Fedor Gorst

Date: 2025-08-27 | Duration: 2h 20m

Episode Overview

Fedor Gorst, one of the world's premier professional pool players, joins Joe for a fascinating window into the elite world of competitive billiards. The episode opens with a gear discussion before moving into what draws spectators to pool: powerful hard breaks and the money-game culture that creates genuine drama. Gorst discusses a legendary player who turns off his hearing aids when competing, the psychological dimension of blocking everything out. A high-stakes hypothetical — shooting nine-ball hill-hill for $100 million — leads into real stakes Gorst has played for, including a $250,000 match. The conversation covers U.S. Open pool, the technical challenge of getting hooked on tight pockets and still pocketing the ball, and the most luxurious pool hall in Vietnam in Da Nang, which Gorst has visited. The pair discuss the prospect of a Gorst vs Joshua Filler match — potentially one of the great money game events — with Joe offering to do commentary. The episode is a genuine education in a sport most people know nothing about.

About Fedor Gorst

Fedor Gorst is a rising star in the world of professional pool, renowned for his exceptional skills and strategic gameplay. His career boasts impressive accolades, including championship victories at the prestigious World Nine-Ball Championship, where he showcased his talent against top competitors. Gorst's unique style and dedication to the sport have made him a captivating figure, drawing attention not just for his technical prowess but also for his insights into the mental aspects of competition. As a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience, he shared his journey and the nuances of pool, inspiring both fans and aspiring players alike with his passion for the game.

Key Moments

– Hard breaks as the crowd-pleasing foundation of pool spectating
– The player who turns off his hearing aids to compete
– Hill-hill for $100 million — the hypothetical and real stakes Gorst has played
– U.S. Open pool — getting hooked on tight pockets
– Luxurious pool hall in Da Nang, Vietnam
– Gorst vs Joshua Filler match proposal
– American vs Russian cultural approaches to sport and nationality
0:12:24 – American nationality — anyone can come here; Russian national identity is more exclusive
0:24:59 – Hard breaks as a spectator draw — people love the explosion of color off the break
0:37:34 – The player who shuts off his hearing aids when competing — blocking everything out
0:50:34 – Hill-hill for $100 million hypothetical; real stakes — $250,000 nine-ball match
1:18:56 – U.S. Open — getting hooked repeatedly and still popping the ball in on tight pockets
1:35:05 – Most luxurious pool hall in Vietnam — Da Nang; Gorst has been there
2:00:49 – Joshua Filler challenge — the amount offered; what it would take to make this match happen
2:14:10 – Setting up the Filler match — Joe offers to do commentary

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Rogan podcast checking out The Joe Rogan Experience Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night All day We're up Yeah, this is a company called M Theory Sent this to me And this was when Starting point is 00:00:17 Efren Reyes snuck into America Under the nickname Caesar Morales Yeah And won some big tournament at Reds Wherever that is Probably in Chicago I don't know Put the headphones on dog Starting point is 00:00:29 Let's get around I was like, you don't have to or we can not have headphones Do they feel weird to you? That's good No, no, no, it's good You're okay? Starting point is 00:00:36 I don't care It doesn't matter It's just good if like We show a video Or something like that Right Dude, you came that close To be two year in a row Starting point is 00:00:43 U.S. Open champion That fucking close Yeah, how's that feel? I mean, I feel super tired Because my schedule has been hectic lately Yeah You know, I played the world championships Starting point is 00:00:54 In Saudi Where I also lost in the finals Did you play the Florida Open too? Florida Open and I played the tournament in between that. So basically I played back to back to back to back four events. Wow. It's been over a month already, you know, staying on the road, constantly playing. Starting point is 00:01:09 Dude, there's the real good argument. You're the best player in the world. And if you're the best player of the world, I think you are. You got my vote. If you're the best player in the world today, you're the best player of all time. Well, I mean, it's really tough too. A lot of old guys talk a lot of shit, but I'm just saying. Always. Starting point is 00:01:25 I mean, this guy on my shirt, he certainly gets the, like, as far as like, the greatest of all time, most achievements of all time, Effron, the Z shot, like all the crazy stuff that he could pull off with the cue ball. Did you see the shot that I made recently? Which one? The three rail kick. I did see that...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2371?

Fedor Gorst was the guest on JRE #2371. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2371?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2371 with Fedor Gorst, topics include Hard breaks as the crowd-pleasing foundation of pool, The player who turns off his hearing aids to compete, Hill-hill for $100 million — the hypothetical and real, and U.S. Open pool — getting hooked on tight pockets.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2371?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2371 with Fedor Gorst is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.