Who are th Top 5 9-Ball players in the World right now ?
- Thread starter Desmondp
- Start date
It's awful hard to pick a top five or even a top ten, but I'll try.
Wu ( I don't care if he's playing in tournaments right now or not. He is supposed to be back in 2011).
Mika
Ralf
Dennis O.
Lee Vann
Right there nipping at their heels are Shane, Rodney, Johnny, Darren and Francisco (still). Any of these five are very capable of beating any of the first five. And there are at least three or four Taiwanese players who belong in this group as well (sorry I can't remember all their names, Ko Pin Yi is one of them).
There really is a top 25 or 30 players who all play very close to each other, and are capable of winning any tournament they enter. Guys like Niels, Dennis H., Karl B., Ronnie A. and Thorsten. Of that group, only Wu has shown me that he is capable of playing a higher speed than anyone else.
He is the "Earl" of this era! Unless Earl decides to take it all back. :thumbup:
Wu ( I don't care if he's playing in tournaments right now or not. He is supposed to be back in 2011).
Mika
Ralf
Dennis O.
Lee Vann
Right there nipping at their heels are Shane, Rodney, Johnny, Darren and Francisco (still). Any of these five are very capable of beating any of the first five. And there are at least three or four Taiwanese players who belong in this group as well (sorry I can't remember all their names, Ko Pin Yi is one of them).
There really is a top 25 or 30 players who all play very close to each other, and are capable of winning any tournament they enter. Guys like Niels, Dennis H., Karl B., Ronnie A. and Thorsten. Of that group, only Wu has shown me that he is capable of playing a higher speed than anyone else.
He is the "Earl" of this era! Unless Earl decides to take it all back. :thumbup:
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i think because he changed his citizen. Since then he had some problem, but i don't know what kind and forced him to stop playing.
i'm not sure btw.
i heard yang is ritired too.
Jay.... a while ago you said Yang was possibly the best pool player in the world... now hes not the one of the best 9 ball players?
What happened to Yang?
What happened to Yang?
i heard he is retired.
Big difference between tournament play and money games! For the cash I'm still betting on him against ANYBODY!
I don't understand all the love for Orcollo.
I've watched many of his matches. He plays great, no doubt about that. But somehow I see him actually winning tournament matches so rarely, and he lost both his gambling matches with Yang. Just the other day he placed near the very bottom in the All Japan.
Is there some inside joke where players tell Orcollo he's so great to encourage him to keep gambling (and losing)?
He seems like a great player but I don't understand how he could be considered in the top 5.
I've watched many of his matches. He plays great, no doubt about that. But somehow I see him actually winning tournament matches so rarely, and he lost both his gambling matches with Yang. Just the other day he placed near the very bottom in the All Japan.
Is there some inside joke where players tell Orcollo he's so great to encourage him to keep gambling (and losing)?
He seems like a great player but I don't understand how he could be considered in the top 5.
You base your opinion on two matches? He did lose both times on tv but he has beat Yang before gambling so its not like he is completely helpless. Most his gambling exploits are in the Philippines, naturally.
He has also won his share of international tournaments including the Predator 10 ball and the most recent World Pool Masters.
He has also won his share of international tournaments including the Predator 10 ball and the most recent World Pool Masters.
Yeah, there must be a lot happening in the Philippines because I always hear his name mentioned with such respect in those unseen gambling matches.
I didn't base my opinion on those two televised matches against Yang. I said I've seen many of his other matches and while he played well, he usually lost.
I was also aware of those two tournament wins you mentioned. Including the 10 ball event (although this is a thread about 9 ball). If we're including 10 ball, I'd put SVB above him.
Regardless, it's all just opinion and like Jay said any players of this elite skill level are liable to beat another on a given day. But Orcollo wouldn't make my "Top 5 9-ball in the world right now" list.
Great list & post Jay.
I'd add Po Cheng Kuo and Jung-Lin Chang to the list of best active 9 ballers. Much as I like Souquet & respect what he's accomplished, I think these two are now above him and Orcollo in the pecking order.
When Wu returns, I think a lot of mental pressure will be off of him and we'll see a return to his form of old, young as he is.
Immonen is my all-time least favorite player, but no doubting he's peaking.
I also think that when all is said and done, that Lee Vann Corteza will have the over-all better career than Orcollo.
Alcano is still a major force to have to deal with.
He went on a tear about 3-4 years ago beating everyone for the cash and placing high in all the tournaments he entered. IMO it was one of those rare hot streaks that alot of pool players get, only it took place almost at the same time Orcullo showed up to the USA so people thought that it was just how good he was, and not just him having a great year.
Now he is playing at quite abit lower level and does not have that momentum of that great year, and in my opinion that puts him lower then the top 5 for sure.
Compare a guy like Orcullo to Hohmann, Orcullo was hot for a short period of time and noone wanted any of him. Thorsten on the other hand steadily wins giant tournaments every few years that have truly world class fields. Hohmann is the better player over the long run for me and the titles prove it.
If Alex stayed with pool no telling how many titles he'd win. His heart is divided between poker & pool. He got famous in pool. That's a hint to him if he's peeking in here.
I came so close to adding SVB in my previous post. I actually went back in and intended to "edit" it to include him. My finger hoovered over the keyboard, but I let it go. He's top 10 in the world for sure at 9 ball, but the thread OP asked for the top 5. IMO, SVB's BEST game is 10 ball. What a break! If he's not the very best in the world at 10 ball, he's at least #2.
If Alex stayed with pool no telling how many titles he'd win. His heart is divided between poker & pool. He got famous in pool. That's a hint to him if he's peeking in here.
I came so close to adding SVB in my previous post. I actually went back in and intended to "edit" it to include him. My finger hoovered over the keyboard, but I let it go. He's top 10 in the world for sure at 9 ball, but the thread OP asked for the top 5. IMO, SVB's BEST game is 10 ball. What a break! If he's not the very best in the world at 10 ball, he's at least #2.
I absolutely agree with this statement. I think Alex is the most talented pool player I have ever seen, but his heart doesn't seem to be in it (please don't confuse this with the heart he has when playing, which is probably the greatest ever). I think if Alex had the love of the game Efren did, he may have overtook Reyes place as best all around ever.
He still has time being so young, but it seems he just gets bored with pool and moves on to other things. I definitely wouldn't put him in a current top 5, being he is currently not playing; but as far as potential for greatness, he has to be number one on my list.
I'd say currently:
Ralf Souquet
Mika Immonen
Darren Appleton
Karen Corr
Ga-Young Kim
Not in any particular order.
Ralf Souquet
Mika Immonen
Darren Appleton
Karen Corr
Ga-Young Kim
Not in any particular order.