From Claude.ai:
Van Boening's case for GOAT is getting stronger — he's not just a great 9-ball player who dabbles elsewhere; he's a legitimate multi-discipline threat at the highest level, which is exactly the trait that used to be Reyes's calling card alone. Many current pros and commentators now put SVB in the true GOAT conversation, not just "greatest American" or "greatest 9-ball player."
Where I'd still lean Reyes, if pressed: era and mythology matter in GOAT debates, and Reyes did it against a global, less-specialized field over a longer stretch, with a reputation for shots and escapes that still gets replayed as the standard of creativity in the sport. But it's genuinely closer than I made it sound, and reasonable people who follow the sport closely go either way now — especially with SVB still adding to his case in real time, like this week.
