What games should be included when considering the ALL AROUND best player?

ChrisBanks said:
Please share. I don't know which games to include.
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Depends on that nation.

In the U.S. (NOT necessarily in order of importance)

1. 14.1

2. 8 Ball

3. 9 Ball

4. 1 Pocket

5. Bank Pool

Of course, in England you'd have to include Snooker and in Greater Europe, 3 Cushion.

Another sub-question might be...SHOULD there be an "all around" championship?

I think not. Remember WAY back when...the Olympic Decathlon champion was THE most revered athelete in the world. Now, few people can even tell you who the last champ was.

Why? Because typically, they couldn't beat any specialist in any of the 10 events. (Maybe one or two)

So, the Decathlon was sort of like..."Not the Best in Any Event"...sort of "champion." NO disrespect re: versatility.

I'm just sayin'

For my money...any player who is THE best in ANY 3 of the above should be granted True Legend status.

Finally, an additional sub-question might be...Which ONE of the above games requires the BROADEST AND DEEPEST set of skills?

Again, for my money...14.1 wins hands down.

EagleMan
 
Depends on what you mean by ALL AROUND.

Does that include all billiard games? Snooker? Carom? English 8-Ball? Three-cushion?

In America, I think ALL AROUND would include a rotation game (9-10 Ball), 8-Ball, One Pocket, and Straight Pool.
 
I have been told by many people that full rack bank pool is the only true testament to bank pool. And that short rack banks is a perversion of the true game.

I have also seen tournaments where you score 1 point per rail on a pocketed bank.
 
If I had to choose one, it would be Efren. World One Pocket champ, world 9/10-Ball champ, All around champ at the DCC, Bank pool extraordinaire and high finisher, gained notariety as a strong player through an early career of three-cushion in the 60's and 70's. I don't know how strong he is in 14.1, but I wouldn't bet against him.
 
EagleMan said:
Depends on that nation.

In the U.S. (NOT necessarily in order of importance)

1. 14.1

2. 8 Ball

3. 9 Ball

4. 1 Pocket

5. Bank Pool

..... Finally, an additional sub-question might be...Which ONE of the above games requires the BROADEST AND DEEPEST set of skills?

Again, for my money...14.1 wins hands down.

EagleMan
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Agreed that these are the five games. This is the main forum, so the thread is presumed about pool, so we need not consider games like 3-cushion, Russian pyramid, snooker, etc. Also agree that 14.1 requires the most complete skill set of the five, with one pocket a very close second.

To my knowledge, only Nick Varner owns a world championship in all five of these disciplines within pool.
 
ChrisBanks said:
I have been told by many people that full rack bank pool is the only true testament to bank pool. And that short rack banks is a perversion of the true game.

I have also seen tournaments where you score 1 point per rail on a pocketed bank.
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+1, and...Plus one.

Dale
 
If your ? Pertains to pocket billiards it should be

Straight pool
8, 9, and 10 ball
One pocket
Banks
 
To me, the best all-round player would be one who is adept at....
...snooker....pool....carambole.

I nominate Harold Worst
 
I don't see anything as all around as one pocket. Even straight pool.

There's so much going on in a good game of one pocket it is amazing. Truly the chess of the pool world. Shots can come up in that game where you will literally gasp and think "holy sh1t...nice SHOT!" and that isn't just on offense shots....some of the defensive shots that go in three different levels (moving balls away from opponent's pckt, moving balls towards yours, AND leaving a tough leave....all in one shot) are just stupefying when you see them for the first time. And people are so frigging creative, people come up with stuff in matches that just floors me. And offense? When you DO get a shot you better bring it! Even if you don't get a tolerable leave, you might need to get creative and bring out the crazy banks or caroms. Such a fantastic, fantastic game.

Unfortunately nobody really plays it up here where I live. I've found one old guy who likes to play at my hall and that's about it. Everyone always asks us "wtf kinda game are you guys playing?" before shaking their heads and walking off. :(
 
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pt109 said:
To me, the best all-round player would be one who is adept at....
...snooker....pool....carambole.

I nominate Harold Worst
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Isn't "carambole" another name for star fruit?

...oh wait, different ending vowel. :p

All funnin' aside, I would have to agree with Harold Worst as being the all-time all-around cueist!

-Sean
 
ChrisBanks said:
I have been told by many people that full rack bank pool is the only true testament to bank pool. And that short rack banks is a perversion of the true game.

I have also seen tournaments where you score 1 point per rail on a pocketed bank.
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In the context of the question -- which *games* (plural) should be included when considering the all-around best player -- those folks are being pedantic (and elitist!) with that full-rack banks comparison. They should be happy enough that any form of banks is even in the equation to begin with!

If I had to pick which banks to include in the equation, of course, it would be full-rack banks. But I'm happy with short-rack banks being an alternate. The issue is just making sure that banks -- any kind of banks -- is in the equation at all. Far too many folks leave this art out, and worse, they slant the all-around with multiple short-rack rotation games (e.g. BOTH 9-ball and 10-ball -- when only one is necessary).

-Sean
 
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