Top 5 pool players ever

Cornerman said:
I think what held Mataya back is that he wasn't a career-long tournament player. But he won the Stardust All-Around, the World All-ARound in Dayton, OH and the World 8-ball (in Dayton, IIRC). All of those had the best players in the world at the time, but I'd ask @jay helfert how big these tournaments were. Remember that we have World 14.1 Champions that only had to win against a handful of player if not less! I think if Mataya steadily played on the tournament scene from the early 70's to the lat 80's, he would have been a shoe in. As it was, he'd step out of retirement and come in 2nd at the McDermott Masters in the ... early 90's(?) and to the semi-finals on TV in the 1989 World 9-ball Open.


Personally, I think Jayson has done enough, especially if you add his Blackball World Championship in 2010, which was a WPA-sanctioned World Championship.
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Jimmy was a contender with the world's best during his time (over twenty years) as a tournament player. He was certainly capable of beating anyone at any time and was considered one of the best money players of them all. The tournaments he won or finished high in were majors of that era. Jimmy was probably as focused on his high living (partying and gambling) lifestyle as he was on winning tournaments, to his own detriment. Did he have a HOF career? No. Perhaps if he had devoted himself to the tournament grind of that era (like a Sigel, Varner, Mizerak, Strickland, Rempe, Reyes, Davenport, David Howard et al) he would have had a bigger and more robust career. But alas, that was not who Jimmy Mataya was!
 
wrldpro said:
Mataya won multiple world titles as did Grady and their contribution they gave to the sport to promote it and carve the path for others was great. Filler Albin etc. will make it one day into the hof but they are to young. The disgusting thing about the hof is I wish they would induct all people while they are alive still.
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I just feel you need to exclude a lot of very good, well known players to ensure the standard is actual greatness.

In my opinion some players meekly knock on the door of the hall of fame and others (like Efren, Earl, Sigel, SVB, and Filler) kick the door off its hinges.
 
Cornerman said:
Why Allison? Phenomenal female player, but not comparable to the top men.

Why Caeser (sic)? Ever since we all found out who Cesar Morales was and is, I find it silly to refer to Efren as anyone else.

Why O’Sullivan? Not a pool player, and it showed. Phenomenal snooker talent.
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I played Karen Corr may years ago when Alison and here were trading tournaments at her peak. When i broke i have to play 10 ball when she broke we played 9 ball. It was an even match.

Does this put me on that list? HECK NO.
 
Fun but impossible exercise. I'll stick with 9 ball, and players I've seen in their primes. (emphasis added) This means from 1970 on. Emphasis on back room results over tournaments until the 90's, after that more on tournaments and eyeballing.

1. Buddy
2. Filler
3. Shane
4. Earl or Sigel
5. Sigel or Earl
 
Scuse my trangent here but what are the criteria?

Winnerest?

Shooterer?

Unbeatable?

I have the same problem with player ratings of any kind or scale...

:p
 
Taxi said:
Fun but impossible exercise. I'll stick with 9 ball, and players I've seen in their primes. (emphasis added) This means from 1970 on. Emphasis on back room results over tournaments until the 90's, after that more on tournaments and eyeballing.

1. Buddy
2. Filler
3. Shane
4. Earl or Sigel
5. Sigel or Earl
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You can put Jose Parica on top of that list!
 
most lists are based on tournament results which are in regulated and special conditions.

the true best are the ones that can go anywhere and beat anyone in their home town or on non perfect equipment or conditions.

thats why guys like lassiter, efrin. parica, bustamonte, taylor, jimmy moore, mosconi etc top the lists for me anyway.
 
jimmyco said:
Bata don't
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9ballglue said:
List your top 5. Here is mine:
1. Harold Worst
2. Svb
3. Earl
4. Varner
5. Allison Fischer


Honorable mentions: Ceasar Morales, OSullivan, Mosconi, Miz, Captian Hook, Buddy Hall, Greenleaf, Marky Beilfis, 9 Ball Glue

Harold Worst may be overrated but I choose to believe the hype.
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For the cash or just tournament play Buddy Don Willis and Lassiter for the cash just my 2 cents
 
9ballglue said:
List your top 5. Here is mine:
1. Harold Worst
2. Svb
3. Earl
4. Varner
5. Allison Fischer


Honorable mentions: Ceasar Morales, OSullivan, Mosconi, Miz, Captian Hook, Buddy Hall, Greenleaf, Marky Beilfis, 9 Ball Glue

Harold Worst may be overrated but I choose to believe the hype.
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Efren Reyes nowhere on the list? How is that possible?
 
BasementDweller said:
Modern list, based ONLY on tourney results:

Sigel
Varner
Souquet (criminally neglected)
Earl
SVB
Filler (already)

Honorable mention: Appleton
One of the Ko Brothers is inching closer.

Yep no Efren even though I love him. 😀
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Efren was a genius but I don't think he was as good as Earl. The tournament wins bear that out.
 
Fatboy said:
That’s a solid list. It’s clear you have been around a long time. 💪 See you next year at derby I missed this year.

There’s one discipline you left off(well hustle) no one knows the answer. Remember all the carnival 6 ball hustlers years ago? I saw a few guys who had every possible con, hustle, you name it built around short rack. They weren’t great players rather hustlers who used that game to get the cash.

Of all cue sports combined my top pick is Ronnie. He's still going, which seems almost impossible, plays both handed, takes the heat good as anyone. I watch him every possible chance.

Take care Bobby
Fatboy 😃
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For the cash there is so much embellishment we can't know. But the stories are always interesting.

Ronnie is really incredible. His dominance was unmatched in cue sports.
 
Everyone claiming it's crazy to not include Efren but he has less major tournament wins than the other candidates. And MANY 2nd place finishes.
 
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