German young gun Joshua Filler has just taken the coveted title at the China Open 2017 in Shanghai. The 19-year-old kid ousted an impressive list of big names in the World of Pool to finally eliminate Jung-Lin Chang (TPE) in the final match.
„When I went to China“, stated Filler, „my goal was making it through the group stages. I thought that the field was stronger than in a World Championship and the equipment we play on gives an advantage to the Chinese players since they are used to it.“ „I felt good from the start. I really enjoyed the tournament and when I made it through my group, my next goal was the semi-final.“ „I was not very nervous but I knew at all times that I would need some luck to make it to the next round. The closest match was against Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz (ESP), where both of us would have deserved to go through but luck was on my side“, added a modest Filler.
The next match he was up against Dutch rising star Marco Teutscher. „That match was a fierce fight“, stated Filler, „we both made several mistakes in the match. When I was 8:7 up, he scratched and that gave me the opportunity to get away from him with two racks. In the end, I took the match 11:8 against Marco“.
„My next opponent was World 9-Ball Champion Albin Ouschan (AUT). I was really looking forward for that one. I had a good start and went ahead 3:0 but then I committed a silly mistake and went down 3:4. I was mad with myself so I decided to fight for my dream. The match continued like a dream for me and I was able to win eight racks in a row, winning the match 11:4 over Ouschan“.
„It was unbelievable! I made the semi-final of the China Open“, stated Filler. „My fiancé Pia gave me a lot of faith and strength and she helped me through the tournament.“ „The semi-final against Thorsten Hohmann (GER) was easier than expected since his break shot did not come at all. Suddenly, I was in the final match and that’s when I realised that I could win tis event!“
„In the final match against Chang I needed to double my efforts in order to have a chance. I found a really good rhythm and made use of every mistake of my opponent.“ „When I pocketed the final 9-ball, my heart jumped out of my chest and I really freaked out! My fiancé came into the arena and gave me a hug and I could not believe what I had just achieved. This is all just insane,“ mentioned Filler with a smile on his face.
Filler is now the youngest player ever to win the China Open. Before him it was Albin Ouschan who took the title in 2015 at 24 years of age. Filler is 19 years old and will definitely have a golden future in our sports.
2017浦東唐城世界9球中國公開賽於上海浦東唐鎮體育文化中心圓滿落幕。在男子組決賽方面，年僅19歲的德國新星Joshua Filler決賽中，最終以11-6擊敗現WPA世界排名第2的台灣好手張榮麟奪下冠軍。
進入到單敗淘汰賽後的首場比賽，Filler以11-10力克西班牙年輕好手Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz。16強碰上荷蘭新星Marco Teutscher，兩人在比賽當中都發生幾次失誤，但當我8:7領先之際，Teutscher母球洗袋給了我機會將比數稍微拉開，終場比數定格在11:8拿下勝利。
八強迎戰世界冠軍Albin Ouschan，我很期待這場比賽。我一開賽取得3-0的領先優勢，但因我犯了一個愚蠢的錯誤，而使我反倒以3-4落後。最後我決定為了我的夢想而戰，最終我連續拿下8局，11-4淘汰了Ouschan。接著半決賽再戰勝2009年冠軍 德國老大哥Thorsten Hohmann。
進入到決賽後，第一局張榮麟開球後做防守，Filler決賽第一桿倉促解球失誤，送給張榮麟自由球，張榮麟清台比分來到1-0。第二局Filler靠一個難度極大的遠距離貼顆星球後直接清台，展示了極好的準度，比分1-1平。第三局張榮麟開球後球形複雜，母球洗袋回送Filler自由球，Filler抓住機會反超2-1。第四局Filler開球，目標球翻袋打進後母球高桿用力過大也摔進同一袋口，張榮麟再獲自由球將比分追平。單數第五局開球後雙方互做防守，張榮麟跳球留下3號球遠距立機會，Filler拼進順勢拿下該局3-2再領先。第六局Filler遠距離薄2號球失誤，將其留在袋口，但張榮麟組合球角度判斷失誤，Filler拿回機會4-2稍稍擴大領先優勢。
這時，張榮麟有經驗的喊暫停進行調整。暫停回來第七局張榮麟開球違例，Filler依靠很好的母球控制漂亮地處理完困難球形，將比分拉開至5-2。第八局Filler開球沒有進攻機會，此時他展示了良好的防守能力，張榮麟果然解球失誤送出自由球，Filler繼續神奇發揮6-2。第九局Filler通過一個難度極大的跳球上手，母球越過2顆障礙球後目標球應聲進袋，博得全場驚呼，最終比分來到7-2。第十局Filler開球後球形複雜，但是他解決起來並不費力，秒表未走到兩分鐘年輕人便完成開局後清台，比分差距來到6局。第十一局張榮麟開球後不急不慢，按照自己的節奏收光台面目標球，回送一個開球後清台後穩住陣腳縮小比分差距8-3。第十二局Filler再次通過精彩防守使得張榮麟留下機會，Filler上手後便重現熟悉的故事情節9-3。
第十三局張榮麟再次開球後一桿清台追至9-4，這時被迫近比分的Filler叫暫停進行調整。暫停回來，Filler開球違例，雙方互做防守，Filler解球不理想率先留下機會，張榮麟推桿進攻，但叫6號球母球走位失誤只好防守，並留下有難度的遠距離機會。Filler狀態正熱憑借準度打進，10-4拿到賽點。第十五、六局張榮麟接連艱難的挽救兩個賽點後，第十七局Filler有意放慢節奏，稍作停頓後沈穩打進本屆中國公開賽男子比賽的最後一顆9號球，這樣最終比分鎖定在11-6，這位第一次參加中國公開賽的19歲小將實至名歸的抱回冠軍獎杯。
“當我來到了中國，我的目標是從小組階段晉級。 我覺得這賽事的強度比世界錦標賽更艱難，比賽的相關設備給中國選手帶來了優勢，因為他們已習慣了。我從一開始就感覺相當不錯，很享受在比賽當中，從小組賽晉級後，我的下個目標便希望能挺進四強。我並不特別感到緊張，但我知道在比賽的任何時候都需要一些運氣來幫助你。而當在決賽時，我覺得是能贏下比賽的。而我的未婚妻Pia帶給了我很多的信心與力量，當幫助我度過了比賽中的困境。” Filler 說道。
當Albin Ouschan在2015年拿下冠軍之時，以24歲之姿成為當時最年輕的男子組冠軍。而今年，Joshua Filler這位德國新生代備受期待的新星，年僅19歲的他打破了這項紀錄，成為了世界9球中國公開賽有史以來最年輕的男子組冠軍。
Alison, Alex