best 1 pocket player alive today?????

cueball1950

cueball1950

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know that this may very well have been asked in the past but i was just wondering who, in your own opinion, is the best 1 pocket player today? Could it be Jose Parica, Efren Reyes, Cliff Joyner? Who???? please enlighten me to your pick and why.............mike
 
I would say Alex Lely is the best one pocket player in Europe. I think i never saw him get beaten!
 
i think you meant to ask who the second best one pocket player is. look who's won the DCC one pocket event the last 3 years. This year he went through a huge field and beat the runner up something like 24 to 1.

From the looks of things....(per azbilliards) efren has won the event EVERY year he has entered it...unless one year he didn't even get in the money.
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Efren Reyes is in a league all by himself when it comes to 1-pocket. At least, that is the case among the people who are playing today and a good argument could be made for him being the best 1-pocket player ever -- though good arguments could be made for a couple other players as "the best ever" as well.
 
4 players come to mind, and this is a little different thinking. Varner, Dalton, Mathews and Reyes.
Ive watched Nick play some great 1 pocket over the years( a thinking mans game coupled with great shots), Shannon is a hell of a player (I think he is hall of fame bound), Grady may not have the same game he had 10 years or more ago, but his knowledge puts him up there. And the Magician is doom for his opponents on pretty much any cloth.
Chuck
 
So let me get this straight: are you guys trying to tell us that efren reyes is the best 1-pocket player ever? :)
 
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We were sitting in the DCC tournament room and this guy next to us asked his buddy, "Hey who do you think is the best one pocket player?"

His buddy goes, "Uh you mean after Efren right?"

"Well of course man, I thought that was taken for granted I meant after Reyes"
 
UR kidding,right? There isn't a player in the world that will play Efren even. I like Cliff Joyner for #2.

Brian
 
Who's number one is a easy question to answer.

Who's number two is a lot trickier.

Daulton- won numerous one pocket events but hasn't won much lately.

Frost- looking stronger all the time. Reigning US Open champ, won a Legends of one pocket event.

Joyner- beat everyone EXCEPT Efren for the last ten years. Dominates lesser competition.


Corey Deuel, Gabe Owen, Alex Pagulayan also are excellent one pocket players. Parica, Varner, Hopkins are legends but I think age is taking its toll; too many young sharpshooters out there.
 
uwate said:
We were sitting in the DCC tournament room and this guy next to us asked his buddy, "Hey who do you think is the best one pocket player?"

His buddy goes, "Uh you mean after Efren right?"

"Well of course man, I thought that was taken for granted I meant after Reyes"
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I guess the next question will be who is the best golfer today? still not sure about that.
There is Efren than there is everybody else...period!! Cliff is the best american player and it is between Cliff and Jose for 2nd best overall. Although Corey will end up being the best american 1 pocket player. He plays Efren whenever he can and when it comes to pool he is extremely intelligent. Nobody has more natural ability than Corey. That little shit! LOL
 
If you haven't bought it already, buy the DVD of this year's DCC one-pocket semifinals and finals. Listen to what Billy I, Freddy B, and Danny D says on the matter.
 
Definitely Efren. I've just never seen anybody play the game as well as he does. Here are a few of the guys I have admired over the years...

Back in the day there was this guy named Grady Mathews... he was hands down the best I ever saw at knocking them in one hole. He can still hit them pretty good, just ask him. That comes from a lifetime of dedication to doing your best at what you love to do and ultimatley becoming the best at it.

Ronnie Allen is a class by himself in the world of one pocket. When I think of Ronnie Allen, the first thing that comes to mind is his unshakable confidence. Ronnie always knew that he had a chance to win, and he always believed he could find a way to win. They call that heart, and Ronnie was blessed abundantly in the heart department.

Gene Skinner was also a fantastic one pocket player also back in the day. He never played for many trophies, but he was definitely one of the best in the world and would play anyone for any amount. Gene Skinner had more fight and determination in his little finger than most players have in their entire body. It's too bad guys like Gene don't receive the recognition that they deserve.

Leonard "Bugs" Rucker is another guy that was just an awesome shotmaker. Just when you thought you had him locked out of a game he would pull some shot out of his hat that would just amaze everybody. Bugs was one of the most creative players I have ever watched play the game of pool. He invented many shots "on the spot" during his match-ups and watching him play was like taking an advanced college course in pocketing balls.

Dedication. Heart. Determination. Creativity. That is what makes a great pool player.
 
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Gene Skinner, The Fullerton Kid

Blackjack said:
...Gene Skinner was also a fantastic one pocket player also back in the day. He never played for many trophies, but he was definitely one of the best in the world and would play anyone for any amount. Gene Skinner had more fight and determination in his little finger than most players have in their entire body. It's too bad guys like Gene don't receive the recognition that they deserve...

...Dedication. Heart. Determination. Creativity. That is what makes a great pool player.
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Blackjack, how is it you know of Gene Skinner? Very few humans know about him. Gene turned me out as a One Pocket player. He was my mentor. I loved the old man. He was a mighty tough old bird. He once beat Mosconi playing One Pocket. Fight and determination was his long suit. Betting their own money he would eat most of the players today. I am searching around for some decent photos of him to put in my book. I dedicated my first book to him. Macguy of this site sent me some pics of him but they were very poor quality.

the Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
Blackjack, how is it you know of Gene Skinner? Very few humans know about him. Gene turned me out as a One Pocket player. He was my mentor. I loved the old man. He was a mighty tough old bird. He once beat Mosconi playing One Pocket. Fight and determination was his long suit. Betting their own money he would eat most of the players today. I am searching around for some decent photos of him to put in my book. I dedicated my first book to him. Macguy of this site sent me some pics of him but they were very poor quality.

the Beard
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I spent my formative years around South Florida when Skinner was there. He was definitely as tough as nails. I think he was a Marine during WWII. For years he had an underground bet where he said he would put up $25K of his own against $25K of ANY player (that means anyone) - the bet was that he would play ANY PLAYER ANY 10 POOL GAMES for the stake. The bet was out there for many years with NO TAKERS. I would never bet against Gene Skinner in any situation. The only player I think could have taken that bet and beat Gene, was Mike Carella. I played Gene many times, and though I had an edge on him in straight pool, in 1-hole he could probably spot me 8 games in a race to 10 while giving me an embarassing spot - comfortably. He was that damn good.

Someone had posted a picture of Gene a while back (could have been Macguy) it was a picture of him sitting in the chair (possibly from late 1970's- early 1980's) possibly from Hollywood, Florida which is where I lived during that time period. Gene is by far one of my all-time favorite characters in the history of pool.
 
cueball1950 said:
I know that this may very well have been asked in the past but i was just wondering who, in your own opinion, is the best 1 pocket player today? Could it be Jose Parica, Efren Reyes, Cliff Joyner? Who???? please enlighten me to your pick and why.............mike
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I'm surprised you're asking, Mike. Efren is so far above everyone else, it's sickening. I think you should pose the question at onepocket.org.

He's won the DCC one-pocket event every time he's played it.

He spotted Cliff 8-7 last year in a race to 9 and absolutely crushed him.

I video taped him playing Corey with whatever spot and Corey told him "I can't beat you with any spot."

Efren's imagination and his ability to execute virtually any path he thinks up are two of his dominant weapons. Another is what I believe is a genius IQ and the ability to play several shots ahead (in his mind). All these things combined make him the greatest one-pocket player that ever has played the game.

Fred
 
The title to this thread should definitely be who is the second best one pocket player alive today. Efren is #1 there isn't much doubt about that, but there are several players you could make a strong case for in terms of #2, a couple that come to mind and have already been mentioned include Joyner, Parica, Daulton, and Frost just to name a few. These guys can duke it out all they want for #2 but Efren is definitely #1.
 
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