9-Ball - MIKA IMMONEN vs PIA FILLER - 2025 Derby City Classic 9-Ball - AI Summary & Article | ClarifyTube

This article provides a detailed recap of a 9-Ball match between Mika Immonen and Pia Filler at the 2025 Derby City Classic, held at Caesars Southern Indiana. The match, taking place on day nine of the ten-day event, was unique due to limited production, with only one commentator, Pat Fleming, handling all commentary, scoring, and statistics. The video highlights Pia Filler's exceptional performance, characterized by early break-and-run outs and a remarkably high Total Performance Average (TPA), maintaining a perfect 1000 for a significant portion of the match. It also details the five types of errors in pool as defined by the tournament's scoring system: scratch on the break, safety error, kicking error, missed shot, and position error. A controversial moment arose when Mika Immonen raked in the balls prematurely, leading to a forfeited game, though the match continued to be played out due to an oversight by the players. The commentary also touches upon the upcoming International Open tournament in November 2025, detailing its various disciplines and divisions.

Match Overview and Unconventional Commentary

The 9-Ball match between Mika Immonen and Pia Filler was part of the 2025 Derby City Classic, a significant event in the professional pool circuit. Taking place on the penultimate day of the tournament, this particular match was notable for its streamlined production. Unlike typical setups with multiple cameras and commentators, Pat Fleming single-handedly covered the commentary, scoring, and statistics. This was due to the demanding schedule, with over six to eight matches planned for the day, requiring the rest of the crew to take a break. Fleming's solo effort provided a unique and often candid perspective, offering immediate insights into the gameplay and the detailed scoring methodology.

This is Pat Fleming, and this is an unusual occurrence. Usually we have full production, meaning our camera guys are moving their cameras and we have two commentators in the booth, but we have so many matches today that we can't do them all because we need a break. And right now, the rest of the crew is on break and I am going to do the commentary and the scoring and the stats.

Player Introductions: Mika Immonen and Pia Filler

The match featured two highly accomplished players. Mika Immonen, known as "The Iceman," is originally from Helsinki, Finland, and now resides in New York. This was his tenth appearance at the Derby City Classic. Immonen is a former world champion in multiple events and a distinguished member of the BCA Hall of Fame, signifying his significant contributions and achievements in billiards. His opponent, Pia Filler, hails from Germany and is widely recognized for her exceptional skill. She is married to fellow pool player Joshua Filler. The commentator noted her strong performance track record, emphasizing her respected status in the pool community.

Pia Filler's Dominant Performance

Pia Filler's performance in the early stages of the match was nothing short of spectacular. She executed two consecutive break-and-run outs, demonstrating precision and control over the table. Her ability to consistently clear the table without errors showcased her high level of play. The commentator highlighted her exceptional shot-making and strategic maneuvering, which repeatedly left Mika Immonen with challenging situations. Filler's dominant start quickly put her in a commanding lead, establishing a 2-0 score with seemingly effortless execution, and continued to extend her lead with subsequent flawless racks. Throughout her initial runs, she maintained a perfect 1000 Total Performance Average, indicating no mistakes and successful pocketing of every ball.

Total Performance Average (TPA) and Error Definitions

The tournament utilizes a sophisticated scoring system that tracks a player's Total Performance Average (TPA). The commentator, Pat Fleming, provided a detailed explanation of how TPA is calculated and the five types of errors that can affect a player's score:

Scratch on the Break: If a player scratches the cue ball on the break shot, it is considered an error.
Safety Error: This occurs when a player attempts a safety shot, but leaves the object ball visible and pocketable for their opponent, who then successfully pockets it.
Kicking Error: An error is charged if a player kicks at an object ball but misses it completely. If they hit the ball but scratch, it is not considered an error.
Missed Shot: This is the most straightforward error, occurring when a player attempts to pocket an object ball but fails to do so.
Position Error: This error is charged when a player, while attempting to run out a rack, is forced to play a safety or a difficult shot due to poor cue ball position, and subsequently misses the intended shot.

Pia Filler impressively maintained a perfect TPA of 1000 for a significant duration, pocketing 33 consecutive balls without a single error. This statistic underscored her nearly flawless execution and strategic brilliance. Even after her first minor error, her TPA remained exceptionally high at 958 then 940, showcasing her consistent high-level performance despite the occasional miscue.

Controversy and Match Continuation

A significant point of controversy arose when Mika Immonen, frustrated during the match, prematurely raked in the balls after a missed shot on the 8-ball, assuming a forfeiture. This action, according to tournament rules, should have resulted in an immediate loss of the game for Mika. The commentator, recognizing this rule, logged the score as 9-1 in favor of Pia, indicating her win due to Mika's forfeiture. However, Pia, seemingly unaware or choosing to overlook the rule violation, proceeded to rack the balls and resume play as if the game was still ongoing. This created a peculiar situation where the commentator knew the match was technically over, but the players continued. This oversight by the players themselves meant the match prolonged unnecessarily, leading to some confusion regarding the official score, which on the external scoreboard briefly displayed 8-2 as the players played out additional racks. The commentator could not reverse the score electronically to reflect the forfeited game, adding to the unconventional nature of the match's conclusion.

Then the match is over. Yeah. So why are they playing this game right now? No. Because they don't realize it. Because Pia racked the balls as if she just there was no penalty and she racked the balls and broke them. So he gets a penalty and that's one point. No, he didn't get the penalty. She didn't give it to him. So the score is actually 8-1. No, the score is 91.

The International Open Tournament

During the match, the commentator also provided information about the upcoming International Open tournament, which he produces. Scheduled for November 14-23, 2025, in St. Augustine, Florida, this event promises a diverse range of disciplines, including straight pool, one pocket, 10-ball, and 9-ball. The 9-ball division is structured into two classes: a semi-pro division for players with a FargoRate of 650 and under, and a professional division. Similar to the Derby City Classic, it will feature a single-elimination format with a buyback option. A unique aspect mentioned for the semi-pro division is a refund for the buyback fee if a player loses their second match, aiming to keep participants engaged in the tournament. The event will utilize 32 Diamond tables and incorporate Digital Pool software for real-time scorekeeping and monitoring across all tables.

Takeaways

Pia Filler's Exceptional Performance: Pia Filler demonstrated remarkable skill and precision, achieving multiple break-and-run outs and maintaining a near-perfect Total Performance Average for most of the match. Her strategic play and consistent pocketing distinguished her performance.
Unique Match Commentary: The match featured an unconventional solo commentary by Pat Fleming, who also managed scoring and statistics due to limited production resources. This provided a raw and direct insight into the game.
Detailed Error Classification: The commentary provided a comprehensive explanation of the five distinct types of errors in pool (scratch on break, safety error, kicking error, missed shot, position error), offering insight into the tournament's scoring mechanics.
Controversial Match Conclusion: A notable incident occurred when Mika Immonen prematurely conceded a game by raking the balls, which should have resulted in a forfeiture. However, due to an oversight by the players, the match continued, leading to confusion regarding the final score.
Upcoming International Open: The commentator promoted the International Open tournament in November 2025, highlighting its varied disciplines, professional and semi-pro divisions, and a unique buyback refund policy to encourage participation.

References

Match Overview and Unconventional Commentary

This is Pat Fleming, and this is an unusual occurrence. Usually we have full production, meaning our camera guys are moving their cameras and we have two commentators in the booth, but we have so many matches today that we can't do them all because we need a break. And right now, the rest of the crew is on break and I am going to do the commentary and the scoring and the stats.

Player Introductions: Mika Immonen and Pia Filler

Pia Filler's Dominant Performance

Total Performance Average (TPA) and Error Definitions

Scratch on the Break: If a player scratches the cue ball on the break shot, it is considered an error.

Safety Error: This occurs when a player attempts a safety shot, but leaves the object ball visible and pocketable for their opponent, who then successfully pockets it.

Kicking Error: An error is charged if a player kicks at an object ball but misses it completely. If they hit the ball but scratch, it is not considered an error.

Missed Shot: This is the most straightforward error, occurring when a player attempts to pocket an object ball but fails to do so.

Position Error: This error is charged when a player, while attempting to run out a rack, is forced to play a safety or a difficult shot due to poor cue ball position, and subsequently misses the intended shot.

Controversy and Match Continuation

Then the match is over. Yeah. So why are they playing this game right now? No. Because they don't realize it. Because Pia racked the balls as if she just there was no penalty and she racked the balls and broke them. So he gets a penalty and that's one point. No, he didn't get the penalty. She didn't give it to him. So the score is actually 8-1. No, the score is 91.

The International Open Tournament

Takeaways

Pia Filler's Exceptional Performance: Pia Filler demonstrated remarkable skill and precision, achieving multiple break-and-run outs and maintaining a near-perfect Total Performance Average for most of the match. Her strategic play and consistent pocketing distinguished her performance.

Unique Match Commentary: The match featured an unconventional solo commentary by Pat Fleming, who also managed scoring and statistics due to limited production resources. This provided a raw and direct insight into the game.

Detailed Error Classification: The commentary provided a comprehensive explanation of the five distinct types of errors in pool (scratch on break, safety error, kicking error, missed shot, position error), offering insight into the tournament's scoring mechanics.

Controversial Match Conclusion: A notable incident occurred when Mika Immonen prematurely conceded a game by raking the balls, which should have resulted in a forfeiture. However, due to an oversight by the players, the match continued, leading to confusion regarding the final score.

Upcoming International Open: The commentator promoted the International Open tournament in November 2025, highlighting its varied disciplines, professional and semi-pro divisions, and a unique buyback refund policy to encourage participation.