Major Pool Players – The Legends

Ralph Greenleaf received a full of 20 Earth Pocket Billiards Championship titles from 1919 to 1937 and stunned audiences with his exhibition trick photographs. A mix of liquor and wild living led this pool legend to an early grave at the age of 50.

Willie Mosconi, recognized as “Mr. Pocket Billiards,” held 15 globe titles for the duration of his era, placing a single video game file of 127 balls in 1945, together with potting 546 balls consecutively in 1954.

Luther Lassiter, nicknamed “Wimpy,” was a popular player from Elizabeth Metropolis, North Carolina. The winner of several globe Championships and a lot of other titles, Lassiter is most renowned for his mastery of the game of 9-ball at which he is broadly viewed as one of the best players in historical past.

Efren Reyes, nicknamed “Bata” and “the Magician,” is a twin globe winner Filipino pool player, regarded as just one of the all-time greats at 9-ball and a single-pocket pool. He became the first at any time non-American to get the US Open up 9-Ball Championship when defeating Nick Varner in 1994. Reyes has received World Championships at both of those 8-ball and 9-ball pool, amassing the WPA Men’s Entire world 9-ball Championship in 1999, alongside with the inaugural WPA Men’s Environment 8-ball Championship in 2004.

Eddie Taylor, the “Knoxville Bear,” defeated Luther Lassiter in 1964 in Johnston Town and is a dual earth all-around match winner, although dropping to Lassiter in the 1967 Johnston all-close to finals. He is extensively held to be a person of the greats in one-pocket and financial institution pool.

John Layton is regarded as the most scientific pool participant in billiards. A 12-moments Planet 3-Cushion Winner, “The Diamond King” grew to become popular for his “diamond procedure,” applying desk marks to determine angles.

Steve Mizerak, a environment winner pool participant reigned all through the 1970s and early 1980s in the sport of 14.1 continual. He gained the US Open 14.1 pocket Billiards Championship in four consecutive many years, from 1970 to 1973 inclusive, defeating Luther Lassiter (see over) in 1970 and 1973, Joe Balsis in 1971 and Danny DeLiberto in 1972. He was also thriving in the PPPA Entire world Pocket Billiard Championship (14.1) functions of 1982 and 1983.

Still left-hander, Mike “Captain Hook” Sigel is one of the greatest 9-ball players at any time, illustrated by the most tournament wins in the 1980s and 1990s. Renowned for his defensive engage in, as with other best 9-ball players, he is also a “straight” pool winner with a large “run” of 346.

Earl Strickland is also considered to be one particular of the very best all-time 9-ball gamers with several championship titles above 25 many years, including the WPA Men’s Globe 9-ball Championship in 1990, 1991 (the only participant to efficiently protect the title) and 2000 and the US Open up 9-Ball championship in 1984, 1987 and 1997. He is also one particular of the most controversial figures with outspoken sights and occasionally unstable conduct at tournaments.

Ray Martin is a person of the only 7 players to gain at minimum a few 14.1 titles, collecting “straight” pool planet titles in 1971, 1974 and 1978. His “Neat Cat” nickname originates from the 1971 event, which he received all through an earthquake. Martin has also received lots of 9-ball tournaments.