I agree with pretty much every name mentioned except Cliff Joyner. He is an excellent one hole player but not much beyond that. Especially when compared to the other names mentioned.
K
King Cueball
Guest
Imo Nick varner should be third on your list. I think he is a better all-around player than ralph. Nick plays all games very good.
Shannon Daulton has to be in the above list. He was the youngest-ever winner of a world one pocket title (1992 Legends at age 19!) and also won the 1998 Legends. He has won the banks division at Derby City and has won the 9-ball division twice. No other player has won the 9-ball division more than once.
He doesn't play in every tournament out there, but when he does, he's better than even money to win it, no matter what the game.
He doesn't play in every tournament out there, but when he does, he's better than even money to win it, no matter what the game.
Indianaguy said:
Cliff has to be mentioned, though. He may or may not be the best one pocket player alive. From what I've read in this thread, most people say Efren. From a consistency standpoint that may be the case, but I've seen both of them play, and I don't think anyone can beat Cliff in one hole when he's at his best.
I heard a story from a guy who used to run w/ Cliff. He said that the reason he plays so much one hole and does not play in most nine ball tournaments is b/c Johnny Archer gave Cliff the 7 ball once and tortured him with it.
Cliff will match up one hole 90% of the time, but that does not mean he's not capable of winning any 9 ball tournaments. He just chooses not to enter them.
And as evidence, he was second in the Reno Open in December, one of the largest 9-ball tournaments in the country.
senor said:
Senor,
I guess you never heard about the big 9 ball match Efren and Earl had in Hong Kong several years ago. They played a huge set to, I think it was a race to 125, and Efren was stuck over 20 games at one point and came back to beat Earl. You can check it out on Accu-stats. I don't want to take your money. Another thing you can do is to check with Accu-stats and see if they can tell you what the record is between Earl and Efren over a period of time. If you're an Earl fan, you're not going to like it.
Oh, and one more thing Senor, a poster here from another thread who claims to know Earl from way back said that he plays much better in tournaments than he does gambling. He said he's always had problems when it came to gambling. I'm just telling you what I read, not what I know for sure.
Just to play devil's advocate, how many US Opens has Earl one, and how many US Opens has Efren won?
The answer: 5-1 Earl.
The answer: 5-1 Earl.
Efren also went to the finals 4 times in a row.BackPocket9Ball said:
Who has done that?
Who has won back to back world 8-ball?
Two DCC overall champ?
K
King Cueball
Guest
Backpocket! Earl himself said "ive played them all and Efren is the best" So there you have it
Of course, I just brought that US Open record comparison up to play "devil's advocate" to the preceding post 
With respect solely to tournament play, I would have to pick Nick Varner as Efren's closest equal. Nick won back-to-back US Open 9-ball tournaments in the late '80s, as well as one in the early 90s (I think), at least one major straight pool event in the '80s, a world one pocket championship (in 2000), and both the bank pool and one pocket divisions at Derby City.
To the best of my knowledge, Nick and Efren are the only currently active players who have won major titles in four different games. Allen Hopkins has won major titles in three of the four (except bank pool).
With respect solely to tournament play, I would have to pick Nick Varner as Efren's closest equal. Nick won back-to-back US Open 9-ball tournaments in the late '80s, as well as one in the early 90s (I think), at least one major straight pool event in the '80s, a world one pocket championship (in 2000), and both the bank pool and one pocket divisions at Derby City.
To the best of my knowledge, Nick and Efren are the only currently active players who have won major titles in four different games. Allen Hopkins has won major titles in three of the four (except bank pool).
Souquet has titles in 8 ball, 9 ball, and 14:1
Rickw said:
I know about the match, and I'm not necessarily a huge Earl fan, but the fact that he got up 20 games says just as much as Efren coming back from the dead.
I'm just saying this---playing 9-ball, if you put ten of the best players in the world in a pit, the one who is breaking them the best is going to win most of the time. And I think most people agree that Efren does not have the best break. All around player, it's hard to argue against Efren.
Someone who has gotten no mention as of now is Jeremy Jones. He won a both the nine ball and one pocket US Open, and he was runner up in nine ball another time. I think people quit talking about him b/c he quit playing for a little bit.
What year was Jeremy Jones US Open One Pocket champ?
BackPocket9Ball said:
I'm not sure backpocket. It had to be before 2000. That's as far back as the 'results finder' will go. I'm guessing 1999.
BTW, if you're reading this, Mike.....I went to the player profiles to look when JJ won the one hole US Open. JJ is much thinner now. I don't think anyone can call him the Sea Turtle anymore. Also, he's been playing with an Olivier custom cue.
Of course Efren is number 1 in my book followed closely by the popular Nick Varner. But one gentleman I'd like to mention is Grady Mathews who has won titles in many different venues and games. He is a 14.1, 9-ball, one pocket, and back pocket 9 ball champion. But more than all he has given back to this great game. He has produced opportunity that other players may make gains and income. No other player comes close in this department.
ibarra,
Actually, at least two of Earl's wins have been while Efren was competing in the US because in 1997 Earl defeated Efren in the finals 11-3, and in 2000 Earl defeated a Japanese pro in the finals, and I know that Efren was in the field -- but I see your point, nonetheless.
Yobagua,
I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. Grady should be in the hall of fame, not just for his accomplishments as a player, but also for his accomplishments as a promoter.
Actually, at least two of Earl's wins have been while Efren was competing in the US because in 1997 Earl defeated Efren in the finals 11-3, and in 2000 Earl defeated a Japanese pro in the finals, and I know that Efren was in the field -- but I see your point, nonetheless.
Yobagua,
I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. Grady should be in the hall of fame, not just for his accomplishments as a player, but also for his accomplishments as a promoter.