pockets, and fundamentals
They pull up footage and break down how Russian Pyramid differs from pool and snooker. The discussion highlights how tougher equipment demands cleaner technique and why some pool players can succeed with unconventional form.
- •12-foot table, larger balls, extremely tight pockets
- •Disciplines (cue-ball rules) and ‘any pocket’ scoring
- •Why fundamentals are stricter in Pyramid/snooker than in many U.S. pool setups
- •How childhood table reach can shape unusual stances and strokes
- 17:55 – 19:12
Building a career: Eurotour path, sponsorship luck, and a pivotal backer relationship
Fedor details the European development pipeline (Eurotour) and how he self-funded early travel. He shares a formative story: after losing a small-stakes match during hard times following his father’s death, the opponent offered to sponsor and guide his career.
- •Eurotour as a primary proving ground for European players
- •Self-funded first Eurotour and early results
- •Father’s death and financial strain during formative years
- •Unexpected sponsorship offer that changed his trajectory
- 19:12 – 34:07
Hard Times, magic rack perfection, and Mosconi Cup politics
Joe praises a near-flawless set Fedor played against Oscar Dominguez and uses it to discuss equipment standardization (magic rack) and runout dominance. They pivot to the Mosconi Cup atmosphere and the controversy of Fedor not being selected amid geopolitical sensitivities.
- •‘Absolute Perfection’ set vs Oscar Dominguez and what made it special
- •Magic rack effects: repeatable breaks and higher runout rates
- •Mosconi Cup format, crowd behavior, and team dynamics
- •Debate over why Fedor wasn’t picked and perceptions around being Russian
- 34:07 – 43:28
Legends and characters: Earl Strickland impression, eccentric training, and cue extensions
Joe plays his famous Earl Strickland impression and they celebrate Earl’s outsized personality and longevity. The conversation expands into equipment quirks—extensions, balance, oversized tips—and how top pros adopt innovations over time.
- •Earl Strickland’s eccentric image vs undeniable greatness
- •Joe’s impression clip and Earl’s reactions
- •Extensions and how they change balance/momentum
- •Trends among modern pros adopting small or permanent extensions
- 43:28 – 51:43
Cues, shafts, deflection, and ‘feel’: choosing equipment at the elite level
They go deep on cue tech: kielwood vs carbon fiber, low vs high deflection, and why preferences are personal and era-dependent. Fedor explains his lighter cue setup and how he arrived at his current shaft diameter through experimentation and chance success.
- •Kielwood vs carbon fiber: consistency vs feel
- •Deflection explained (squirt) and how it changes aiming with english
- •Fedor’s cue specs (lighter weight; 12.5mm tip) and previous smaller shafts
- •How pros adapt to equipment based on what they learned on early
- 51:43 – 55:58
Body mechanics and longevity: stretching, lower-back pain, scoliosis, and training tradeoffs
They discuss how pool posture can create chronic issues, especially for tall players, and how Fedor manages lower-back pain with stretching and core work. Joe suggests strength tools like reverse hypers and compares repetitive-sport imbalances to archery.
- •Back pain from stance mechanics and years of repetition
- •Fedor’s stretching routine and scoliosis concerns
- •Strengthening/decompression options (hip extension, reverse hyper)
- •How asymmetric sports can distort the body over time
- 55:58 – 1:02:39
Practice systems and the modern break: drills, break-box rules, and training devices
Fedor outlines what ‘real practice’ looks like (break, jumps, kicking, weak areas) and how many hours he trains based on tournament load. They explore break-dominant modern formats, referee racking rules, and specialized training devices used in Russia/Asia to groove straight cueing.
- •Practice structure: drills plus targeted skill work
- •Break as a massive edge in nine/ten-ball, especially with template racks
- •Rule changes: break box, 9 on the spot, referee racking for randomness
- •Training gadgets (tube guides, ball machines) for straight stroke development
- 1:02:39 – 1:14:42
Pressure, routines, and performance drugs: beta blockers, amphetamines, and marijuana debates
They analyze how pool pressure concentrates into single decisive shots and why pre-shot routines (like a backswing pause) matter. The conversation turns to drug testing, beta blockers, historical amphetamine use in marathon action, and Joe’s views on marijuana as performance-enhancing in feel-based tasks.
- •High-pressure moments and the need for consistent pre-shot routine
- •Fedor’s process: visualization, speed/spin decisions, pause on backswing
- •Drug testing concerns: beta blockers and anxiety suppression
- •Action culture and stimulants (Adderall/amphetamines) vs tournament environments
- 1:14:42 – 1:36:54
Philippines pool culture and ‘shark-proof’ players: chaos, gambling, and intimidation tactics
Fedor describes visiting the Philippines and being stunned by the everyday skill level, while Joe shows a crowded Efren match environment filled with distractions. They define ‘sharking’ (intentional distraction), share stories of shady moves—even among pros—and recount a gun incident tied to small gambling disputes.
- •Everyday high skill level in the Philippines and pool’s cultural prominence
- •Match environments: crowds inches from the table, powder, noise, phones
- •Definition and examples of sharking and gamesmanship
- •Gambling risks and intimidation stories (including gunfire over small stakes)
- 1:36:54 – 2:16:29
Why pool struggles (and how it might grow): streaming, formats, bar tables, and future plans
They step back to discuss pool’s boom-bust cycles, shrinking pool halls, and how the internet and streaming are rebuilding momentum. Fedor previews his packed tournament schedule, explains Calcuttas and bar-table culture, and closes with his philosophy: focus on getting better rather than chasing rankings—while immigration status affects travel.
- •Pool’s U.S. popularity cycles and the role of Matchroom/streaming
- •Joe’s idea to host and commentate matches to broaden appeal
- •Bar-table tournaments, loud environments, and Calcutta money often exceeding purses
- •Fedor’s near-term schedule, green card process, and goals centered on improvement
