Greatest 9 Ball Player Dead/alive

And so you saw Mosconi, Lassiter, Crane, and some guy who was the best in the 1800's then play, dawg?? You see em all then, eh? It's a highly speculative subject to say who in god's world is the best. As for my say, I say Efren will whip all their asses. I am sure you have yours too, and all of us who post here. If you want confirmation, ask the pros. I'm sure you already heard what some or many of them have said. Latez!
 
Yeah thats just it Scratch. I am NOT going around here saying any of the older players are better or worse then Efren unlike other people are so eager to do. Read my post a little closer, I said Earl is my pick for the best modern 9-ball player. I can say this with some knowledge due to the fact I have watched him, Efren, Archer, Pagulayan, Souquet, and most of the other top players of this era numerous times. You DONT see me going around saying Lassiter could kick all their asses or would get owned because I have NEVER seen him play just like 95% of the people saying Efren would own him.

Oh BTW, who was the person I said was the best in the 1800's?
 
Well, if you haven't seen em old timers play how come you brought em up as if you saw em play? You have the right to pick who you think is best, dawg. But if you want to see facts, and the most recent one at that, Reyes thrashed Strickland 12-0. I know that's just one tourney. He beat him in that long race to 120. Again, that's just one challenge match. And when he came over to Efren's territory to play for the so-called Color of Money II, he thrashed him again. Of course Earl also had some wins against Efren, no doubt, just like a lot of others did. Like I said again, Celtic, ask the pros. And if you look for polls, then look it up and see who's who. There is no point in continuing this speculation, it's a waste of my time.
 
Efren is awesome, no doubt. For a guy with his skill he has majorally underachieved in the major tournaments.

Skillwise I think Efren is a better player then Earl is, he has alot more knowledge and has all the stroke that Strickland does. But when the chips are on the table Earl is way better at finding ways to win the major tournaments. Maybe it's his attitude and the fact that he intimidates some players. Maybe his game steps up another level in the majors. When this same thread is being debated 50 years from now though those people are going to be alot more likely to look at the world championships, the US Opens, and the other major wins the players of these days have.

Time tends to either make people fade or make them shine as a legend. Mosconi has not lost much popularity or recognition since his playing days. Will Efren be famous 50 years from now? Or will people on a message board be saying how he would lose to " 50 years into the future pool star"

You want the truth though. The most dominant pool player I have ever seen is Archer. There are times I have seen him completely shut down people like I have never seen another player do. When he won the World Championship qualifier here in Calgary he got into some sick zone where he ran everything. Rack your own spot the 9 and I like Archer over Reyes due to the breaking advantage. Maybe Efren's break is what has kept him from winning the majors more like he should. Since the break is a part of the game that must be mastered I cannot let that be an excuse and it may be the reason I cannot say Efren is the best 9-ball player ever. Efren is the best 9-ball player ever when Busta is breaking for him, that I will say. Otherwise I will pick a person with the complete package including the break, Archer.

Despite it all Earl will be the one that is remembered due to the fact he won, and is still winning the big tournaments more then any other top players. Don;t ask me why, the guy gets it done though.
 
A highly speculative post, my friend, just like the topic itself. With regards to break, has it ever occured to you that Efren has become how he is in 9-ball, i.e, the greatest, due to his weak break? He needs to rely on something to compensate for this weakness, and what we end up seeing are some of the most magical shots ever performed. Other pros have great breaks, and to cite someone, how about Yang of Taiwan, who has a 6-3 record of wins against Strickland, thrashed Archer last year as well as humiliate Souquet and Immonen this year in the WPCs. When he came to the US and play, check on who were the players responsible for stopping his track. If I am not mistaken, one of them has a very powerful break; the other has a very weak one. I do hope to see more of this Yang in the US.
 
I do agree with the Efren posts here, but I will have to throw Allen Hopkins into the mix. From what I'm told there was a time when he was one of the most feared at any game, especially 1-pocket/14.1. What do you think Keith?.........thanx...Gerry
 
The greatest nineball player on a big table I ever saw was Jimmy Matz...oh..he is dead now..I think he might have been dead a few times....I'd bet "ALL" my money on him against any player thats still breathing.

As far as a bar table player....Jay Swanson..from Cal.
he is also past away.

ever hear of these 2 players Keith?
 
Sorry Moneyball but in 1977 Dan Louie beat Jimmy Matz giving him the 7 and 8 in Jackson, MS. This did happen on a BAR table, not a big table. Jimmy's family was wealthy and he was one of the first players that drove around in a large Winnabego and had plenty of cash, so it took Dan a long time to get the cash but get it he did.

Best BAR table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Keith McCready.

Best BIG table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Wimpy, Efren, Earl and all the rest,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Buddy Hall.
 
Last edited:
> If you ask Buddy who he thinks is the best ever,the first two names out of his mouth are Lassiter and Sigel. He said that Luther was without a doubt the best player he's ever seen,but didn't get to compete with him at the top of his game. He added that Sigel was the toughest player he ever had to deal with on a consistent basis,and that he missed fewer balls with the heat on than anyone he ever watched play. Tommy D.
 
hemicudas said:
Best BAR table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Keith McCready.

Best BIG table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Wimpy, Efren, Earl and all the rest,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Buddy Hall.
Click to expand...

Hemicudas, thanks for that compliment, and I'm sure Buddy would say the same thing, too. When I was playing my best on the bar table, I believe there was no one that could beat me. Those were the good old days.

Buddy, back in his day, I don't think nobody could have beat Buddy either. I learned more pool from Buddy than I have from any of the other pool players. Buddy showed me how to hesitate balls, which I never knew back then, and my game started getting better from then until now. There's still certain techniques that I use that I learned from Buddy.

You summed it up pretty close, and I sort of like the two guys you picked.
 
to KEITH

thanks for your reply concerning Billy Kenyon.[GGood guy.} now i have another question - who is - was the best all around hustler that you have seen and or played with? im am really refering to somebody that plays and of course gambles in games like gin rummy, bowling, table tennis and pool? these games are usually you against me kind of games. {im also referring to players that bet their OWN MONEY when they have some. im an old man that has observed some very good players in all above games in my life, YOU i think are old enough to have seen Don Willis from ohio when he was in his last years playing these type games. {my opinion, he was the best that I had the chance to witness and also to visit in his pool room in Madisonville, ohio. he traveled with Wimpy back in those days, and I have heard man stories that Don Willis was the better player in both nine ball and straight pool. ANY COMMENTS or OPINIONS? JMB
 
Re: to KEITH

JMB said:
I have heard man stories that Don Willis was the better player in both nine ball and straight pool. ANY COMMENTS or OPINIONS?
Click to expand...

JMB, I met Don in his senior years. Back then, he was noted as one of the best hustlers ever. There was one thing about Don is that he could play a lot of games, card games, card tricks, pool games. Whatever it was, if he bet on it, he would usually win and always had a pocket full of money. I wouldn't bet against him. I would always try to be in with him.
 
Jimy Matz

hemicudas said:
Sorry Moneyball but in 1977 Dan Louie beat Jimmy Matz giving him the 7 and 8 in Jackson, MS. This did happen on a BAR table, not a big table. Jimmy's family was wealthy and he was one of the first players that drove around in a large Winnabego and had plenty of cash, so it took Dan a long time to get the cash but get it he did.

Best BAR table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Keith McCready.

Best BIG table player ever (9 ball) is, sorry Wimpy, Efren, Earl and all the rest,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Buddy Hall.
Click to expand...

Wow...just going through a search on Jimmy Matz. I would like to clarify some points. Jimmy's parents were not wealthy. His dad owned a car dealership around Reading, PA. Secondly, the Winnabego belonged to Jerry Rauenzahn his traveling partner and now a well known cue maker. Thirdly, I seriosly doubt that anyone in the world could have given Jimmy the 7 and the 8 and win unless Jimmy was dumping for a reason.
 
To stay at the top of the world in pool is a very hard proposition .To be the best for more than a year or two is extremely difficult . The pressure to maintain your reputation and ranking is very tiring and stressful . Many players have had a time which they were almost unbeatable for a year or so....varner..hall..siegel..earl . Only efren IMO has been recognized as the best player for more than TWO decades .
 
Best 9 ball players

:thumbup:Efren of course and the Pearl in his prime would have to be the greatest players.I would also agree with Luther Lassiter.Over all though I say Strickland until someone wins 5 US opens.As for who I bet the morgage on. I would say money king of the Phillipines Orcollo and SVB.
 
Last edited:
Your right Varner is one the best ever no list is complete without him.I also think Capt. Hook needs to be on there too.
 
WOW guys talk about bringing back a thread from back in the day!!! :eek:

LOL :thumbup:

All of the right names (and some questionable ones) have been said already

Efren gets my vote - mediocre break and all

-Alan
 
Efren with earl a very close second...cant account for lassiter but i couldnt immagine him playing the same speed as efren and earl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top