Fedor Gorst

Fedor Gorst (born May 2000) is a Russian-born American professional pool player, widely regarded as one of the sport's top talents and currently ranked world No. 1. Nicknamed "The Ghost" for his elusive and strategic style, Gorst began playing pool at age 10 in Moscow , Russia , where he quickly rose through junior ranks, joining the Russian national team by age 14 and winning his first European junior title in 2015. At 19, he claimed his breakthrough major victory at the 2019 World Pool Championship, becoming the second-youngest winner in its history, and followed with a second world title in 2024.

In 2024, Gorst made history by becoming the first player to complete the "Grand Slam" of pool, winning the World Pool Championship, World Pool Masters , and US Open Pool Championship —all in the same year. He represented Europe in the 2020 Mosconi Cup before switching allegiance to Team USA in 2023, following his relocation to southern Indiana amid the International Olympic Committee's ban on Russian athletes due to the Ukraine invasion ; he obtained a U.S. green card that year and now competes internationally for the United States . Gorst's career has amassed over $500,000 in prize money, with additional accolades including the 2018 EuroTour Treviso Open and a runner-up finish at the 2025 US Open.

Fedor Gorst was born on May 31, 2000, in Moscow , Russia . He was raised in the countryside outskirts of the city, where he spent his early childhood immersed in a dynamic urban-rural setting.

Gorst grew up in a sports-oriented environment that emphasized physical activity and exploration of athletic pursuits. From a young age, his family exposed him to a variety of sports, including alpine skiing , soccer, taekwondo , and canoeing, fostering a foundation of discipline and competitiveness. This early engagement with diverse activities helped shape his active lifestyle and interest in extracurricular endeavors. His father introduced him to billiards and supported his early interests until his sudden death when Gorst was 14, after which Gorst intensified his training to help support his family.

Fedor Gorst's introduction to billiards occurred in his early childhood in Moscow , where his family maintained a sports-oriented environment that encouraged physical activities. At around age seven, he was first exposed to the game through his father's Russian pyramid table, a variant of billiards popular in Russia featuring smaller pockets and a taller table compared to standard pool setups. His father, recognizing his interest, hired a coach to provide initial lessons in Russian pyramid , marking the beginning of structured engagement with the sport .

Soon after starting with Russian pyramid , Gorst transitioned to pocket billiards on the advice of his coach, who recommended the American-style game played on a standard nine-foot table to better suit his developing physique and avoid ingraining suboptimal habits from the larger pyramid setup. By age ten, he had begun participating in amateur pool activities in Moscow , solidifying his preference for pocket billiards over pyramid due to its competitive opportunities. This shift formalized his training under professional guidance in the city.

Gorst's early practice routines evolved to dedicated sessions after school, with increased intensity from 2015 onward.

Fedor Gorst began his competitive journey in billiards after foundational training starting at age six in Russian pyramid , transitioning to pool around age ten and entering amateur tournaments in Moscow shortly thereafter. By age twelve, he secured his first junior competition victory, marking the start of a rapid ascent in youth divisions. At fourteen, Gorst earned a spot on the Russian national pool team, competing in regional and national events that honed his skills against emerging talents.