Who are the best players who bet their own?

B

BackPocket9Ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
All the time I hear about how a certain player is a "high roller", or "plays really good for the money", etc. But almost all of these players have financial backing! Most of these so-called "high rollers" would be scared to death to bet their own. I mean, how much pressure is there if you know that if you lose you're not going to be one penny poorer than when you started? I don't think that any player -- professional or not -- should be considered a gambler if they don't have the funds or the heart to bet their own. Because I think that playing $100 a game one pocket with your own money takes infinitely more heart and gamble than playing $1,000 a game one pocket with other people's money.

My question is:
Who do you all think are the best players out there who bet their own?
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
All the time I hear about how a certain player is a "high roller", or "plays really good for the money", etc. But almost all of these players have financial backing! Most of these so-called "high rollers" would be scared to death to bet their own. I mean, how much pressure is there if you know that if you lose you're not going to be one penny poorer than when you started? I don't think that any player -- professional or not -- should be considered a gambler if they don't have the funds or the heart to bet their own. Because I think that playing $100 a game one pocket with your own money takes infinitely more heart and gamble than playing $1,000 a game one pocket with other people's money.

My question is:
Who do you all think are the best players out there who bet their own?
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Though he's had backers on many occasions, a great player that has gambled effectively betting with his own money on many occasions is Rodney Morris.
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
All the time I hear about how a certain player is a "high roller", or "plays really good for the money", etc. But almost all of these players have financial backing! Most of these so-called "high rollers" would be scared to death to bet their own. I mean, how much pressure is there if you know that if you lose you're not going to be one penny poorer than when you started? I don't think that any player -- professional or not -- should be considered a gambler if they don't have the funds or the heart to bet their own. Because I think that playing $100 a game one pocket with your own money takes infinitely more heart and gamble than playing $1,000 a game one pocket with other people's money.

My question is:
Who do you all think are the best players out there who bet their own?
Click to expand...

C.J. Wiley is one name that comes to mind.
 
I have to agree with you BP, yet most PP think gambling is the true test. Im the opposite

I saw 2 so called high rollers both with backers, one of which who wasn't even on the premisis, playing 1000/ game one pocket. Neither one of them looked like they gave a crap and were taking no time on their shots. Couldn't have cared less it seemed
 
"Everything is funny when you're winning big money," says Ronnie Wiseman.

2004 Derby City Classic's St. Louis Louie Roberts Awardee: Tony Watson

California Stars: Amar Kang and Tony Chohan

Missing in Action: Eric Durbin

One of pool's most colorful shooters: Shannon "The Cannon" Daulton

2004 World Champion Alex "The Lion" Papulyan

Shows no fear: Washington State's own Harry Platis

Carolinas Open Promoter: Gene Hooker

New Jersey's Best Money Player: Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich

Arizona's One-Pocket Machine: Scott "The Freezer" Frost

Sweden's Little Napoleon: Marcus Chamat

Always Ready in Detroit: Jew Paul and Teddy the Greek
 
I have to take issue with that list MS-I dont think Tony Watson (for one) hasn't shot with his own money in 15 years. Where would he get it?
 
I saw him playing Bucktooth 1h in Reno and Grady definitely had a backer. By the way, Bucktooth is my vote. He does always play with his own money just like Platis.



Tom In Cincy said:
Grady Mathews has a reputation for always betting with his own money.
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Nostroke said:
I have to take issue with that list MS-I dont think Tony Watson (for one) hasn't shot with his own money in 15 years. Where would he get it?
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Like most players, Nostroke, Tony Watson has his share of backers or stakehorses, but in case you haven't heard, Stevie and Tony got an amicable divorce! ;)

How he gets his cash is his business, but at the last Derby City Classic, Tony was backing himself.

ManlyShot
 
Nostroke said:
Is borrowed money "your own"?
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I'd venture a guess and say yes, borrowed money is "your own."

This is an interesting thread and exemplifies the fact that there is not much money to be made in pool tournaments alone. This may be the reason why some players resort to gambling as a means of supplemental income.

ManlyShot
 
I guess that is why he hasnt been in much action lately as a top player/gambler told me this weekend.


In order to bet your own, you have to have money and most of the TOP players mentioned so far with the exception of CJ Wiley and possibly another, simply don't

I know for a fact that at least 2 of the players mentioned are flat dead ass, not a nickel in the bank, Broke! Im sure there are others too.
 
The reason i ask is that some player is known to owe tens of thousands on borrowed money for various "locks" and one well-off multi thousand owee told me that he has no expectation of ever recovering a nickel of it.
 
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Arizona's One-Pocket Machine: Scott "The Freezer" Frost


Scott Frost may play with his own, but if he looses, he just goes to his rich parents and gets more..so you really can not add him to the list and there are a quite a few players out there with wealthly parents.....
 
One player who sure as hell bets his own is Allen Hopkins. He may not have the greatest record of late but at one time was considered the best money player on the East Coast by many.
 
How about all of the Philippinos:

Reyes, Bustamante, Parica, Andam, Luat, Gallego, Lining, Kiamco, Pagulayan, etc.

I have seen many of them in action, and I don't think that I have once, not ONCE, seen them bet their own.

Maybe I'm completely wrong here. The Philippinos are considered among the best gamblers in the world, but gambling is more than just coming away with the cash ... it's about risking the loss of that same amount of cash.
 
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