Top five 9Ball Players of all time?

[maha]

you can always pick who is best now or under certain conditions, which the playing rules and conditions have changed greatly over the years.

and the current population of players will always pick contemporaries as thats natural.

and picking best athletes, its best to pick them from each era rather than all time. as that is not fair as playing conditions matter too much.

 

[sjm]

My top five would have to be 10.

1. Lassiter
2. Worst
3. Parica
4. Earl
5. Sigel
6. Buddy
7. Varner

Every one of your top seven is either deceased or a senior citizen. It would be very sad indeed to believe that not even one player worthy of consideration in your top seven nine ball players of all time has been born since 1961. Has the game gone that far backward?

In truth, the opposite is true. Since the game went virally global about a decade ago, the standard has skyrocketed. Great players are now popping up in every single corner of the world. On top of including players from the top pool-playing nations, the list of Fargo 800+ players includes at least one player from each of each of Singapore, Albania, Iraq, Vietnam, Lithuania, Bosnia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Serbia, Spain, Poland, Scotland, Greece, Austria, Russia, Estonia, Peru and Venezuela. For every pool professional there was when the guys at the top of your list were in their playing primes, there are probably twenty now. Winning at the majors has never been more difficult and, in this era, one player has a resume that far exceeds that of any other. I wonder how many more majors he'll have to collect to crack your top seven.

Earl and Sigel both made my top three, so we're pretty close there. Along with Filler, they deserve placement at the top of the list. Parica was a great gambler, as was Buddy, but their tournament resumes pale by comparison to guys like Filler, Earl, Sigel, Varner, SVB, and even Archer.

8. Filler
9. Shane
10. Mizerak

Honorable mention: Dennis, Bustie, and Efren.

Well, at least you mentioned Josh and Shane. Having gotten to watch Mizerak compete so often remains one of my greatest honors as a pool fan.

 

[Lowell]

Every one of your top seven is either deceased or a senior citizen. It would be very sad indeed to believe that not even one player worthy of consideration in your top seven nine ball players of all time has been born since 1961. Has the game gone that far backward?

In truth, the opposite is true. Since the game went virally global about a decade ago, the standard has skyrocketed. Great players are now popping up in every single corner of the world. On top of including players from the top pool-playing nations, the list of Fargo 800+ players includes at least one player from each of each of Singapore, Albania, Iraq, Vietnam, Lithuania, Bosnia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Serbia, Spain, Poland, Scotland, Greece, Austria, Russia and Estonia. For every pool professional there was when the guys at the top of your list were in their playing primes, there are probably twenty now. Winning at the majors has never been more difficult and, in this era, one player has a resume that far exceeds that of any other. I wonder how many more majors he'll have to collect to crack your top seven.

Earl and Sigel both made my top three, so we're pretty close there. Along with Filler, they deserve placement at the top of the list. Parica was a great gambler, as was Buddy, but their tournament resumes pale by comparison to guys like Filler, Earl, Sigel, Varner, SVB, and even Archer.


Well, at least you mentioned Josh and Shane. Having gotten to watch Mizerak compete so often remains one of my greatest honors as a pool fan.

There are also 800 +s from Peru and Venezuela now (Gerson Martinez and Jesus Atencio)

 

[sjm]

There are also 800 +s from Peru and Venezuela now (Gerson Martinez and Jesus Atencio)

Thanks, I'll correct my post. I had no idea! Atencio and Gerson, right?

 

[skogstokig]

yea, filler overtook earl for me some year back. but i still think earl was the embodiment of 9-ball in many ways. he wasn't bad at the other disciplines, just that he seems to have been put on this earth to shoot 9-ball.

nothing is lacking in filler's resume, but he hasn't won a world championship in the WNT era, like shane, fedor, biado. he's so good though that i expect him to win one soon.

 

[Lowell]

Thanks, I'll correct my post. I had no idea! Atencio and Gerson, right?

Yes, at 803 and 800 respectively.

I'm actually kinda surprised there aren't more from Latin America given that pool is pretty popular throughout the region.

 

[jay helfert]

Every one of your top seven is either deceased or a senior citizen. It would be very sad indeed to believe that not even one player worthy of consideration in your top seven nine ball players of all time has been born since 1961. Has the game gone that far backward?

In truth, the opposite is true. Since the game went virally global about a decade ago, the standard has skyrocketed. Great players are now popping up in every single corner of the world. On top of including players from the top pool-playing nations, the list of Fargo 800+ players includes at least one player from each of each of Singapore, Albania, Iraq, Vietnam, Lithuania, Bosnia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Serbia, Spain, Poland, Scotland, Greece, Austria, Russia, Estonia, Peru and Venezuela. For every pool professional there was when the guys at the top of your list were in their playing primes, there are probably twenty now. Winning at the majors has never been more difficult and, in this era, one player has a resume that far exceeds that of any other. I wonder how many more majors he'll have to collect to crack your top seven.

Earl and Sigel both made my top three, so we're pretty close there. Along with Filler, they deserve placement at the top of the list. Parica was a great gambler, as was Buddy, but their tournament resumes pale by comparison to guys like Filler, Earl, Sigel, Varner, SVB, and even Archer.


Well, at least you mentioned Josh and Shane. Having gotten to watch Mizerak compete so often remains one of my greatest honors as a pool fan.

Buddy won more tournaments than anyone else! By far. Both big and small tables! That's a fact Jack!

I made my list based on their records during their lifetime and didn't try to make comparisons across different generations. No one today stands out as equally dominant as my picks from their era. Yes, there are far more good players today, but only a few (Shane then Filler) that really stand above the rest.

If you want to compare tournament resumes then Dennis won many more than anyone else over a 15 year period. Like Buddy he won on big and small tables at ALL games. By far the best tournament player of his recent era!

P.S. I saw these guys play! If Worst had lived another ten to fifteen years he would have dominated the pool world. If he was playing now I would still pick him to be a winner. He had qualities that none of the current champions possess. Worst was truly unique!

 

[sjm]

yea, filler overtook earl for me some year back. but i still think earl was the embodiment of 9-ball in many ways. he wasn't bad at the other disciplines, just that he seems to have been put on this earth to shoot 9-ball.

nothing is lacking in filler's resume, but he hasn't won a world championship in the WNT era, like shane, fedor, biado. he's so good though that i expect him to win one soon.

You're not suggesting that winning a world 9ball championship was significantly easier in 2018 than today, are you? Maybe a bit easier, but really. I doubt even Josh realizes that he hasn't won a World 9-ball since the WNT tour began in 2022, because it's unlikely he would care. Of course, in the same period, he has won a World Games gold medal, a World 8-ball title, and has won both silver and bronze at the World 10ball.

On a sadder note, the cancellation of this year's world 9ball really hurt, and I hope it will be back in 2027.

All of that said, I can see you're a tough grader and I like that!

There's always more to achieve. Still, I'm sure that the absence of a World 10ball title bothers Josh a lot more than any other hole on his playing resume. Right now, there are six WPA recognized World Championships, the world 9ball, world 10ball, world 8ball, world games gold, and world teams championship. Josh has four of them, as do Appleton and Biado, which is more than any player in the current era of 9ball. It is improbable that he will ever get the heyball piece, but getting the world 10ball is something that's realistic as he's flirted with it twice.

 

[Bob Jewett]

There are also some players who don't make the list because they never played public nine ball. Mosconi and Rood are two in that category.

 

[skogstokig]

You're not suggesting that winning a world 9ball championship was significantly easier in 2018 than today, are you? Maybe a bit easier, but really. I doubt even Josh realizes that he hasn't won a World 9-ball since the WNT tour began in 2022, because it's unlikely he would care. Of course, in the same period, he has won a World Games gold medal, a World 8-ball title, and has won both silver and bronze at the World 10ball.

On a sadder note, the cancellation of this year's world 9ball really hurt, and I hope it will be back in 2027.

All of that said, I can see you're a tough grader and I like that!

There's always more to achieve. Still, I'm sure that the absence of a World 10ball title bothers Josh a lot more than any other hole on his playing resume. Right now, there are six WPA recognized World Championships, the world 9ball, world 10ball, world 8ball, world games gold, and world teams championship. Josh has four of them, as do Appleton and Biado, which is more than any player in the current era of 9ball. It is improbable that he will ever get the heyball piece, but getting the world 10ball is something that's realistic as he's flirted with it twice.

yea good point with the 10-ball, but i was trying to stay within the thread topic parameters. you know what i mean with the qatar warehouse era vs the world championship now. there are way more eyes on it, more prize money, and the MR big major stage creates huge pressure (don't know why, but i love that it does).

looks like WC won't happen this year. i know they're moving away from saudi but not when that change would be in effect. riyadh airport was bombed yesterday, so hopefully it won't be in saudi again

 

[sjm]

Buddy won more tournaments than anyone else! By far. Both big and small tables! That's a fact Jack!

I made my list based on their records during their lifetime and didn't try to make comparisons across different generations. No one today stands out as equally dominant as my picks from their era. Yes, there are far more good players today, but only a few (Shane then Filler) that really stand above the rest.

If you want to compare tournament resumes then Dennis won many more than anyone else over a 15 year period. Like Buddy he won on big and small tables at ALL games. By far the best tournament player of his recent era!

P.S. I saw these guys play! If Worst had lived another ten to fifteen years he would have dominated the pool world. If he was playing now I would still pick him to be a winner. He had qualities that none of the current champions possess. Worst was truly unique!

Nice post, Jay. Harold Worst was before my time and the only game I ever saw Lassiter play was 14.1. I'm unqualified to measure them against other all-time greats. Still, I know of Lassiter's track record at Johnston City and realize in full that it puts him among the all-time greats. Thanks for making me feel young --- it's a good feeling!

 

[sjm]

yea good point with the 10-ball, but i was trying to stay within the thread topic parameters. you know what i mean with the qatar warehouse era vs the world championship now. there are way more eyes on it, more prize money, and the MR big major stage creates huge pressure (don't know why, but i love that it does).

Yeah, point well taken. Agreed to some extent.

It hurt not having a World 9ball this year. Still, as the year's premier event in 2026, the US Open 9ball was fantastic, and gave us one of the best final matches we've ever seen. Of course, FSR has probably spent the $100,000 first prize by now, LOL.

looks like WC won't happen this year. i know they're moving away from saudi but not when that change would be in effect. riyadh airport was bombed yesterday, so hopefully it won't be in saudi again

I just want it back. We'll see what happens.

 

[maha]

you had to be more accomplished at acclimating to conditions back then. one day it was on tables so slow, a pro had trouble drawing much over half table with precision.
next day tables rolled off or it was so hot and humid your hands stayed wet.

now players are rated by numbers and tournament wins. no longer by who they beat and where.

ive seen wimpy play 9 ball and it was boring he just never missed and ran out and out and out. when he came in with all the best around he just sat there as no one would dare challenge him. and he played for big money, no small crap.

mosconi ran out every time 9 ball he had a first shot. so did many others just like today.

and there were no name guys in little towns where when you got there with a top pro you left broke.

 

[maha]

and yea ask rusty. in the small city of billings montana with nothing around there 50 years ago. was a handful of guys that would beat anyone not better than full shortstop. and bet more than a years salary for most on a match.
bill took one of them off in 3 cushion.