FILLER AND KACI TO CONTEST 2023 UK OPEN POOL FINAL

Semi Final Results 

Joshua Filler 11-1 Ko Pin Yi

Eklent Kaçi 11-5 Skyler Woodward

It was an afternoon that few could have predicted with World Pool Masters winner Ko Pin Yi torn apart by an imperious Filler who was looking to stamp his authority on the tournament he won 12 months ago. Filler put on a clinic throughout with Ko struggling for any sort of table time as the German gathered ahead of steam with an air of calmness that wouldn't suggest it was a semi-final of a Matchroom major.

The early knockings were close with the spoils shared after two but from there Filler found a gear that almost looked unstoppable.

Ko looked to have played Filler into a troublesome position in the third rack but the Cuetec Mosconi Cup MVP pulled out a highlight reel kickshot to make the five in the top right pocket despite being locked up tight to the six and nine. It was a masterstroke of an effort and it was clear from there, Filler was in red-hot form.

At 3-1 down, Ko scratched when drawing back from the two which allowed Filler back in for another rack and 4-1. There was half chances for Ko but nothing truly there for the taking and after a brief safety exchange in the fifth, it was 4-1 to Filler. Filler's safety play was exemplary to give Ko little eye on a pocket and keep the defending champion with the upper hand throughout as he raced into a 6-1 lead. A golden break for Filler soon made that lead 7-1 and it was only four more required for victory. From there, the Bonen native didn't look back as he booked another UK Open final where he will meet Kaçi.

Kaçi's contest with Woodward promised to be a nail-biter but the Albanian Eagle chose to fly through the racks and leave his American opponent very little table time. For Woodward, it took until the eighth rack to get any table time with Kaçi rattling in the opening seven racks without reply to leave himself just four away from the final inside the opening hour.

It took until 8-0 for Woodward to start finding table time and his feet in the contest. The Blue Grass Bad Ass was feeling it with a fist pump of relief, following as he took the following two racks to cut the lead to six and soon five.

Woodward had his mojo back with confidence brewing despite the deficit but a scratch on the break in the 12th rack looked to have handed Kaçi upper hand again who got back to the table to make it 9-3. Kaçi was throwing lifelines Woodward's way and he had another in the next rack with a dry break. Woodward stepped up to make it 9-4. T

he drama was yet to be done, Woodward fired in a beauty of a bank early in the 15th rack but the vital nine didn't fall afterwards to allow Kaçi to bank it and reach the hill.

At 10-5 down, Woodward had three balls between him and being only four adrift and applying real pressure on Kaçi but an unfortunate miss on the six allowed Kaçi to swoop in and book a final spot against Filler this evening from 6pm.