The greatest 9 ball player ever.

G

Gilbertfan81

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Or any rotation game for that matter. There are so many threads about who is the greatest, the most common mentioned names are as follows- Hall, Strickland, Sigel, lassiter, Willis, Reyes, and Bustamante. There is one name that is always left out. He owned everybody on the list ( that played in his era) for the cash, except Buddy. Why is it that no one puts Jose Parica on the list. I just finished reading Pool Wars and Jay said in his own words in the book that Jose beat them all for the cash. If you know of any instances where he was beaten please share with the forum. Would love to hear some opinions on this.
 
I think I read somewhere(probably here) that he and morro would go back and forth.
 
Morro

If I remember correctly when morro was at the top of his game right after the world championship Jose gave him the 8 and broke him.
 
Another Parica story

This is another infamous Jose story. When John Kucharo was a top 15 ranked player in the world Jose spotted him the 7,8, and 9 on a tight 4 in pocket table and beat him a 10 ahead set for the cash. Soon after this John retired from professional pool, some said he just couldn't believe at his level that someone could spot him that much weight and get there!!
 
Parica was a force for sure.

I'd suggest Wade Crane and Cornbread to be on the short list, as well.

best,
brian kc
 
Efren was not the best 9ball, player, he wasn't the best straight pool or one pocket player, neither 8 ball or 10 ball. Why is then considered the best pool player in the world?
 
Efren? Gotta be a couple ways to measure 'best' and finding a way to win has to be one of them.

While he- arguably- may not always be the favorite on paper, ol' Effie has found his way to the winner's circle an amazing number of times.

HE knows how to play to his strengths and exploit the weaker areas of opponene's games. Of course, the on/ off button he has on the back of his head helps too.
 
AlexandruM said:
Efren was not the best 9ball, player, he wasn't the best straight pool or one pocket player, neither 8 ball or 10 ball. Why is then considered the best pool player in the world?
Click to expand...

Efren plays these games as good as anybody, and probably better. 9 ball was probably his worst game and he managed to win a world championship ( running a 9 pack against bustamante) and beat earl strickland in the color of money event race 120. He won many championships in 9 ball, won the ipt 8 ball, won events in one pocket, he can play banks, won straight pool events, he has an average of 1 in three cushions, revolutioned the kicking aspect in 9 ball and he was a very strong money player. Also he played in the modern era where the average standard is much higher than, let's say, the 60's-70s.
Why there are people who think Efren is not the greatest player ever is beyond me....
 
AlexandruM said:
Efren was not the best 9ball, player, he wasn't the best straight pool or one pocket player, neither 8 ball or 10 ball. Why is then considered the best pool player in the world?
Click to expand...

You know what they say about opinions...

IMO, I think he is the greatest one-pocket player ever, but I didn't see Ronnie Allen in his prime.

IMO, I think he is the greatest Rotation player ever.

IMO, I list him as the best 8-ball player ever.

It's all arguable, of course.
 
Cornerman said:
You know what they say about opinions...

IMO, I think he is the greatest one-pocket player ever, but I didn't see Ronnie Allen in his prime.

IMO, I think he is the greatest Rotation player ever.

IMO, I list him as the best 8-ball player ever.

It's all arguable, of course.
Click to expand...


it is atough argument as many noe of us really got to see play.
Again, there is a difference in tournament and back room play. It is hard for me to believe anyne would have baeaten Buddy bak in the early 70's when he was in Shreveport. I firmly believe noe of today's could have hiung with him.
Another great I got to see and never heard much about osses was Allen Hopkins. He was a monster in the backroom.
 
Efern's list of accolades per Wikipedia:

2011 US Open One Pocket Championship[16]
2010 UPA International Ten-ball Championships
2010 Hard Times Billiards, 3rd Annual Chuck Markulis Memorial Tournament
2010 Predator Ten-ball International Championship[17]
2010 Derby City Classic Master of the Table[18]
2010 Derby City Classic Fatboy Challenge 10-ball[19]
2010 Derby City Classic Nine-ball[20]
2009 World Mixed Doubles Classic (with Rubilen Amit)[21]
2009 Galveston Classic One Pocket[22]
2009 World Cup of Pool (with Django Bustamante)
2007 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
2007 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
2007 Pool & Billiard Magazine Top 20 Favorite Players (number 2)
2006 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Jakarta Leg)
2006 IPT World Open Eight-ball Championship
2006 World Cup of Pool (with Django Bustamante)
2006 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Vietnam Leg)
2006 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
2005 IPT King of the Hill Eight-ball Shootout
2005 Derby City Nine-ball Championship
2005 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Jakarta Leg)
2005 Japan Open
2005 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
2005 Derby City Classic Nine-ball
2005 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
2004 WPA World Eight-ball Championship
2004 On Cue 3: Intercontinental Conquest
2004 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Singapore Leg)
2004 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Vietnam Leg)
2004 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Taiwan Leg)
2004 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
2004 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
2003 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
2003 World Classic Billiards Tournament
2003 Las Vegas Nine-ball Open
2003 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour (Manila Leg)
2003 Mid-Atlantic Nine-ball Championship
2003 All Japan Championship
2002 Asian Games Eight-ball singles (bronze)
2002 World Pool League
2002 Asian Eight-ball Tournament
2002 Cafe Puro Challenge of the Masters
2002 Shooters Labor Day Weekend Open Nine-ball
2002 International Challenge of Champions
2001 World Pool League
2001 Tokyo Nine-ball Event
2001 US Masters Nine-ball
2001 International Billiard Tournament
2001 Accu-Stats Eight-ball Invitational
2001 The Color of Money II Challenge Match (vs Earl Strickland)
2000 U.S. Open One-Pocket Championship
2000 PBT World Eight-ball Championship
2000 Camel Pro Eight-ball Championship
2000 Pennsylvania State Nine-ball Championship
2000 USA Billiards Challenger Event 2
1999 ESPN Ultimate Nine-ball Challenge
1999 ESPN Ultimate Shootout
1999 Sands Regency Open 29 Nine-ball Championship
1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship (Cardiff, Wales)
1999 Derby City Classic Master of the Table
1999 Derby City Classic One-Pocket
1998 World Eight-Ball Championship
1998 Camel South Jersey Ten-Ball Open
1997 PCA Shooters Challenge
1997 PCA Treasure Island Resort Event
1996 The Color of Money (vs Earl Strickland)
1996 PBT World Eight-ball Championship
1996 PBT Legends of Nine-ball Championship
1996 Camel World Nine-ball Championship
1996 PBT Western Open
1996 PBT Florida Flare Up III
1995 Sands Regency Open 21 Nine-ball Championship
1995 PBT World Eight-ball Championship
1995 Pro Tour Nine-ball Championship
1995 Maine 14.1 Event
1995 Bicycle Club VII
1994 U.S. Open Nine-Ball Championships
1994 PBT Bicycle Club Invitational
1992 International Nine-ball Classic
1992 World Nine-ball Open (Tokyo)
1990 World Cup (Taipei)
1988 PBA McDermott Masters Nine-ball
1986 Sands Regency Nine-ball Championship
1985 Sands Regency Nine-ball Championship
1985 Red's Nine-ball Open
1985 Tar Heel Open
1985 Willard's Open
1985 Chicago Billiard Cafe Open

That's not a bad resume.
 
Nick Varner should be there he won world championships in 8,9,1pocket and straight pool. Nobody talks about Nick
 
Ditto

Cornerman said:
You know what they say about opinions...

IMO, I think he is the greatest one-pocket player ever, but I didn't see Ronnie Allen in his prime.

IMO, I think he is the greatest Rotation player ever.

IMO, I list him as the best 8-ball player ever.

It's all arguable, of course.
Click to expand...

Pretty much just what I was going to post!
 
Playing 9 ball, Buddy would go years without anyone offering to play him some for the cash. Efren was the best 1 pocket player to date. Allen Hopkins would have been top 5 for the cash in his prime playing many games. Allen was the first player I had ever seen bust everyone that bet him in Manchester, Tn playing the ghost on a valley barbox with nap cloth, with no ball in hand. Mike was the best tournament 9 ball player for several years. At one time, I think Nick was the best all around player at banks, 1 pocket and 9 ball. Jimmy Reid was the best 8 ball player I have seen to date.
 
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