http://www.thehypertexts.com/Harold Worst Pool Billiards the Best.htm
Reading the above article, I am amazed by how Harold Worst was able to allegedly play the three main cue sports disciplines at world-class level at such a young age and over a short period of time.
This made me think. We live in a time where you see an ever-increasing trend of cross-discipline participation. Take for example the recent Chinese 8-ball tournaments where you see top snooker players trying their hand in 8-ball. The current World Snooker Champion Mark Selby came in 2nd to Darren Appleton at the 2015 World Chinese 8-ball Championships. Steve Davis and Tony Drago were also pretty competitive in the early 00s, the latter of which was even able to win a Masters title. Efren Reyes was a formidable 3-cushion billiards player when he was young, and the skill set he developed from playing 3C helped him a lot in rotation in later years. The only successful crossover we don't really hear about, if at all, is a pool player transitioning to snooker or 3C.
Now let's discuss.
1. Do you think we will ever get to see an individual who can play at world-class level, or even be a World Champion, in all the three cue sports disciplines?
2. If so, when do you think that will happen?
3. What would need to happen for that scenario to take place?
4. What cue sport would that player be primarily playing?
5. If such scenario is unlikely to happen, why?
Other than Worst, the only player I heard who allegedly plays world-class at all games was Efren. According to Daryl Peach, he once beat Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White on one encounter with a pool cue, and made 3 century breaks. Efren by the way is a former SEA Games Gold medalist for snooker and he himself claims that he beat O'Sullivan back in 1991 (w/handicap) and his highest ever break was 132. Not bad for someone with a stroke that would confound today's snooker coaches.
Reading the above article, I am amazed by how Harold Worst was able to allegedly play the three main cue sports disciplines at world-class level at such a young age and over a short period of time.
This made me think. We live in a time where you see an ever-increasing trend of cross-discipline participation. Take for example the recent Chinese 8-ball tournaments where you see top snooker players trying their hand in 8-ball. The current World Snooker Champion Mark Selby came in 2nd to Darren Appleton at the 2015 World Chinese 8-ball Championships. Steve Davis and Tony Drago were also pretty competitive in the early 00s, the latter of which was even able to win a Masters title. Efren Reyes was a formidable 3-cushion billiards player when he was young, and the skill set he developed from playing 3C helped him a lot in rotation in later years. The only successful crossover we don't really hear about, if at all, is a pool player transitioning to snooker or 3C.
Now let's discuss.
1. Do you think we will ever get to see an individual who can play at world-class level, or even be a World Champion, in all the three cue sports disciplines?
2. If so, when do you think that will happen?
3. What would need to happen for that scenario to take place?
4. What cue sport would that player be primarily playing?
5. If such scenario is unlikely to happen, why?
Other than Worst, the only player I heard who allegedly plays world-class at all games was Efren. According to Daryl Peach, he once beat Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White on one encounter with a pool cue, and made 3 century breaks. Efren by the way is a former SEA Games Gold medalist for snooker and he himself claims that he beat O'Sullivan back in 1991 (w/handicap) and his highest ever break was 132. Not bad for someone with a stroke that would confound today's snooker coaches.
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