On any given day, Efren. :smile:
best player over 50?
- Thread starter westcoast
- Start date
I agree that anything can happen on any day, but my money would be on Django to come out on top more often than not in 9 or 10 ball in 2016
As between him and Efren in 10 ball, I think the break so favours Django that Efren is a real underdog most days.
Gideon
Your right!
Busty is still playing at a high level and competing and gambling..., Earl? Nick? They might win on a given day, but not if they played for days.
Busty is still playing at a high level and competing and gambling..., Earl? Nick? They might win on a given day, but not if they played for days.
Nick Varner.
Guys he is a HOF player for a reason. He is still active, and a great ambassador for us and all of pool.
I saw him a few years ago with Johnny Archer doing some exhibitions together. I got Nick aside and told him I would love to see him play Johnny some one pocket. He said he had asked many times and Johnny wasn't interested.....
Nick is certainly a candidate for the best all-around player of all time IMO. He has won championships in 14.1, 9-ball, 10-ball, and one pocket.
Personally, he is one of my favorite one pocket players. I just wish he would play more.
Ken
I doubt anyone in the world that has already played against the wedge wants much more of it , especially if they can't win a bunch of money.
As much as I love One Pocket I could never watch a full game of that.
I understand the concept of it , but it is the most boring thing to watch.
Nick Varner =wedge.
No disrespect intended , I think he is a great player and a fine ambassador for the game of pool.
I'm not saying that guys over 50 can't play but I think most would agree that guys like Efren, Earl, and Bustamante were better in their thirties than their fifties.
also
Also don't forget he beat Efren in that challenge match in the Philippines, he said that was one of his most memorable wins. I love watching Nick play.
Also don't forget he beat Efren in that challenge match in the Philippines, he said that was one of his most memorable wins. I love watching Nick play.
Who beat who for the never paid $1000000
Efrin. Any long session race in any game for big money.
Nick
Efrin. Any long session race in any game for big money.
Nick
What about the other days?
Parica still plays pretty sporty
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Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk
Nick Varner
No doubt!!
Nick Varner is the only player, as far as I know, who has won World Titles in:
8-Ball
9-Ball
One-Pocket
14.1 Straight Pool
Also, if they had played 10-Ball during Nick's era, I'm pretty sure he could have been a champion at that game, too. I'm not sure if Nick played in any Bank Tournaments at Derby City. I forgot to ask him.
I spoke with Nick at the last Derby City and asked him if he would now consider playing in some pro events. His response was, "To get back in stroke, it would take me a solid month or two of practicing about 8 hours a day. To tell the truth, I just don't have that kind of motivation."
A real gentleman, and honest to a fault.
Look at some of the Hall-of-Fame guys Varner opposed and beat:
Mike Sigel, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, Jim Rempe, Luther Lassiter, Cisero Murphy, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Lou Butera, Dallas West, Jimmy Moore, Irving Crane, Joe Balsis, Larry Johnson, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Francisco Bustamante, Jose Parica, Efren Reyes, Danny DiLiberto, and Oliver Ortmann.
No doubt!!
Nick Varner is the only player, as far as I know, who has won World Titles in:
8-Ball
9-Ball
One-Pocket
14.1 Straight Pool
Also, if they had played 10-Ball during Nick's era, I'm pretty sure he could have been a champion at that game, too. I'm not sure if Nick played in any Bank Tournaments at Derby City. I forgot to ask him.
I spoke with Nick at the last Derby City and asked him if he would now consider playing in some pro events. His response was, "To get back in stroke, it would take me a solid month or two of practicing about 8 hours a day. To tell the truth, I just don't have that kind of motivation."
A real gentleman, and honest to a fault.
Look at some of the Hall-of-Fame guys Varner opposed and beat:
Mike Sigel, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, Jim Rempe, Luther Lassiter, Cisero Murphy, Ray Martin, Allen Hopkins, Lou Butera, Dallas West, Jimmy Moore, Irving Crane, Joe Balsis, Larry Johnson, Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Francisco Bustamante, Jose Parica, Efren Reyes, Danny DiLiberto, and Oliver Ortmann.
20 or so years ago I watched him come from 10-0 to win 11-10 in a match at the US Open 9 ball.
Patience and Heart.
A lot of both.
Patience and Heart.
A lot of both.
With all of the world titles we are forgetting that he was a College Straight pool champion as well.
Didn't he also travel to the PI's and gamble on his own dime?
Didn't he also travel to the PI's and gamble on his own dime?
Nick won the Inaugural Derby City Banks Division, a title that many of us consider the World Bank Pool Championships considering that there really isn't another major bank tournament that comes close to the DCC.
Freddie
But...Nick was also one of the seven who allegedly participated in the Challenge of Champions fiasco.
The question of best player over 50 IMO comes down to two things:
1. How good was the player in their prime?
2. How many years past their prime is the player?
If you were to graph these two qualities, #1 would graph upwards, and #2 would graph downwards. At some point, they would cross. So you could have a mid-level pro 50 year old like Joe Tucker for example, be better than a top 10 in the world pro like Buddy Hall. (I think Joe is over 50?, but just an example).
To answer the question, IMO, we would look at all pro players aged 50 to 55. And of those, pick the one that was the best when they were 30. I think 50-55 is the age when the pros are still pretty sharp. Older than 55, many things start going downhill fast.
1. How good was the player in their prime?
2. How many years past their prime is the player?
If you were to graph these two qualities, #1 would graph upwards, and #2 would graph downwards. At some point, they would cross. So you could have a mid-level pro 50 year old like Joe Tucker for example, be better than a top 10 in the world pro like Buddy Hall. (I think Joe is over 50?, but just an example).
To answer the question, IMO, we would look at all pro players aged 50 to 55. And of those, pick the one that was the best when they were 30. I think 50-55 is the age when the pros are still pretty sharp. Older than 55, many things start going downhill fast.
justinb386
Banned
This older guy (friend of mine) from Chicago told me that he witnessed efrin break and run 3 racks of 15 ball rotation (back when Efren 1st came to America and did not speak any English). I am not sure how impressive or common that is, but it sounded pretty impressive to me. I do not know how many players out there can run several racks of 15 ball rotation pool. It is very difficult I think.
justinb386
Banned
Nick Varner.
Guys he is a HOF player for a reason. He is still active, and a great ambassador for us and all of pool.
I saw him a few years ago with Johnny Archer doing some exhibitions together. I got Nick aside and told him I would love to see him play Johnny some one pocket. He said he had asked many times and Johnny wasn't interested.....
Nick is certainly a candidate for the best all-around player of all time IMO. He has won championships in 14.1, 9-ball, 10-ball, and one pocket.
Personally, he is one of my favorite one pocket players. I just wish he would play more.
Ken
Johnny may not have ever been a 1 pocket player though, so maybe that is why he refused to play against such a legendary world champion.