Larry Nevel or Nick Varner?
- Thread starter Roadkill
- Start date
FIRST
NICK
NICK
Larry is playing great now, but Nick at his peak would win.
I love Larry's game, being from Wisconsin I had the pleasure of playing him a few times and watching him play a lot of matches. Not many can do what he does stroke-wise.
But, against Nick in his prime, I would have to vote for Nick just from a consistency and gutting it out perspective. If Larry is firing on all cylinders, his pure offense would give him the edge, against Nick or anyone, but if we are talking average Larry vs. average Nick in his prime I still have to go with Nick.
But, against Nick in his prime, I would have to vote for Nick just from a consistency and gutting it out perspective. If Larry is firing on all cylinders, his pure offense would give him the edge, against Nick or anyone, but if we are talking average Larry vs. average Nick in his prime I still have to go with Nick.
I think Nick would win because of HEART. No one has the heart of Nick Varner. Also Nick has to be seriously considered in any conversation about the greatest players of all time. Larry plays good nine ball, but he is not at the level that Nick was in his prime.
Nick Varner was the best player in the world at one time, and for a while. Nevel may be capable of beating a top player on any given day, but I can't say he's ever been the best in the world, so the pick has to be Varner. In fact, I think Varner is one of only a handful of top all-around players in the history of the game.
Gotta pick Nick. When he was in his prime, he was an absolute monster. Not to take anything away from Larry. He's a great player. And his top speed is scary. But Nick had the whole package, great safes, great shotmaker, and more heart than most people have seen from anyone.
Nick Varner
I agree.
It's awful hard to pick against a guy who's won back to back U.S. Open 9 Ball Championships, finished 2nd twice more, has 3 World 9 Ball Championships and was named "Player of the Year" three times as well. And this doesn't count a slew of other titles he's won in 9 Ball, such as the 1994 Challenge of Champions, 5 Sands-Regency 9 Ball Championships, 2 McDermott Master's 9 Ball Championships, 3 Glass City Open Championships, 2 Rak'm Up Classics, and on & on. And since it was a "9 Ball" poll, I won't go into his World Championships in 14.1, One Pocket and 9 Ball Banks.
Larry Nevel plays all games at an extremely high level. He has, in my opinion, the most powerful stroke in pool. But at this stage of his career, comparing his credentials to Nick's....not fair to either of them.
PoolBum said:
I agree.
It's awful hard to pick against a guy who's won back to back U.S. Open 9 Ball Championships, finished 2nd twice more, has 3 World 9 Ball Championships and was named "Player of the Year" three times as well. And this doesn't count a slew of other titles he's won in 9 Ball, such as the 1994 Challenge of Champions, 5 Sands-Regency 9 Ball Championships, 2 McDermott Master's 9 Ball Championships, 3 Glass City Open Championships, 2 Rak'm Up Classics, and on & on. And since it was a "9 Ball" poll, I won't go into his World Championships in 14.1, One Pocket and 9 Ball Banks.
Larry Nevel plays all games at an extremely high level. He has, in my opinion, the most powerful stroke in pool. But at this stage of his career, comparing his credentials to Nick's....not fair to either of them.
The 2008 Nick Varner would beat Larry. But, it would be very close.
Larry wouldn't have a chance against playing the Nick Varner of the early 90s.
Larry wouldn't have a chance against playing the Nick Varner of the early 90s.
another vote for Varner
Nick Varner during his prime was nearly unstoppable. It was like watching Ralf Soquet- as close to perfect consistency and attitude as can be achieved by man. And Nick had some stroke too- he just played such great cue ball that he rarely displayed it. Every now and then he would hit some jaw droppers- not on his home table impressing locals but on camera for the title!
When discussing Nick during his prime Ralf and Alex jump to mind as comparable talent, and I may like Nick's end of it...
Nick Varner during his prime was nearly unstoppable. It was like watching Ralf Soquet- as close to perfect consistency and attitude as can be achieved by man. And Nick had some stroke too- he just played such great cue ball that he rarely displayed it. Every now and then he would hit some jaw droppers- not on his home table impressing locals but on camera for the title!
When discussing Nick during his prime Ralf and Alex jump to mind as comparable talent, and I may like Nick's end of it...
Nick has a heck of a stroke. Check the finals of one of the Sands Regency Events against Johnny Archer (Nick won). Nick hits a jacked up stroke shot drawing the ball two rails that would drop your jaw.
I could never bet against Nick. All of the pros say it is NEVER over with Nick until its over. He never gives up or shows weakness. One of the top 5 greatest players of all time in my opinion.
I could never bet against Nick. All of the pros say it is NEVER over with Nick until its over. He never gives up or shows weakness. One of the top 5 greatest players of all time in my opinion.
race to 13 ???
First I would like to start by saying that the top 50 players in the world are capable of beating oneanother in a race to 13.When your talking about that kind of talent a race to 13 isn't nearly long enough to establish who the better player is. I think a race to 100 would be a much better test of skill and knowhow.
In comparing Varner vs. Nevel you are comparing 2 great players. Nevel is one of the most gifted skilled player in the world who can do just about anything on a pool table.Nevel's top speed would blow away anyone,if he could keep it together mentally.I have been watching Nevel play for about 15 years, and the only weakness in his game is his attitude. When things aren't going well for him and he gets a little unlucky he seems to allow that to break his concentration.But he is getting better at controlling his temper.Varner on the other hand has to work hard to earn his wins,a less gifted player with more of an understanding of how to deal with adversity.Varner has gotten more out of his game than any top player,and he has really earned it. So in the knowhow to win dept. Varner blows away everyone.So let's get back to your question on who would win if they were both in their prime? I like Varner in a race to 100 ,because of the many momentum swings in a race of that length.I believe that Varner will handle that all important ingredient in the recipe of success much better than his opponent.
Roadkill said:
First I would like to start by saying that the top 50 players in the world are capable of beating oneanother in a race to 13.When your talking about that kind of talent a race to 13 isn't nearly long enough to establish who the better player is. I think a race to 100 would be a much better test of skill and knowhow.
In comparing Varner vs. Nevel you are comparing 2 great players. Nevel is one of the most gifted skilled player in the world who can do just about anything on a pool table.Nevel's top speed would blow away anyone,if he could keep it together mentally.I have been watching Nevel play for about 15 years, and the only weakness in his game is his attitude. When things aren't going well for him and he gets a little unlucky he seems to allow that to break his concentration.But he is getting better at controlling his temper.Varner on the other hand has to work hard to earn his wins,a less gifted player with more of an understanding of how to deal with adversity.Varner has gotten more out of his game than any top player,and he has really earned it. So in the knowhow to win dept. Varner blows away everyone.So let's get back to your question on who would win if they were both in their prime? I like Varner in a race to 100 ,because of the many momentum swings in a race of that length.I believe that Varner will handle that all important ingredient in the recipe of success much better than his opponent.
I vote on the Farmer. He is more composed mentally. Even though it is a short set, I can already see Larry going ape$hit over something trivial.
Besides being more composed mentally, he is a back to back champion.
Besides being more composed mentally, he is a back to back champion.
Varner.
Some of the best pool I saw back in the 90's was a US Open match, from about 1992, I think it was a winner's side final. Seigel and Varner, both shooting great.
Seigel played perfect, and was running away, he has Nick stuck 10-3 and corner hooked going to 11.
Mike never got another decent shot. No big pack of racks, just controlled, solid, unflappable pool, in that face of arguably the world's best player waiting in the chair only needing one. Final 11-10 Varner
And Nick is the guy who went over to the Philipines to match up with Efren in 1989 and won the long sets.
Some of the best pool I saw back in the 90's was a US Open match, from about 1992, I think it was a winner's side final. Seigel and Varner, both shooting great.
Seigel played perfect, and was running away, he has Nick stuck 10-3 and corner hooked going to 11.
Mike never got another decent shot. No big pack of racks, just controlled, solid, unflappable pool, in that face of arguably the world's best player waiting in the chair only needing one. Final 11-10 Varner
And Nick is the guy who went over to the Philipines to match up with Efren in 1989 and won the long sets.
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