I see Efren Reyes talked about frequently as the greatest pool player. Recently, I saw the same description for Earl Strickland. Not long ago, there was a post ranking the top 50 greatest players, and I believe Mike Sigel was ahead of both of them. So, can anybody give us some idea of how many tournaments each have won, and what their record is against each other?
greatest living player
- Thread starter Mole Eye
- Start date
If you're going with tournament wins as your base then yeah, Sigel wins it hands down. He's won more majors than anyone.
In my opinion, and anyone can feel free to argue it, Strickland is the most explosive 9-ball player ever and Reyes takes it for best all around player. Reyes can play anything.....well. I watched him beat Blomdahl in 3 cushion when they were here in Japan many moons ago. I'm not trying to say that Reyes would consistently win against him, but the mere fact that he took a game from him shows that he can play that game at the top level too. So, the answer is, Reyes. I don't think we'll see a player like him again in our lifetime.....and even if we do, that person still won't be "The Magician".
MULLY:thumbup:
BTW, if you ask Sigel, he'll be quick to tell you that he is the greatest ever.
In my opinion, and anyone can feel free to argue it, Strickland is the most explosive 9-ball player ever and Reyes takes it for best all around player. Reyes can play anything.....well. I watched him beat Blomdahl in 3 cushion when they were here in Japan many moons ago. I'm not trying to say that Reyes would consistently win against him, but the mere fact that he took a game from him shows that he can play that game at the top level too. So, the answer is, Reyes. I don't think we'll see a player like him again in our lifetime.....and even if we do, that person still won't be "The Magician".
MULLY:thumbup:
BTW, if you ask Sigel, he'll be quick to tell you that he is the greatest ever.
This is one of those subjective questions...greatest living what? Straight pool players, 9ball, 1 pocket, gamblers, tournament player, all around player? Effren is probably the greatest all around player, Buddy Hall is still the greatest 9ball player living, & don't forget Jimmy Reed
Everybody has an opinion. I think in all games, it would be Reyes, but I don't know how they matched up. I have no doubt that Reyes, Strickland and Sigel have played many times. It would be interesting to know their record against each other, if anyone has access to that information or where it might be found.
Buddy Hall was before my time, but was he really a better 9 ball player than Earl?
Sigel almost certainly has a winning tournament record against Reyes. I'm not sure about Sigel vs. Strickland heads up, but I would hazard a guess that Mike Sigel may be the most consistent tournament player of the last 50 years or so.
Not that I've been around enough to see either in their prime, but from what I've heard from guys that know them well, Earl was the better tournament player because he could put packages up like no one else and come out with the big shots where if you miss you go home, but in a long gambling session, where percentage and consistency rule, nobody in history wanted to play Buddy even 9 ball in his prime, except maybe Parica.
I have to laugh about tournament wins. Lets just say that in the pool world that "sometimes when you lose, you win".
For some of the pros of that era winning the tournament was all it was about, for some pros it was how could I make the most with the smallest amount of risk.
There were savers, cuts, dumps, and lots of other things. But trust me I have heard many stories and seen several in person.
Sigel may have the most trophies, but others may have profited more...
Just saying,
Ken
For some of the pros of that era winning the tournament was all it was about, for some pros it was how could I make the most with the smallest amount of risk.
There were savers, cuts, dumps, and lots of other things. But trust me I have heard many stories and seen several in person.
Sigel may have the most trophies, but others may have profited more...
Just saying,
Ken
The Best of all time?
Well if its torny's its got to be Reyes hands down, no one close. He has won in every discipline..., 10b, 9b, 8b, 14.1, 1p, rotation and a few others as well..., he has also won in every country, against every player and done it for the money...,
No one has been avoided like him in the history of the game...., Best Ever!!
Well if its torny's its got to be Reyes hands down, no one close. He has won in every discipline..., 10b, 9b, 8b, 14.1, 1p, rotation and a few others as well..., he has also won in every country, against every player and done it for the money...,
No one has been avoided like him in the history of the game...., Best Ever!!
Well if we're talking about greatest living who's still plays like the greatest then I'll go with Reyes. If we're talking greatest at one time and still living then I'll go with Sigel. His head to head record against Reyes in all games including gambling was 9-3. Reyes himself said Sigel was his toughest opponent. Sigel was also the most consistent tournament player by a long shot. He was a winning machine at 14.1 and 9-ball and 8-ball. He even won a one pocket event even though it was his weakest game.
If we're just talking about 9-ball or 10-ball then Buddy was the best in his day at gambling but Earl was the best in tournaments. In 9-ball tournaments I'd put Sigel just slightly under Earl but I'm not sure what the record is.
Nick Varner should be mentioned though, he's the only player ever to have won a world championship in 14.1, 9-ball, 8-ball, banks. and one pocket. How strong is that?
If we're just talking about 9-ball or 10-ball then Buddy was the best in his day at gambling but Earl was the best in tournaments. In 9-ball tournaments I'd put Sigel just slightly under Earl but I'm not sure what the record is.
Nick Varner should be mentioned though, he's the only player ever to have won a world championship in 14.1, 9-ball, 8-ball, banks. and one pocket. How strong is that?
Jimmy Reed was just a great guitarist.......Jimmy Reid, on the other hand...could play some pool. :smile:
I vote for Nick Varner..
you can watch this whole match.. or you can just skip to #12 and see what Varner does when Sigel has him down 9-2
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=fi&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.probilliard.info/_misc/video-player.php%3Fid%3D181&usg=ALkJrhhyMDVx6wMDBpJDUMMaqKIBCNntIQ
fade THAT!!!!!
you can watch this whole match.. or you can just skip to #12 and see what Varner does when Sigel has him down 9-2
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=fi&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.probilliard.info/_misc/video-player.php%3Fid%3D181&usg=ALkJrhhyMDVx6wMDBpJDUMMaqKIBCNntIQ
fade THAT!!!!!
That's the thing that's always impressed me about Nick Varner, no matter what the score and no matter who he was playing he was always poised. With Varner it was never over til it was over.
This was a timely and great match to watch.It had a little bit of some of the issues on the board recently.Two great American players near their prime,sinched wing balls,pattern racking,big lead followed by a big come back and kind of a suprise ending.Thanks for posting.
Greatest!
I would agree that Buddy, Sigel and Earl where all the best at a given time. I think that Rimpy and Nick have to be considered as well, but when you say greatest ever and you look at there total body of work, 1980's, 1990's and 2000's it would have to be Reyes.
He is the only one of them (ok Earl every now and then) still winning and when not winning, cash'n at every major toury. Reyes is also so playing in tougher fields because they are international fields, great players from all over the world, not just great American players?
I would agree that Buddy, Sigel and Earl where all the best at a given time. I think that Rimpy and Nick have to be considered as well, but when you say greatest ever and you look at there total body of work, 1980's, 1990's and 2000's it would have to be Reyes.
He is the only one of them (ok Earl every now and then) still winning and when not winning, cash'n at every major toury. Reyes is also so playing in tougher fields because they are international fields, great players from all over the world, not just great American players?
Amen! I would rank Immonen too if we're talking about winning majors in international fields, not just American players