Hopkins-Lassiter challenge match from 1973

[Bob Jewett]

Here is an ad for a challenge match between Luther Lassiter and Allen Hopkins in November 1973. Does anyone know how it came out? I can't find any results in the magazines I have from that time.

 

[measureman]

I don't know the results but this is the room I could never remember the name of where I saw Irving Crane run 141 balls in a tournament around 1964 maybe a little earlier.

 

[measureman]

Among his most vivid memories, Hopkins recalls beating the legendary Lassiter in a 1,000-point straight-pool match for $5,000 at Mike Ash's room in the early '70s.

"I was such a young kid back then," he recalled. "I had an unbelievable balls-per-inning average in that match, and 'Wimpy' called me a 'young whipper-snapper,' and said it was some of the best shooting he'd ever seen. "Imagine that coming from Luther Lassiter."

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[Bob Jewett]

A friend sent me the following from the Elizabeth Daily Journal. It seems to me that the 192 should have been some kind of record.

 

[garczar]

And you still have those who say Hopkins couldn't play because of his 'poke stroke'. Gimme a break. The guy was a pure monster in big $$ games.

 

[measureman]

And you still have those who say Hopkins couldn't play because of his 'poke stroke'. Gimme a break. The guy was a pure monster in big $$ games.

Heard a story from a guy that backed Hopkins for big money that at the 9 ball open(mid 80's or so) in Virginia one year that the word was out that Hopkins would play anyone for $10K and got no takers.

 

[bbb]

i cant believe
$2.50 tickets and $3.00 tickets for the finals

 

[measureman]

i cant believe
$2.50 tickets and $3.00 tickets for the finals

In 1973 when it was just me and the wife we bought enough food to last a week for $25 give or take a buck or two.
Gas was 25 cents a gallon.
That was 48 years ago!

 

[ThinSlice]

And you still have those who say Hopkins couldn't play because of his 'poke stroke'. Gimme a break. The guy was a pure monster in big $$ games.

Nobody said he couldn’t play. Just said he wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s player field.


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[measureman]

Nobody said he couldn’t play. Just said he wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s player field.


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yeah he would.
When it came down to the high pressure matches Hopkins held his speed.
That's what separate's the top players.

 

[ThinSlice]

Ok match them up. Let’s see.


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[Timkrieger]

There's a great video on Youtube of Allen Hopkins vs. Mika Immonen playing in the 2012 14.1 World Championship. Allen won.

It's interesting, I think in the last 20 years it seems players are becoming less unique, more formulaic, almost mechanical. Maybe because of the internet. A lot of studying film on "the right mechanics" and playing balls the same on Youtube and other streaming. Some of the older generation seemed to have much more unique playing styles.