What is 'interesting and potentially revealing'?
That's an incomplete thought.
You piqued interest...out with it!?
what are the all-time greatest pool matches?
- Thread starter evergruven
- Start date
What is 'interesting and potentially revealing'?
That's an incomplete thought.
You piqued interest...out with it!?
I was Tang's backer in that tourney and he played fantastic to reach the hot seat, beating some real strong players (Rempe, Alex) along the way. He put a scare into Buddy and when they played in the finals (one set) Buddy agreed to a "saver" for 4K. First became 21K and now second paid 16.5. Tang was spent and I knew it (he had to beat Mika to get back into the finals), so I quickly agreed to the deal. We also picked up another 2K in the calcutta (we got half of the 4K for second). The 18.5 payday was the biggest of Tang's tournament career, although he made a much bigger score (over 40K!) down South playing Flyboy One Pocket. Tang also finished second to Efren in the One Pocket at DCC the following year. Tang is still the only player who has won both events (One Pocket and 9-Ball) in the Hard Times Jamboree that was held annually for many years. That tournament attracted the top talent on the West Coast and all the Filipino champions played in it! The man could play!
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The Efren vs. Rempe match is one of my favorites. I also loved this one, SVB vs. Appleton. Shane just made this a clinic and all Darren could do was watch, even with loser break.
https://youtu.be/lVlzHdj42-U
https://youtu.be/lVlzHdj42-U
If the Sigel-Varner match was the final of the U.S. Open, then it had the craziest finish I ever saw. You'd have to watch the hill-hill game to believe what happened.
Danny ran eight racks on Billy! Every time he broke the cue ball went straight up in the air about two feet after hitting the one ball. Then it came down and just squatted right there. Yep, I was backing him too! :thumbup:
I think the Medina run was also a player review with Incardona doing the commentating with Grady. Always loved the Player Review tapes, some of the best instruction you can get, maybe even better than actual instruction videos when it comes to actual play and strategy.
I am not sure if that was the final or not, but my memory is telling me when Sigel was on the hill, and Varner needed 3 or so racks to go and was breaking, Sigel told Varner he'd make it hill hill now if he would let Sigel break LOL That was not the final game you were talking about though, but yes I remember the end of that match also (without giving away spoilers, hoping no-one just blurts it out LOL).
While I appreciate the current stream/video quality, the commentary was better 10-20-30 years ago. Grady, Buddy, Nick, Billy, you Jay, a few others in the booth as guests like Earl, just great listening to them all. A lot of times I get caught up in the commentary and realize I don't remember the last 3 racks the players played LOL
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The Lion Alex Pagulayan vs The Freezer Scott Frost One Pocket match in Vegas few years back very well might be the best one pocket match ever caught on video.
This match took 5 days to finish and was a flat all out war.
After four days and close to 50 hours of play they were dead even
This match took 5 days to finish and was a flat all out war.
After four days and close to 50 hours of play they were dead even
Many matches I like have been mentioned, so I'd just add that match when Efren ran a 9-pack against Bustamante in an European event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asEjvAZOnek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asEjvAZOnek
..............
Almost forgot, the Wu match when he was 16, I think against Ko, in the World Championship finals. I remember Corey Deuel saying that it was the greatest thing in pool he has seen.
His opponent was Kuo Po Cheng. Not related to Ko brothers.
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Efren vs Jason Miller - One Pocket Finals at DCC.
Jason Miller was killing giants the entire tournament, I had not seen him play much before, but you could tell he was something special. Played all games well including 9 ball, banks and one pocket. He was definitely "on" or "instroke".
Efren absolutely dominated the match, Jason hardly got a shot, and Efren beat him 3 straight games in less than 45 minutes. It was the best one pocket I have ever seen, bar none (and I have seen years and years of playing).
Second, is the bank ring game won by Skyler Woodward.
Ken
Jason Miller was killing giants the entire tournament, I had not seen him play much before, but you could tell he was something special. Played all games well including 9 ball, banks and one pocket. He was definitely "on" or "instroke".
Efren absolutely dominated the match, Jason hardly got a shot, and Efren beat him 3 straight games in less than 45 minutes. It was the best one pocket I have ever seen, bar none (and I have seen years and years of playing).
Second, is the bank ring game won by Skyler Woodward.
Ken
I believe that was in the 1999 World Championships in Cardiff, Wales. I have the DVD of that match on my website.
Did you mean Shannon vs Ryan Stone @Southern Classic 2012. That was a real nail-biter, with the Cannon needing one ball to win 3-0 and jamming a straight-in shot to go on to lose 3-2.
A couple of other great one pocket matches off the cuff:
- Shannon v Reyes 1998 Legends - one of the very few weakness moments on great Efren's part.
- J.Fusco v Nick Varner @ QF of 1991 Legends (the second one held in Philly) - this one is probably my favourite, with Jimmy doing an after-the-match commentary alongside Grady, trying to recall the shots and giving insights as to why he preferred to shoot a particular shot. I have this match on 2 VHS tapes but I think it was also released on DVD. You may need to ask around this forum and onepocket.org as Pat has taken it off sale years ago.
- any match with Steve Cook, really. His 1991 LOP match with Jose Parica (from the first LOP tourney held in Columbia SC) was a clear showcase of class and dominance. Steve held Jose to 6 balls in 5 racks! His 1991 LOP finals against Mizerak (Philly style) was also very good - some unusual but effective shot selections there. They man clearly saw the shots that others didn't. So sad he passed on way before his time at the age of 56.
- Hall/Dobrowolski from 1995 Roanoke also springs to mind for its great after-the-match player review commentary from Buddy and Steve.
- Reyes/Smith from 2015 Accu-Stats Invitational (the first one, not the finals) is an absolute belter. Billy called it the best one-pocket he has ever seen!
- I also agree with the other people recommending Reyes/Pagulayan and Reyes/Miller from 2006 DCC. This is a must see for any one-pocket fan.
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To this day, this is still my favorite match of all time. Earl played like GOD on that table.
Was this the one at Steinway billiards...where the crowd is going nuts over a safety battle that earl keeps kicking out of and he goes and gets his ear muffs....
https://youtu.be/ifh9eavcGmk
I just recently got this exact 10 foot table, rails are still at earl's specs and it is tough.
Mine is the 2004 world championships. Alex Pagulayan and Fong Pang Chau. https://youtu.be/MVgIOAso7og
Best 9 ball matches
I was going to mention the Sigel vs Varner match at the US Open also. It’s an old video and I’m not sure it’s still available from AccuStats anymore.
Sigel was ahead 9-2 and Nick ended up corner hooked. Nick calmly kicked two balls in and proceeded to come back and beat Mike 11-10. The commentary was Mathews and Buddy Hall. This match is one of my all time favorites.
I was going to mention the Sigel vs Varner match at the US Open also. It’s an old video and I’m not sure it’s still available from AccuStats anymore.
Sigel was ahead 9-2 and Nick ended up corner hooked. Nick calmly kicked two balls in and proceeded to come back and beat Mike 11-10. The commentary was Mathews and Buddy Hall. This match is one of my all time favorites.