great players from mexico

[leonkush]

I remember playing a player called Marcus in Costa Masa and at Hard Times, he was a great 9-ball player with a big reputation as a money player. We played 8-ball on many occasions which is my game and not his so I got the better of him. But in 9-ball I was not interested in taking him on as he was a very fluent player and knew the game inside out - had some very intricate run outs and a smooth stroke. Although he asked me to play for money every time I saw him.

I remember in one match in the final of a Cost Masa competition he had about 10 friends watching the match. The funny thing was their expression didn't change the whole match it was like having 10 statues watching. funny bunch...I was never sure what to make of them.

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

King Kong

Bernardo Chavez aka King Kong.

Mr. Kong has always shown up at the Riviera and plays in the small action room right at the entrance of the first big room. The BCA event. Every year, every day. Great place to see some of the great players matching up. Met Frank the Barber one year. Very nice fellow. Also a well dressed blonde guy with a white hat and outrageous bridge or cue or some type of equip. Excellent player. I would rather watch these players than watch the pros who always have their event during the BCA tourney. Not too many pros come into the action room to take on anyone! Wonder why? We know why don't we.

 

[genomachino]

I know them both..........

Marco Marquez and Sebastian Franco both can play a little bit.:smile:

Played with them and against.

Some good pool stories there...............

 

[jay helfert]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Gildardo "Helio" Mascarena.

There you go! Absolutely fearless, challenged Sigel to play some even up 9-Ball when Mike was at his peak. Then he beat him for the cash! He was around SoCal for years back in the late 80's and early 90's. The only players who would play him even were Keith and Kim. Sad to say he died in a car accident more than fifteen years ago. A great guy too, soft spoken and not a braggart. He'd just smile and shoot your nuts off.

 

[jay helfert]

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?

Probably the best "jacked up" One Handed in the world during the 80's and 90's. He couldn't beat Ronnie at One Pocket playing one handed and Ronnie couldn't beat him playing one handed Eight Ball on a bar table. He tried and failed. The best one handed player I ever saw was a man named Chris Raftis, out of Detroit and Dayton. He was probably the equal of Goosetay and got the best of Little Miami in Columbus in the late 60's. I watched him beat Eddie Taylor playing one handed 9-Ball as well. It was a rout. Goosetay and Miami were Puerto Ricans and Raftis was Greek. He wrote a couple of little books on pool, one entitled Cue Tips. My dad bought a used Sport King from Raftis (that's what everyone called him) in 1964, in an attempt to keep me at home and out of the poolroom. It failed, only made me want to play that much more. :smile:

 

[jay helfert]

For the cash, I'll take Morro over the field. He busted a lot of joints all over the country in the last two decades. No one (outside of California) knew who he was until he reached the finals of the WPC. Still plays pretty good in his late 50's.

Canela had the biggest rep in the 80's, as unbeatable. Heard he had some substance problems and lost his edge. Big Sergio was maybe the best bar table player anywhere until Keith gave him the cure. I saw Sergio beat a lot of big table champions at Daisy Mae's and Frank's Tavern.

Ernesto won more tournaments in California in the 80's and 90's then anyone else, not even close. He was the uncrowned regional champion. He was right there with Keith, Kim and Swanee. These four were the dominant players in an era of many good players on the West Coast. If you throw the Northwest into the mix, Dan Louie was their equal as well.

Others worthy of mention include Mario and Al Nicaragua, both top flight bar table players. Tijuana Joe is Jimmy Mendoza's dad, another damn good player. Francisco Galindo was another great money player who wasn't afraid to mix it up on a big table for serious money.

One other guy that anyone who ever played him never forgot is little Lavita. He was about 5' tall and must have weighed all of 95 pounds, but oh how he could cut a ball in from anywhere. To this day, I've never seen anyone more accurate on razor thin cut shots. Right there with Lee Vann Corteza, probably the best today. Louie Roberts was another freak at cutting balls in. And he could do it at distance!

Enough crap for now.

 

[JoeyA]

For the cash, I'll take Morro over the field. He busted a lot of joints all over the country in the last two decades. No one (outside of California) knew who he was until he reached the finals of the WPC. Still plays pretty good in his late 50's.

Canela had the biggest rep in the 80's, as unbeatable. Heard he had some substance problems and lost his edge. Big Sergio was maybe the best bar table player anywhere until Keith gave him the cure. I saw Sergio beat a lot of big table champions at Daisy Mae's and Frank's Tavern.

Ernesto won more tournaments in California in the 80's and 90's then anyone else, not even close. He was the uncrowned regional champion. He was right there with Keith, Kim and Swanee. These four were the dominant players in an era of many good players on the West Coast. If you throw the Northwest into the mix, Dan Louie was their equal as well.

Others worthy of mention include Mario and Al Nicaragua, both top flight bar table players. Tijuana Joe is Jimmy Mendoza's dad, another damn good player. Francisco Galindo was another great money player who wasn't afraid to mix it up on a big table for serious money.

One other guy that anyone who ever played him never forgot is little Lavita. He was about 5' tall and must have weighed all of 95 pounds, but oh how he could cut a ball in from anywhere. To this day, I've never seen anyone more accurate on razor thin cut shots. Right there with Lee Vann Corteza, probably the best today. Louie Roberts was another freak at cutting balls in. And he could do it at distance!

Enough crap for now.

Don't stop now dude, there's a whole new book in that noggin waiting to come out.

 

[Jaden]

Yeah I was gonna mention Francisco Galindo too...

Arturo, Francisco Galindo, Ron Rosas, Little Sergio, Ignacio Chavez, King Kong...

Francisco is getting older but still plays well. In the nineties I watched him take three ten thousand sets off Johnny archer getting the 8, not that the 8 means much at that level.

Jaden

 

[williamcueblins]

The best Mexican pool players are Ernesto Dominguez,,,

My opinion. The best Mexican pool players are Ernesto Dominguez, The son Oscar Dominguez, Rafael Martinez, Little Al, Francisco, Morro Paez, Sergeo, Lefty, and Dareo. The young players that show up don't stay long enough to remember them.

 

[The Chinchilla]

I remember playing a player called Marcus in Costa Masa and at Hard Times, he was a great 9-ball player with a big reputation as a money player. We played 8-ball on many occasions which is my game and not his so I got the better of him. But in 9-ball I was not interested in taking him on as he was a very fluent player and knew the game inside out - had some very intricate run outs and a smooth stroke. Although he asked me to play for money every time I saw him.

I remember in one match in the final of a Cost Masa competition he had about 10 friends watching the match. The funny thing was their expression didn't change the whole match it was like having 10 statues watching. funny bunch...I was never sure what to make of them.

A strong, local 9ball specialist for sure. Him and his backer are a good duo to get into action with, really top notch people to deal with... wish there were more like them. Marcus doesn't whine or complain either.... solid guys.