Biggest money match you have ever seen?

Johnnyt said:
Imagine if pool players just saved 5% of their winnings and put it in a bank for when they couldn't be competative anymore? That's all I can think of when I hear these big money stories about pool & casino's.

For the ones that are still at it with their own money...more power to them. I'm sure the ones that made it and lost it had a very colorfull life...but now what? Johnnyt

It's now the stuff that books are written about! :wink:

JAM
 
JAM said:
It's now the stuff that books are written about! :wink:

JAM

Oh I agree and it's a big part of pool history. I just think it's sad that so many boxers, highstakes gamblers, ledgenary pool players, baseball and just about all the other sports stars do not have the money to enjoy their golden years. In the 1970's when the big salaries started to come (Catfish Hunter) this started to change with them having agents and managers. Of course you had to watch them like a hawk too. Johnnyt
 
jbullerjr said:
I was there for most of that one. I think the spot was 15-4.
I meet Slim that day, funny guy.
I was sitting with someone Slim knows so he comes over and visits a little while.They had already made the game but everybody was busy getting the side bets down.
When the mutual friend asked Slim what he thought about the game, Slim says "I don't think I'm gonna like it, even my driver has $10,000 bet against me."

Most money on ONE game.

I was in Slick Willies on Westhiemer in Houston the night Lil Hand (Gus) and Fly Boy played the single game of 9-ball for $16k.


Who won the game between Gus & Fly Boy? I've lost a little money to Gus myself. Saw him at the Vegas Nationals recently. I never heard that. I once sat down at the poker table at Bogies that Flyboy was playing at. I didn't know who he was then.
 
Saw Bartram and Ronnie Wiseman play 15,000 set 20 ahead, broke even, think Ronnie was down 17 and came back to tie, then saw Tony Cohan and Billy I. play 15,000 one pocket, Billy won that one, first time in DCC saw John Hagar Jr. and Sparky Ferrell, 1,000 a game 9 ball, John was winning that one.
 
Johnnyt said:
Oh I agree and it's a big part of pool history. I just think it's sad that so many boxers, highstakes gamblers, ledgenary pool players, baseball and just about all the other sports stars do not have the money to enjoy their golden years. In the 1970's when the big salaries started to come (Catfish Hunter) this started to change with them having agents and managers. Of course you had to watch them like a hawk too. Johnnyt

I agree with you. You know what is sad to me is seeing today's Hall of Famers in pool, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet.

Pool in particular never did pay out as much as baseball, football, and boxing. There wasn't much for a pool player to save when he needed that dough to attend the next tournament. Of course, we all know that a $3,000 first-place prize money went a lot further in the '70s and '80s than it does in the year 2008. Still, pool payouts have always paled in comparison to other sports.

In Philippines, though, the American dollar goes a long way. That is how the Filipino Invasion came to the fore. This was during an era when pool ruled in the United States as far as competitive event opportunities. Today, as we all know, it is quite different, as pool has definitely advanced to an international scale.

A modern-day pool player cannot survive on pool alone because of the expenses. A job is needed to supplement their income and/or a stake/sponsor.

Gambling by its very nature is a disease, much like substance abuse. As an example, me personally, if I win at the horses, I am leaving that track with money in my pocket. This would never happen with a gambler who is addicted to gambling. Keith and I go to the horses sometimes, but because I am inclined to want to leave with monies in my pocket, we usually don't have a pleasant ride home. One of us is pissed off. :D

The thing is, though, somebody who was not addicted to gambling would probably never play for 10-, 20-, and $40,000 to begin with. I played for $100 a game one time, and I had trouble making a straight-in shot. :o

So the gambling addiction is why most who played for big monies don't have much to show for it in the later years of their life. Gambling addiction is no different than alcoholism or substance abuse, IMHO! That's why they have Gamblers Anonymous! I went to one of those meetings one time with a friend who had a gambling problem, but that's a topic for another thread.
:outtahere:

JAM
 
Your right Jam it is an addiction. I call my gambling addiction a controled addiction. I gambled on pool, horses, dogs, and sports since I was 12. I never once did not pay the rent or other bills and I always gave my wife my paycheck each week. I never went out with money in my pocket that was for other things. I never borrowed money if I went broke to try and get even, and I can count the times I used a stakehorse on my fingers. Of course I didn't bet the big money we're taking about in this thread either. I believe the highest I ever played for was $1300 on a 15 point 3 cushion game. I thought I had the cold nuts...NOT.

I'm far from a millionare but I can do or go anywhere I want and don't have to worry about money. Almost everytime I had a big score (for me) at the track or playing pool I went out and bought something that I could resell at a profit. Mostly cars, motorcycles and boats. In later years I bought Racing Greyhounds. In ten years I had a little under 200 of them racing, training, or breeding around the country. The prefixes of my dogs were JV's, JT's, and the rest were named already when I bought them. About 75% of the money I used was from gambling wins. Rule #1 Don't give it back when you win. Johnnyt
 
IPT the IPT

I try not to use cliche statements as they are soo after the fact and easy to realize. I realize the thought process when it comes to gambling too.(the winning and losing aspect of it) I just want to say,
"It's not how much money you've won, it's how much money you've kept!" IPT the ones that have made it and lost it back without trying to pump it up in another arena of life. It's a rush to win money and some of the best times a person ever experiences, this I know.
 
Last edited:
Most money I ever played for, 100k a game

The story and circumstances behind the most money I ever played for. It was against the highest roller of all time, Archie Karas. Archie, at one time had the Horseshoe Casino in Vegas stuck for over 30 million dollars playing dice. I had Archie fooled into thinking I was an eccentric billionaire.
This is one of my secret road stories. The whole story is much too long to post, but it can be read totally at:
http://secretsofahardcorepoolhustler.blogspot.com/2008/02/most-money-i-ever-played-for.html


the Beard
 
Yep that was it.

tanco said:
I think the young player you are speaking of might be Chad Warzeka from Minnesota. I believe he lost most of it back at that tournament pitching coins with Allen Hopkins.


I think the young guy was named Chad. What year was that?

Ronnie Wiseman and Allen was behind all that bullshit of flipping...kinda pissed me off.

Who was that older guy? I understood he owned more than one pool hall in St. Louis.

This was early in my pool life, this event and watching Darrin Everett (SPRINGFIELD, MO), Danny Harriman (SPRINGFIELD, MO) and the Gunslinger from Kansas City (DAVE MATLOCK) got me hooked on poll.

Ken
 
Here are my thoughts...

JAM said:
I agree with you. You know what is sad to me is seeing today's Hall of Famers in pool, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet.

Pool in particular never did pay out as much as baseball, football, and boxing. There wasn't much for a pool player to save when he needed that dough to attend the next tournament. Of course, we all know that a $3,000 first-place prize money went a lot further in the '70s and '80s than it does in the year 2008. Still, pool payouts have always paled in comparison to other sports.

In Philippines, though, the American dollar goes a long way. That is how the Filipino Invasion came to the fore. This was during an era when pool ruled in the United States as far as competitive event opportunities. Today, as we all know, it is quite different, as pool has definitely advanced to an international scale.

A modern-day pool player cannot survive on pool alone because of the expenses. A job is needed to supplement their income and/or a stake/sponsor.

Gambling by its very nature is a disease, much like substance abuse. As an example, me personally, if I win at the horses, I am leaving that track with money in my pocket. This would never happen with a gambler who is addicted to gambling. Keith and I go to the horses sometimes, but because I am inclined to want to leave with monies in my pocket, we usually don't have a pleasant ride home. One of us is pissed off. :D

The thing is, though, somebody who was not addicted to gambling would probably never play for 10-, 20-, and $40,000 to begin with. I played for $100 a game one time, and I had trouble making a straight-in shot. :o

So the gambling addiction is why most who played for big monies don't have much to show for it in the later years of their life. Gambling addiction is no different than alcoholism or substance abuse, IMHO! That's why they have Gamblers Anonymous! I went to one of those meetings one time with a friend who had a gambling problem, but that's a topic for another thread.
:outtahere:

JAM


I too, think sometimes about this, but if Archie wasnt willing to bet his last dollar he wouldnt have won $30M. I think it is the thinking I had nothing when I started I have nothing to lose.

This will start a flame but here goes on drugs,,,,we all harp on how terrible they are, but I think IMO, without certain drugs, alot of the music from famous bands would have never been created. Hank Williams was a drunk, but the songs and lyrics he created, to me, still haunt me. Listen to "I am so Lonesome". And if you enjoy the Stones or the Beatles you can make your own conclusion, but as JAM says, that is for another thread.

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
I too, think sometimes about this, but if Archie wasnt willing to bet his last dollar he wouldnt have won $30M. I think it is the thinking I had nothing when I started I have nothing to lose.

This will start a flame but here goes on drugs,,,,we all harp on how terrible they are, but I think IMO, without certain drugs, alot of the music from famous bands would have never been created. Hank Williams was a drunk, but the songs and lyrics he created, to me, still haunt me. Listen to "I am so Lonesome". And if you enjoy the Stones or the Beatles you can make your own conclusion, but as JAM says, that is for another thread.

Ken

I really enjoy Hank Williams, Sr. songs. I never got into the Beatles as much as my friends, though I have many of their albums.

There is a lot of truth in what you write! ;)

JAM
 
I saw Bustamante play C.J. Wiley for $13K about 15 years ago in Chicago. I think Busty gave him the 8? Debbie Wilson held the money.
 
8ballEinstein said:
Jack Cooney vs Toby Flaherty, Las Vegas Cue Club, One-Pocket, Jack getting 10-8, 8 ahead for $25K, freeze up $50K.

Didn't see the whole thing but I understand it lasted 11 days. Some of the best One-Pocket I've ever seen.

They also played at Hard Times for 5 days in a 10-ahead set for $30k with plenty of action on the side, Mark Betor was staking Jack of course. Toby had him stuck 6 in the 1st day and it looked like all Toby, then something happened with his family I believe and he ended up losing over the next few days.

Also saw Ronnie Wisemane lose $12.5k at $500/game in Maryland when the Billiard Club tournaments were going on. It was amazing to watch someone lose 25 games at that amount, the coin goes around the table like 1 1/2 times!!
 
Russ Chewning said:
I do not believe Jack was "off the stall". :D It was one of his tenents to make sure to take a very long time to beat his opponent, so his opponent would think it was the TIME that got him, not the skill of his opponent, and would therefore be willing to try another match for big money.

I am not toally sure Jack couldn't have beat him flat in 10 hours or so...

Russ

Guess you just had to be there to see what I mean.... Jack may have stalled if he were playing a shortstop player or even a lesser speed seasoned player but he was playing a James Walden that was in his prime. I seen Walden in a few spots before that and a couple right after and he was playing perfect pool and was in constant high $ action. My point, Cooney had to play his ass off to win. If he would have stalled he would have lost..... Trust me, he was putting down moves on James that he would only bring out of the arsenal if he really needed to! I sweated about 6 hours of it the second day sitting with Patcheye and Groundhog (from ATL), two guys that have seen & played more 1p in the past 30+ years than just about anyone out there. Both said it was some of the best 1p they had ever seen (from both players) and they had never seen anyone move like Jack. That is saying something.........

Saw
 
Cuaba said:
I saw Bustamante play C.J. Wiley for $13K about 15 years ago in Chicago. I think Busty gave him the 8? Debbie Wilson held the money.

If this was at the Pheasant Run Resort for the Willards event in 1992, the bet was $5k with more bet on the rail. It could very well of been 13k, not saying your wrong.

A larger bet went down that same week in the bar box room between Parica and Gary Lutman. Parica gave Lutman the 6 and the snaps IIRC and the bet was much higher. It was above 10k when I sat down to watch and the backer for Lutman was this huge lady who had kept barking "BET MORE" between every shots. In the hr or so I watched the bet went up 6 or 7k. Parica won that game. I may be wrong about the spot. It might have been the 7 and the snaps. I have an old legal pad I wrote a journal about this trip to Chicago. I will have to dig it up and look to see what I wrote back then. Hopefully the wife didnt chuck that box of stuff. She is anti-pack rat and everytime we move I have to watch her like a hawk or she chucks some of my pool "junk".
 
That Was It

uwate said:
If this was at the Pheasant Run Resort for the Willards event in 1992, the bet was $5k with more bet on the rail. It could very well of been 13k, not saying your wrong.

A larger bet went down that same week in the bar box room between Parica and Gary Lutman. Parica gave Lutman the 6 and the snaps IIRC and the bet was much higher. It was above 10k when I sat down to watch and the backer for Lutman was this huge lady who had kept barking "BET MORE" between every shots. In the hr or so I watched the bet went up 6 or 7k. Parica won that game. I may be wrong about the spot. It might have been the 7 and the snaps. I have an old legal pad I wrote a journal about this trip to Chicago. I will have to dig it up and look to see what I wrote back then. Hopefully the wife didnt chuck that box of stuff. She is anti-pack rat and everytime we move I have to watch her like a hawk or she chucks some of my pool "junk".

They played more than one set, this being the last one. I'm pretty sure that was the amount because I watched Debbie count the money. I was sitting with her and Mark at the time.

They may have played for $5K earlier?
 
DeadPoked said:
Who won the game between Gus & Fly Boy? I've lost a little money to Gus myself. Saw him at the Vegas Nationals recently. I never heard that. I once sat down at the poker table at Bogies that Flyboy was playing at. I didn't know who he was then.

Lil Hand took the cash.
Flyboy says play another game for $20K?!?!
Gus says I'll play for $16K, its all I got.
It didn't happen.
 
Ken_4fun said:
I think the young guy was named Chad. What year was that?

Ronnie Wiseman and Allen was behind all that bullshit of flipping...kinda pissed me off.

Who was that older guy? I understood he owned more than one pool hall in St. Louis.

This was early in my pool life, this event and watching Darrin Everett (SPRINGFIELD, MO), Danny Harriman (SPRINGFIELD, MO) and the Gunslinger from Kansas City (DAVE MATLOCK) got me hooked on poll.

Ken

I believe the older guy was Gary Lutman.
 
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