The greatest 9 ball player ever.
- Thread starter Gilbertfan81
- Start date
Mr. Helfert,,,would you please add a little more to one you mentioned ,,Denny Sercy,, I, thinking at one time way back when, no one wanted any part of that gent.
When I hear the name Searcy, I think of payball on a snooker table.
Jim Reid was a contender at payball, also.
Lassiter
And Lassiter thought Don Willis was one of the best.
Mr. Lassiter, should be at the top of the list.
And Lassiter thought Don Willis was one of the best.
Earl Strickland.....eighties and still!
Earl gave him the 8 and robbed him too, in Vegas at Cuetiopia for $40K in the middle. No doubt Morro could and stll can play but he was a hair under the elite guys.
I have heard that, and I don't necessarily disagree, but I would give the nod to Wimpy, as he was certainly a more prominent figure in the world of pool. :smile:
Danny Medina
CJ
This is a name that is very seldom mentioned. Can you elaborate on the game he'd and Jose played. Also what is your opinion about who is the best. I asked Jose if he had ever lost playing a rotation game for the cash and he said no one had ever beat him in an ahead set, he would always get them in the end . He say that Archer beat him two races to 15 for the cash the only time they had. Gambled!
CJ
This is a name that is very seldom mentioned. Can you elaborate on the game he'd and Jose played. Also what is your opinion about who is the best. I asked Jose if he had ever lost playing a rotation game for the cash and he said no one had ever beat him in an ahead set, he would always get them in the end . He say that Archer beat him two races to 15 for the cash the only time they had. Gambled!
I have a different outlook on this question.
9 ball (maybe 10 ball too) players are short lived "best".
I have heard a ton of players some not even mentioned here, but the thing that strikes me is that short time that players are/ were the best.
Billy Incardona
Keith McCready
SVB
Earl
CJ
Buddy
Don Willis
The other thing that is funny.
Buddy says Whimpy was the best, Keith says Buddy was the best, John Brumback says Earl was the best.
Funny thing is everybody was honest.
I don't think Efren was the best 9 ball player, but I do think he was is the best pool player of all time, try to figure that one out.
Ken
9 ball (maybe 10 ball too) players are short lived "best".
I have heard a ton of players some not even mentioned here, but the thing that strikes me is that short time that players are/ were the best.
Billy Incardona
Keith McCready
SVB
Earl
CJ
Buddy
Don Willis
The other thing that is funny.
Buddy says Whimpy was the best, Keith says Buddy was the best, John Brumback says Earl was the best.
Funny thing is everybody was honest.
I don't think Efren was the best 9 ball player, but I do think he was is the best pool player of all time, try to figure that one out.
Ken
I would say that the only reason Efren was not the best 9 ball player is because of his break. Give Efren the break of an 80s Earl Strickland or a modern day SVB and see what happens...
the answer to that is: He didnt have a great break. Efren just throws a wet rag at the rack at best. If he broke like Busty/JA/Tony Elin or Earl then he would have been the best 9B player.
Don willis on the barbox was unbeatable for a while back in the day, like a few other guys
hard to say who is the best, if you just go by numbers Sigal JA Earl and Busty and Efren are right there, highest gear is Earl for sure. however I seen CJ play perfect pool and that night nobody could have beat him.
so i think its everyone on their good day-we all have good and bad days. who had the most good days? that just might answer the ??? Who knows. Keith is in there too, buddy, impossible to answer is my vote.
Top 15 yrs ago is Allot different than today, and I could be wrong, but I don't know if Kuch was and all around player of all games. But in the right conditions on the right table matters are/can/will be waaaaaaaay different than other table condition situations. I had a lock once, at Benie/DeValle's place/VA and got spotted all the breaks....but this table/conditions/cloth/dirt beat me, not my opponent, tho he led me to the table as he waited till it was the only one available and then approached me. He picked his spot Real well.
Last edited:
"The ICEMAN" Larry Hubbart was a BAD MAN
Behind closed doors, away from reporters, and "keyboard warriors," there's another name that was VERY well respected as the best player, and that was Larry Hubbart. Larry was a solid influence on Mike Sigel's game, he beat all the great players at one time or another and the joke used to be "who got to the finals this tournament with Hubbart?" I even remember when Larry beat Matlock (20K) on the bar table (when few would even try) and Larry was not even a bar table player.
"The ICEMAN" Larry Hubbart was a BAD MAN in all pool games. He doesn't get the credit publically, but ask Buddy, Sigel, and Rempe how he played and I see how they respond, they know he was the "real deal".
For some reason he left the professional pool scene and got into amateur pool.....I can't remember what he called the company.....hmmmm.....it started with an "A"...that's right THE APA.....and the rest is history. 'The Game is the Teacher'
Behind closed doors, away from reporters, and "keyboard warriors," there's another name that was VERY well respected as the best player, and that was Larry Hubbart. Larry was a solid influence on Mike Sigel's game, he beat all the great players at one time or another and the joke used to be "who got to the finals this tournament with Hubbart?" I even remember when Larry beat Matlock (20K) on the bar table (when few would even try) and Larry was not even a bar table player.
"The ICEMAN" Larry Hubbart was a BAD MAN in all pool games. He doesn't get the credit publically, but ask Buddy, Sigel, and Rempe how he played and I see how they respond, they know he was the "real deal".
For some reason he left the professional pool scene and got into amateur pool.....I can't remember what he called the company.....hmmmm.....it started with an "A"...that's right THE APA.....and the rest is history. 'The Game is the Teacher'
when a player is playing at that high of a level the spot dont matter, it dont come into play cause the guy in the zone is running out from everywhere or locking his man up. its not possible to beat someone playing perfect even if your getting the 5 out, now if you take away the break or play break a piece then as you know the weight can be a issue, but in winner breaks 9B a spot dont mean anything, if the guy giving it is playing perfect, I have seen perfect pool, never played it:frown:
I'm sorry but I don't think SVB can be considered in a conversation regarding the best 9 ball players EVER. No doubt he's a great player and is America's current no1 player but he has achieved as much or at least what guys from the current era such as Mika Immonen and Darren Appleton have. I could even include Alex Pagulylan, Ralph Souquet and Ronnie Alcano in to this convoy if SVB is to be brought in due to their similar achievements.
Or just have him grow up in an era where perfect tight racks are not just possible but demanded...
I think Efren woulda made the soft break his bіtch like Dennis, Corey and others.
He always seemed more like a soft hit finesse kinda guy.