Discussions about the
"Greatest of All Time" (GOAT) Pool Players seems to be a popular topic on AZB and Facebook, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to semi-scientifically identify a consensus opinion with input from as many AZB users as possible. First, I've done some research to come up with an initial Top 25 with grouped rating scores (see below). This list will be revised by votes from AZB users. I know some people will disagree with my initial ranking and scores, but that's what the voting is for. You can also influence how other people vote by making a case for your favorite players in your posts.
Your vote consists of 5 points that you can use however you wish. Here are some
examples of how you can vote:
Reyes 5 (indicating Efren should keep the top spot on the list)
Strickland 3, Rempe 2 (indicating Earl and Jim should both be higher on the list)
Hall 1, Varner 1, Sigel 1, Archer 1, Orcollo 1 (indicating all of these players should be just a little higher on the list)
I will keep a running total of scores for each player; and
on 6/16/2019, I will start a second round of voting with the Top 10 selected from the first round of voting. That way, we can refine the final Top 10.
You only get to vote once in each round. I will keep a list of the voters to prevent multiple votes. All votes must be public as posts in this thread, and
you are not allowed to change your vote.
Second round voting will end on 6/30/2019.
Initial Ranking with First-Round Voting Scores
Rank - Name - Score
1 - Efren Reyes - 166
2 - Shane Van Boening - 75
3 - Wu Chia-ching - 40
4 - Earl Strickland - 73
5 - Mike Sigel - 63
6 - Nick Varner - 73
7 - Buddy Hall - 42
8 - Johnny Archer - 43
9 - Mika Immonen - 35
10 - Jim Rempe - 35
11 - Steve Miserzak - 37
12 - Allen Hopkins - 36
13 - Alex Pagulayan - 66
14 - Dennis Ocollo - 44
15 - Niels Feijen - 35
16 - Darren Appleton - 39
17 - Francisco Bustamante - 42
18 - Jayson Shaw - 30
19 - Josh Filler - 30
20 - Ralph Souquet - 32
21 - Albin Ouschan - 30
22 - Pin Yi Ko - 30
23 - Thorsten Hohmann - 27
24 - Jose Parica - 26
25 - Carlo Biado - 25
Note that I have not included players from the "straight pool era." For example, arguments can be made that
Mosconi, Greenleaf, Lassiter, Hoppe, Cranfield, Crane, DeOro, Lindrum, Caras (and others) deserve to be on the list, but I purposely excluded them since it is too difficult (or impossible) for most people to compare them to players in the modern "9-ball era" (since about 1980). I at least give them
honorable mention here. For those who object to this, wherever you see "GOAT" in this thread, read it as "GIME" (Greatest in the Modern Era) instead.
People who voted in the first round (total number: 59): 9 Ball Fan, AtLarge, atlas333, beetle, Bic D, Bob Jewett, CGM, Chili Palmer, Cornerman, Creedo, CrownCityCorey, deanoc, Dimeball, dontscratch, dr_dave, evergruven, follownoone, Get_A_Grip, gordml, highkarate, icucybe, JazzyJeff87, JC, jeephawk, Johnny Rosato, justadub, kkdanamatt, LeftyIke, Luxury, Magyar19, Maniac, Marc, mark187, markjames, mattb, MattPoland, megatron69, Mich, Mick, monsterdog, oldschool1478, Pete, PoloBob, PoolBum, Poolmanis, noMoreSchon, ricardo, Rico, Rimfirejunkie, SamShaddey, Scratch85, Sealegs50, sjm, Snooker Theory, spliced, Tennesseejoe, Tin Man, Tooler, TX Poolnut.
Here are the current results for the second round of voting:
Top 10 GOAT (in the modern era):
Rank - Name - Score
1 - Efren Reyes - 175
2 - Earl Strickland - 93
3 - Shane Van Boening - 91
4 - Alex Pagulayan - 88
5 - Nick Varner - 82
6 - Mike Sigel - 69
7 - Wu Chia-ching - 49
8 - Francisco Bustamante - 49
9 - Dennis Ocollo - 44
10 - Johnny Archer - 44
11 - Buddy Hall - 43
The 11th spot will be dropped at the end of voting, per
post 208.
People who have already voted in the second round (total number: 22): 9 Ball Fan, atlas333, Bob Jewett, dr_dave, Get_A_Grip, gordml, highkarate, icucybe, JazzyJeff87, maha, mark187, noMoreSchon, Poolmanis, RailBanger, ricardo, Runnintable, SamShaddey, Scratch85, sjm, skogstokig, TX Poolnut, West Point 1987.
Please submit your votes and comments. This will be a meaningful exercise only if many people participate.
Thanks,
Dave
