Greatest 9 Ball Player Dead/alive

B

bkkpool

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello to all.

I would like to hear some of your opinions on who is/was the greatest 9 ball player to walk the Earth. If you have a different opinion for the greatest money player and the greatest tournament player please express those opinions as well. I have heard many opinions however I have never seen the greatest players ever match up and play. Usually it is a local player testing his skills against one of the champions. The results are usually the same. I am really interested to hear Keith's opinion but I would like to hear any stories that any of you might have to share.

BKKPOOL
 
Sigel and Strickland are prolly tops.
Buddy Hall and Efren are great too but do not have that devastating break.
Lassiter was phenomenal too I heard.
 
In my mind Efren Reyes is the Best today and the best of all time. I dont think anyone plays the game like him. He has better cueball control than everyone who has ever played the game nobody kicks or plays saftey"s like he does. In fact i dont think ive ever seen him miss to many banks, So my vote is for BATA!
 
Efren "Bata" Reyes. When he beat Earl in that marathon match in Hong Kong, he removed all doubt. I also think that because he is so good at several other games too, it makes his 9 ball game that much better. His only problem is his break.
 
In the 70's not NOBODY could beat Buddy Hall for the CASH. Ask any player about that. Ask Reyes about that one. Hall was the best in the 70's. He is still phenomenal, but in the 70's unstoppable.

Johnny Archer was the best tournament 9 ball player of the 90's by far...with a close follow by Earl and Efren.

These days people are judged mostly by their one pocket and 9 ball ability, and the two people who play both probably equally well are Efren Reyes and Shannon Daulton. I think Alex Pagulyan hasn't come close to his peak, and when his time comes he is going to be dominating everything in sight, doing even better than he is right now. Great player now, but will probably be a hall of famer one day.

If I have to pick a TOP 9 ball player....I'm going to have to go with Strickland. When he gets pumped up he's a hard man to beat, and to win as many World Championships as he has...well, it speaks for itself. It's almost like if he decides he's going to play to win, and gets his focus he's unstoppable.

I'm happy to say Keith McCready is playing like a monster right now too. The guy is becoming increasingly hard to beat. Great player, who's making his mark again in this game.

That's my two cents. It's hard to pick because there are so many great players out there these days. Tons of champions.

An unknown who I think is going to go far in pool one day is Pooky Rasmaleangu ( I tortured his last name..you can see it on the Falcon 9 ball tour site). I think he's going to be a top 9 ball player one day. Lot of talent, drive, and devotion to the game. Big heart as well.
 
Matt_24, yes sir, in the 70's and into the 80's, Buddy was tops. Into the 90's was us-open champ and player of the year some where in the early 90's.

buddy hall was tops. In the 70's when Buddy lived in Schreport, lousiana, [bad spelling] he gave all comers the 7, and beat them all for the cash.

Back then buddy had a few bull dogs and ran with them 7 to 8 miles every day. he was in good shape. Played all comers, and loved to gamble.

We all know with age, we tend to loose out game a little. However, at 57 buddy's still a threat.

Not as constant as once was, but still bad news if he starts stroken.

blud
 
BKKPOOL, there haven't been too many Accustats perfect 1000 scores, but Wade Crane did it.

As far as being the best 9-ball player today, it would probably have to be Efren. I've played him in tournaments and I've gambled with him, and he's probably one of the hardest to beat.

When I was at my peak, I could play on all tables, big ball or little ball, and when Efren came to the states as Cesar Moralis, he had no chance to beat me on a bar table, especially with the big cue ball. There wasn't a person breathing who could beat me on a bar box or a 4-by-8 with a big cue ball at that time. But as Efren learned how to play on more tables and more games, he improved and that's how you get to be a world champion. His knowledge of the game is far advanced, and somebody has to get up there and take it from him and make things happen in order to beat him.
 
Keith Nice to see a pro like yourself take the time to give your views. you say you used to beat efren on the 7 footers? I guess that was in 9ball. Did you ever play him in 8ball if so how did that go, Its probably none of out bussiness but could you give us a idea of what the stakes were you played for.
 
Keith:

I just sent you a private email thru this site inquiring as to the tip you use and its radius. Thanks in advance for your reply.

-T
 
Dateline: Mobile, AL-C1977

Jerry Brock puts the word out. "I will take the last 2 from any player on earth on the bar table, with the big cue ball." They all came and all drew back nubs,,,,until the arrival of "Keith McCready". And the rest, as they say, is history. You truly made a believer out of me from that point on..........$Bill
 
King Cueball, in the late '70s or early '80s, when Efren came to the states, the first time I laid eyes on him, he walked into Bob's Billiards in California looking for me. I think I was in my early twenties, and he already had a line on me and wouldn't play me 9-ball on the bar table with the big cue-ball. If he was going to play me anything, it would have been on the big table, where my game wasn't as strong.

As far as 8-ball goes, nobody back then really played much 8-ball except for when you went into the bars. It wasn't really that much of an action game.

Efren and I always matched up playing one-pocket, and still do today. You got to play him games to where you can slow him down in order to beat him. Not saying I couldn't beat him playing 9-ball, but I can find easier games. Every dog has his day sometimes.
 
well...........sumwhers Efren was quoted as saying the following after losing to Buddy in a money match and three times in tournament matches, "Buddy, you never meees." (I think it was in Buddy's book lol.)

My vote goes to Buddy Hall who licked them all.

John
 
Hi Keith,

We all had a blast you keith and Louie play years ago. Seems the last we saw you and louie play was in memphis, many years ago.Hi keith, from Janice.
god bless, pal
leonard and Janice bludworth
 
Keith McCready said:
BKKPOOL, there haven't been too many Accustats perfect 1000 scores, but Wade Crane did it.

As far as being the best 9-ball player today, it would probably have to be Efren. I've played him in tournaments and I've gambled with him, and he's probably one of the hardest to beat.

When I was at my peak, I could play on all tables, big ball or little ball, and when Efren came to the states as Cesar Moralis, he had no chance to beat me on a bar table, especially with the big cue ball. There wasn't a person breathing who could beat me on a bar box or a 4-by-8 with a big cue ball at that time. But as Efren learned how to play on more tables and more games, he improved and that's how you get to be a world champion. His knowledge of the game is far advanced, and somebody has to get up there and take it from him and make things happen in order to beat him.
Click to expand...

Keith, everyone hears about David Matlock being the best big ball bartable player. Did you two ever lock horns and if so who came out on top?

John
 
I heard Buddy Hall and Bakersfield Bobby were great barbox shooters too.
Did you tangle with them too Keith besides the time written on Buddy's book?
 
instroke said:
well...........sumwhers Efren was quoted as saying the following after losing to Buddy in a money match and three times in tournament matches, "Buddy, you never meees." (I think it was in Buddy's book lol.)My vote goes to Buddy Hall who licked them all.
Click to expand...

John, when Efren and Buddy were over there in Houston at Reds, I bet on Buddy to win. At that time, Buddy Hall was recognized as the best 9-ball player in the world, and he still hits them good today. I learned a lot of pool from Buddy and have a lot of respect for his game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top