What is the best win you ever had in a pool match up?

While visiting New Orleans earlier this year during Mardi Gras, I met JoeyA and played him multiple games of 1-pocket. I think I won at least one of the games after he dumped a ball and gave me a shot...and then I paid the time. It was great meeting him and it was honor to win one game.

Dave
 
Billy Ray came into my poolroom in Bakersfield back in the 70's. He was a well known road man back then. I was playing a lot and pretty deadly on my front table, a tight Gold Crown. We played a Race to 11 for $200, a decent bet in 1972. He got me down 9-2 and was prancing around like he'd already won. I got fired up and never missed another ball, catching him at 10-10. In the case game I broke and had a very difficult run out. I wasn't about to play safe and made a couple of banks and ended up with a long cut shot on the nine, which was near the end rail. It wasn't an easy shot, but by now I felt like I could make anything. I swished it for the cheese. Billy Ray was really pissed and slammed his cue on the table, breaking the shaft and stormed out. Still my best come back ever.

One other memorable match was when Artesia Kenny came in a year or two later. He was a well known Bank Pool player out of L.A. He asked me what I'd like to play and I told him either One Pocket or Banks. He smiled and said how about some Banks. Okay I said, how much? He said how about $75 or a $100 a game, a big bet back then. I was holding good so agreed to some 9-Ball Banks for $75 a game. We played after I closed at 2 AM and went at it all night. I ended up seven games winners (we must have played 30 games). Kenny was a great guy to play with, never b-tching or moaning, just playing hard from start to finish. He remains my friend to this day. He still plays some good pool up in the Northwest.
 
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Rochester, Minnesota...............

Lock N Load said:
A match up that meant the most to you in your pool matches , since you have been playing pool! And of course you won the the match. A match that you can look back on and be real proud of being able to pull the win off! The one match that you will remember for years to come!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
Click to expand...

This was kind of a 2 part story ......

I was in Minneapolis playing at a tourny at University Billiards. Now Two Stooges.

It was a pretty big tourny. I had made it to the finals against Toby Dick from Rochester, Mn. I was playing pretty good but I had kind of stumbled through this tourny. I was not in really top notch stroke and i knew it. This was the second day so there was some time invested here for sure.

As we were playing the final match the score was 4-4 and as I was shooting the 5 ball there was a loud crunch as I stroked the ball. I just about jumped out of my shoes during the shot. Charlie Garza was at a small table fairly close to our pool table and had a bag of Doritos. He had timed it Perfectly for the opportunistic crunch. .

I turned and gave Charlie a look that would kill. I didn't know if he did it on purpose but him and Toby were pretty good friends.

later the score was 6-6 and another shot came up that was kind of tough but i was a favorite to make it. Having heard nothing from Charlie for awhile there it was again as I stoked. A great bid crunch from this bag. I missed the shot by a mile.

I turned to Charlie and if i remember right I took the bag and threw it in the garbage and threw a couple of bucks on that little table.

It was too late though. I never really had another chance. Only got back to the table one time and I was kicking at the 4 ball 2 rails after a safe.

I was pretty pissed but kept my mouth shut. I was going to get even. I already had the plan all figured out.

For years it was known that you didn't go to Rochester and play Toby on those tables there in the poolhall. They were really fast and the pockets were shallow. They were tight but the slate didn't go back in the pocket very far so they kind of played like a big bar table.

At this time in my pool career I was not known as a big table player and I knew that Toby knew this. I had put 3 , 9 footers in my poolroom so I could start to play in some pro events.

I went back and lived on these tables for about 2 weeks and I mean lived on them. I was on a mission. All I wanted to win was my money back that I would have made if I would have gotten 1st place in that tourny.

I called Toby up and told him I'd like to play him some and he knew why. Being a very smart gambler he told me he would play me at Rochester. I himmed and hawwed a little but I told him I would be down in a few days. I knew he was just licking his chops.

We started at 4 PM in the afternoon. we started playing $500 sets, races to 9, 9 ball. At about midnite we were still about even. We raised the bet to $1000. I was having trouble getting used to the table and Toby shot lights out on these tables. I could see why they say that nobody beats him on these tables. He's beaten some of the best in the country on these I'd heard.

I was one set ahead , $1000 at 4:00 AM in the morning and it finally happened. The stick felt like part of my arm and my thoughts were nothing but focus. We raised the bet to $1500.

He never won another set. He never got to 5 in any set after that. In fact a few he got none or one.

At 11:00 I had him stuck 12,500.00. I thought he was going to play some more but he held out his hand and shook mine. He said nice shooting.

Then he said I can't beat you. I replied, I know. The next thing he said was , did you know that you have not miissed a ball since 4:00 AM. My reply was I think your right. He said I know I'm right. I had to watch. I got tired of waiting for you to miss.

He said I thought I could get rolling but you won't let me. I'm not getting to shoot.

Toby went to the bank and came back counting the money out on the pool table.

And if anyone ever gambled with Toby ever they would know he is the perfect gentleman and that night was no exception.

Over the years every once in a while Toby has come up to me and said, do you know that, that is the most money I ever lost to anyone.

All I could think was Thank you Charlie Garza with your bag of Doritos.

Without Charlie I don't think this would have ever happened.

Not my biggest score ever but it was bitter sweet for sure.

That's why we play the game. It's just fun to win...................

I only wish I would have saved that bag of Doritos that I threw in the Garbage.

What a trophy that would make......:thumbup:
 
It happened about a year ago at Wyncoop in Denver. I was playing a benefit tourney for a APWA scholarship which I have participated in many times before and I was knocked to the one loss side very early in the day.
It was a doubles tournament and my partner and I were able to come back from the "left side" of the bracket and get to the finals.

We got to play the team who beat us earlier and flat kicked their a$$ twice for the title and trophy. What was cool about this match was the guys that we beat twice for the money were not pi$$ed at all but very cool and BS-ed with us for about an hour afterwords.

By most of the guys stories on this board my match is nothing but it was a cool win for me and my partner and I still grin when I think about it.
Cuebuddy>:smile:
 
I played in a tournament in SF, CA many years ago at the place on 8th and Brannan (forgot the name - it closed). I played a guy that was in his 90's and he played pretty good. He carried a little fold-up stool with him and he played with a snooker cue. He told me he used to be a snooker champion in Canada when he was young. Given how good he played at 90 something, he must have been a champion in his youth.

Anyway, I enjoyed that match more than just about any other.
 
I think my most memorable win was to break even the first time
that I ever 'gambled' +/- 30 years ago.... giving up the wild/call
8.... after 12-14 hours, and having been down to my last barrel
more than once. I was too tired to be too happy, but was more
than relieved that I didn't go off for a weeks pay.

I learned a lesson that night.... and earned my name.

td
 
A little less than a year ago I won the winner bracket of a tournament in Dallas and Stevie Moore came back to face me in the finals. He had lost earlier (not to me). It was a race to 7 and I was so excited I was getting to play a big name like him in the finals. He had to double dip me.

Stevie walked over to me and asked if I wanted to split the pot half and half. I told him no way because I have a chance to prove to myself that all the hard work I have put in has paid off. He said ok but not to ask him to split it after he wins the first set. I say no problem. I would rather try to beat a pro like that than split 350. I got very focused for the match and never missed a ball. Game was alternate breaks 9ball and I won the first set 7-4. That was a very big win for me.

I had won that tournament several times before but this one was so much better because I had beaten a top player like Stevie.
 
9ball mike said:
A little less than a year ago I won the winner bracket of a tournament in Dallas and Stevie Moore came back to face me in the finals. He had lost earlier (not to me). It was a race to 7 and I was so excited I was getting to play a big name like him in the finals. He had to double dip me.

Stevie walked over to me and asked if I wanted to split the pot half and half. I told him no way because I have a chance to prove to myself that all the hard work I have put in has paid off. He said ok but not to ask him to split it after he wins the first set. I say no problem. I would rather try to beat a pro like that than split 350. I got very focused for the match and never missed a ball. Game was alternate breaks 9ball and I won the first set 7-4. That was a very big win for me.

I had won that tournament several times before but this one was so much better because I had beaten a top player like Stevie.
Click to expand...

I agree,just knowing that you can and did outplay a top notch player ,was worth a lot more ,then a little bit of money!
 
By far the most meaningful win was during the summer of 2009. I had just started playing again the previous winter and had a solid run of tournaments in Montana and North Dakota. Pool was pretty popular on the Reservation I lived on and being a relatively new teacher there, pool was a way for me to build relations.

Each year there was a memorial 8 ball tournament for a local guy named Joe Youpee who loved playing pool before he passed away at a relatively young age. The family contributed several thousand dollars to the tournament to ensure full fields and cooked meals all 3 days of the tournament to feed the players and spectators free of charge.

I wanted to win this tournament so badly. People were coming up to me around town and telling me how noone from the town had won it yet and to not let the North Dakota boys [or the boys from the west side of the Reservation win. A few people gave me hugs and such. What a way to add pressure right?

Come tournament day about 70 players showed up from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming and I was feeling a little too anxious for my own good. I finished the first day undefeated and then made it to the re-draw undefeated at the final 16. I lost my first match Sunday morning and had to run the gauntlet of the losers bracket. The funniest moment was during the finals of the losers bracket. I was ready to play a player from North Dakota [the one who the people of my town really hated] and he announced to the entire hall that "he was going to school this school teacher" which brought jeers from all my Sioux friends. After thumping him 4-0 the applause and whoops from the room brought a rush of awesome feelings to me.

I finally got a rematch against the guy who beat me earlier in the day. I had to beat him two sets of 4. He raced out to a 3-0 lead on the bar box and was making 3-4 balls each break. During the 4th game he had trouble controlling the oversized cue ball and scratched. From there I didn't miss a ball. By the end of the first set he was completely done. I beat him 4-3, 4-0 and got hugs and quite a few kisses from the people in attendance.

That was the day I really felt like I was home. One old lady said to me "I am so happy someone from Poplar won Joe's tournament, I wish it was one of our Native boys but it's still good." I was just happy I came through. The next year I got bounced out in 6th or 7th place but I'll always remember that tournament. It paid $1600 and that money is long gone but the pictures with the family after the tournament and the jacket are still looked at and worn. I'll always remember that one.
 
I got into a scotch double match at one of the away tournaments we go to every year. My teammate and I were in trouble, down 3-2 in a race to 4. The other team had him hooked and he managed to jump the ball and make ours. Problem was after that he hooked me solid and I had to kick. Well didn't I kick the ball and make it right in the heart, whitey kissed off another ball and I managed to hook him again on the 8 ball this time. He pulled off another fantastic jump shot and we won the rack to go hill-hill. I broke the next rack and we ran it out without question, a solid win to take home the cheese ($200 each at the time which was the most I had ever gambled for at that point). :thumbup:
 
Rickw said:
I played in a tournament in SF, CA many years ago at the place on 8th and Brannan (forgot the name - it closed). I played a guy that was in his 90's and he played pretty good. He carried a little fold-up stool with him and he played with a snooker cue. He told me he used to be a snooker champion in Canada when he was young. Given how good he played at 90 something, he must have been a champion in his youth.

Anyway, I enjoyed that match more than just about any other.
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That sounds like he was ole George Tanner... He used to play here in the local pool hall and said he played a lot in California. I always remember him with his folding chair/stool.... Great guy that will be missed.
 
I love the story, Jay.

jay helfert said:
Billy Ray came into my poolroom in Bakersfield back in the 70's. He was a well known road man back then. I was playing a lot and pretty deadly on my front table, a tight Gold Crown. We played a Race to 11 for $200, a decent bet in 1972. He got me down 9-2 and was prancing around like he'd already won. I got fired up and never missed another ball, catching him at 10-10. In the case game I broke and had a very difficult run out. I wasn't about to play safe and made a couple of banks and ended up with a long cut shot on the nine, which was near the end rail. It wasn't an easy shot, but by now I felt like I could make anything. I swished it for the cheese. Billy Ray was really pissed and slammed his cue on the table, breaking the shaft and stormed out. Still my best come back ever.

One other memorable match was when Artesia Kenny came in a year or two later. He was a well known Bank Pool player out of L.A. He asked me what I'd like to play and I told him either One Pocket or Banks. He smiled and said how about some Banks. Okay I said, how much? He said how about $75 or a $100 a game, a big bet back then. I was holding good so agreed to some 9-Ball Banks for $75 a game. We played after I closed at 2 AM and went at it all night. I ended up seven games winners (we must have played 30 games). Kenny was a great guy to play with, never b-tching or moaning, just playing hard from start to finish. He remains my friend to this day. He still plays some good pool up in the Northwest.
Click to expand...

I enjoyed reading your stories. They were great! Thank you very much.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I was playing the first match of the final 16 of a vendor tournament in Rochester, MN. Had been playing very good to get through the first bracket. The first two games in a race to 4 took 45 minutes due to poor play by both of us. Opponent takes a bathroom break after winning both games. During this time, I realized that I was not chewing gum which helps me relax a bit.

Opponent returns and racks (loser breaks), I break an run out leaving 7 on the table. He dry breaks, I get to the eight and make a thin cut to the corner, and the cue ball comes back to scratch (lacking about 2 inches of green to stay on the table). So now I am down 3 to 1.

I break and run another, seven balls left on the table.

He has another dry break, I run out again. Same result for the double hill game.

The rest of the tournament was a breeze, I don't think I lost 3 games in any of the remaining matches.
 
Very nice pool story.

Inaction said:
I was playing the first match of the final 16 of a vendor tournament in Rochester, MN. Had been playing very good to get through the first bracket. The first two games in a race to 4 took 45 minutes due to poor play by both of us. Opponent takes a bathroom break after winning both games. During this time, I realized that I was not chewing gum which helps me relax a bit.

Opponent returns and racks (loser breaks), I break an run out leaving 7 on the table. He dry breaks, I get to the eight and make a thin cut to the corner, and the cue ball comes back to scratch (lacking about 2 inches of green to stay on the table). So now I am down 3 to 1.

I break and run another, seven balls left on the table.

He has another dry break, I run out again. Same result for the double hill game.

The rest of the tournament was a breeze, I don't think I lost 3 games in any of the remaining matches.
Click to expand...

That was a good win! Thanks.
Regards,
Lock N Load.
T
 
Ray Sudden

Great win Jay. Ray was a great player and loved to gamble.

Cole Dixson came into the old Calfornia Billiards in San Jose, Ca. during Thanksgiving, wearing a suit and looking like a million dollars. He gave Ray the eight and lost his suit, cue, watch and borrowed all he could from everyone he knew. I remember Cole leaving and coming back in and yelled at Fudsey, “You Still can’t beat Me”. Cole still owes me money, but I don’t care because he had heart. Take care, Barney
 
For me, that match has not occurred yet. But I do already know who my opponent will be. And he won't like it. Just waiting for the right moment.
 
8ball: 4 all on race to 5 to qualify the post section, I break on last frame 5 in the pocket. I point on big ones and I nearly finish the last ball to the black but I made mistake on last position for black..damn!!
I only can c half ball but I made a quick decision" let's go Masse".....and black into my order........so happy......

sam
 
Sammi, I bet you were happy!

sammi sam said:
8ball: 4 all on race to 5 to qualify the post section, I break on last frame 5 in the pocket. I point on big ones and I nearly finish the last ball to the black but I made mistake on last position for black..damn!!
I only can c half ball but I made a quick decision" let's go Masse".....and black into my order........so happy......

sam
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good win to me!!!
Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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