great players from mexico

Don't forget "Mexican Johnny" Vasquez or "Mexican Phil" Valdez from back in the day.

I don't think Johnny showed up in CA until the 80's. His best pool was when he was in Chicago where he was one of the top players for years. He still was a good player when he was here, but he was just looking to make enough $$ to get him to the track. He dearly loved the pony's.
 
Best players out of Mexico

Ignacio Chavez is imop the best to ever come out of Mexico. A lot of people remember him in his early years in the states but his skill jumped after competition in the states, especially New York, and a trip to the world pool championship moved him to the top.

He gambled with some of the best in the US and won most. He was better at gambling than tourney play but got better at it. He matched up against Darren Appleton,Hennesee,Jeremy Jones,Allen Hopkins,Larry Price on a bar table, the sniper and many many more.

In the wpc he was in a tough 5 man round robin and beat everyone except Corey Duel.

2010 Ultimate Pool Championship he beat champions and ran 50 plus balls in 10 ball against Neils Fein. One of the best 10 ball performances you will see. Bert Kinister gives him his due and I thank him. He has video of this match and It is an amazing performance. Buy it.

Chavez finished second to Shane after jumping out to a nice lead. Simply ran out of steam to one of the best players and comeback players in the world. Ignacio Chavez was the oldest man in the field. Won an 8ball tournament against top ecelon pros in Atlanta.

People from New York can attest to his play cause that was the place where the competition made him great. He loves the filipino style of play especially their safties.

He is not a loud mouth and gets no respect until time to match up, then some of the ones you see on the cover of Billiards digest want the 7. He considered himself good but not a great one pocket player. He plays 3 cusion I am told pretty good.

His 8 ball play is astounding. He played in a straight pool tournament a few years back (I think NY)and they had to explain the 14-1 rules to him because he did not play the game. He won against Thurston Hollman and other champions coming in 9th I believe.

Imop straight pool would have been his best game because of his style,stroke,and vision of the table. He is amazing at adjusting to different and crappy tables. The best player out of Mexico is Ignacio Chavez.
 
A little history

From New York Times, 1916


And don't forget Joe Chamaco.
 

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I guess you are an idiot, or have a stupid sense of humor. Do you often find yourself telling jokes and no one laughs? Well, it's your fault.

Re best Mexican player, in the first place you have to distinguish between Bernardo Chavez (King Kong) and Ignacio Chavez, aka Jessie, Mexico, El Mago, etc. Two different people, and Ignacio played much better. Although the fact is, Ignacio had two different careers or stages. When he was in Houston for example, he had to ask for the 8 from Davey G, then say about 2008 in the Derby City Classic he beat Davey G 8 ahead in less than an hour. Ignacio had his weaknesses, he was not a great racker, that is, he didn't master how to put the rack on you, and he was not a great breaker. But he had some notable wins, in '09 he beat Tony Watson in Florida, he won and then lost to Keith Bennett in Florida, he beat Tony Crosby in Florida. But then he really started on a roll. He beat Darren Appleton straight up in Clifton, NJ, race to 21, and then then beat Darren Appleton with the 9 at Master's in Queens. He beat Warren Kiamco with the 9 at Master's. I understand, on very good authority, that he beat John Schmidt playing even 10-ball at Clifton's. Ignacio won the all-around in Atlanta in about '09 with Stevie Moore Sean Putnam and John Schmidt in the field. Ignacio was never a great bettor, in the sense of matching up, and he never had a great break. He almost won a huge tournament in Nicaragua a couple of years ago, but he's now 55 and has diabetes, so his game is up and down. I forgot to mention that a couple of years ago he beat Jeremy Jones with Ignacio having the 9 for 5k. Ignacio played good once he hit 50, kind of unusual. I'd have liked to see him and Bartrum play, and they almost did after the Mike Janus tournament in Atlanta. Whether Ignacio was better than Ernesto, when Ignacio was at his best, is an open question. I think now, Ernesto's son is too strong with those young eyes and young heart. Ignacio at his best was better than Ismael Paez, in my opinion, though I like Ismael. But like all pool players, or almost all, Ignacio is destined to be forgotten, except by the few who were thrilled by his play and choose to remember. He controlled the cue ball like almost no other (Efren and some others excepted), and watching him was like watching a great artist paint an exceptional canvas.
One more thing, his performance at the straight pool in '09, where he beat Thorsten Hohman and other world champions straight up, and I assure you, Ignacio didn't even play straight pool. But he was a monster.
 
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I met a middle age Mexican at the farm where I lease the stable, Hector. I asked him if he played pool. The next day he brought me a cue that needed a new tip. I asked him if he would like to come over and play a little and knock down a few beers. He came over and plays a very good game. He introduced me to a game he called Mexican Pool. Have any of you played it? 13 balls, 12 on the rail at the diamonds with the 3 ball on the foot spot. The 3 counts as 6 points. Just curious if you guys have tried it or know anything about it.
Don

Don,

I played 'Mexican pool' with my now ex father and brother in law when I spent a few months in Mexico a few years back, is a slightly odd game to get accustomed to, but found it really good practice for all kinds of shots. wouldnt mind another game at some point.. may have to visit DF all over again :)
 
I don't think that Frank "The Barber" Almenza is from Mexico but he held his own in and around El Monte and LA and is very personable.

Another from Gardena is Lil Jesse Mojica who got married, started a family, got a job, quit smoking and doesn't shoot much...because he doesn't have to.
 
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Sergio Vargas could play! played damn good on the bar box, he was from Mexico.


David Harcrow
 
I don't think that Frank "The Barber" Almenza is from Mexico but he held his own in and around El Monte and LA and is very personable.

Another from Gardena is Lil Jesse Mojica who got married, started a family, got a job, quit smoking and doesn't shoot much...because he doesn't have to.

Frank is from Mexico but came to the USA very young. He is also one of the better older players around.
 
Frank is from Mexico but came to the USA very young. He is also one of the better older players around.

Thank you Johnny. I was feeling left out. I am from Chihuahua, Mexico but have been here since I was four years old.
 
I guess you are an idiot, or have a stupid sense of humor. Do you often find yourself telling jokes and no one laughs? Well, it's your fault.

Re best Mexican player, in the first place you have to distinguish between Bernardo Chavez (King Kong) and Ignacio Chavez, aka Jessie, Mexico, El Mago, etc. Two different people, and Ignacio played much better. Although the fact is, Ignacio had two different careers or stages. When he was in Houston for example, he had to ask for the 8 from Davey G, then say about 2008 in the Derby City Classic he beat Davey G 8 ahead in less than an hour. Ignacio had his weaknesses, he was not a great racker, that is, he didn't master how to put the rack on you, and he was not a great breaker. But he had some notable wins, in '09 he beat Tony Watson in Florida, he won and then lost to Keith Bennett in Florida, he beat Tony Crosby in Florida. But then he really started on a roll. He beat Darren Appleton straight up in Clifton, NJ, race to 21, and then then beat Darren Appleton with the 9 at Master's in Queens. He beat Warren Kiamco with the 9 at Master's. I understand, on very good authority, that he beat John Schmidt playing even 10-ball at Clifton's. Ignacio won the all-around in Atlanta in about '09 with Stevie Moore Sean Putnam and John Schmidt in the field. Ignacio was never a great bettor, in the sense of matching up, and he never had a great break. He almost won a huge tournament in Nicaragua a couple of years ago, but he's now 55 and has diabetes, so his game is up and down. I forgot to mention that a couple of years ago he beat Jeremy Jones with Ignacio having the 9 for 5k. Ignacio played good once he hit 50, kind of unusual. I'd have liked to see him and Bartrum play, and they almost did after the Mike Janus tournament in Atlanta. Whether Ignacio was better than Ernesto, when Ignacio was at his best, is an open question. I think now, Ernesto's son is too strong with those young eyes and young heart. Ignacio at his best was better than Ismael Paez, in my opinion, though I like Ismael. But like all pool players, or almost all, Ignacio is destined to be forgotten, except by the few who were thrilled by his play and choose to remember. He controlled the cue ball like almost no other (Efren and some others excepted), and watching him was like watching a great artist paint an exceptional canvas.
One more thing, his performance at the straight pool in '09, where he beat Thorsten Hohman and other world champions straight up, and I assure you, Ignacio didn't even play straight pool. But he was a monster.

You should read post #24. I felt like a dumbass for not getting it until reading that post. Let me know if I'm missing sumthin.
 
Well there are a few . . .

I guess you are an idiot, or have a stupid sense of humor. Do you often find yourself telling jokes and no one laughs? Well, it's your fault.

There are a few so dull witted they don't laugh, even make ugly remarks. I try to help them along with pictures. Of course nothing is funny when you have to explain it to death. Mexico is one of the first places Efren played as a child.

Hu


Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ph_locator_pampanga_mexico.png
 
I had no idea you were from Chihuahua Frank! I totally thought you were a gringo. :thumbup:

I recently saw Marco Marquez in the tourney at Nicaragua. He's a good friend of ours. He stays in Mexico but doesnt play much anymore. He practiced for a week before Nicaragua but he's not the player he used to be.
 
I watched Little Sergio play a few times in Shreveport when I was a kid. He was always playing jacked-up one-handed pool. At that time I heard he was either the best or close to it in the world like that. Any truth to that?
 
I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Gildardo "Helio" Mascarena.

He might have been the best of the Mexican players before Rafael came along. He matched up pretty well and was kind of undercover, but he could really play all games. He also was a very good three cushion player.

A very happy guy and fun to be around in the pool room. Another good player lost too soon.
 
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