Player: Jayson Shaw
Event: 2024 Hanoi Open
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Date: October 12, 2024



Jayson Shaw is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest pool players. He also has to be one of the most intimidating opponents. His confidence, most clearly on display during his slight heel turns at the Mosconi Cup, is impossible to miss. With the career he's had and the titles he's won, that confidence is more than well earned. It also acts as a psychological weapon when paired with the skill and creativity in his game.

In the quarterfinals at the 2024 Hanoi Open, Shaw matched up with Ko Pin Yi, another all-world talent who isn't one to wilt under pressure. In the race-to-10, Shaw took the opening rack before finding himself in the situation shown in the diagram.

With the 9 ball blocking his path to the 3, a jump shot was the obvious play. His straight-in angle on the 3 into the lower right corner also made perfect sense.

But Shaw had more planned – like an audacious two-way shot where both potential results were offensive minded. He popped the cue ball neatly over the 9, sending the 3 down-table toward the intended pocket. But with plenty of draw on the cue ball, he pulled in back into the 9, which was nearly a diamond out from the top-right corner.

The 3 ball eventually rattled around in the pocket jaws before exiting toward the spot. The 9 ball, however, rolled cleanly into the top corner to give Shaw the rack, as the cue ball rolled forward a bit before coming to a stop. Whether he played that angle on the 3, knowing it could lead to a miss, in order to pocket the 9, it's not entirely clear.

The end result – sinking a 9 ball – is one Shaw has seen plenty of times over the years.

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