Who are the Top 5 Bar Box players

Handsumm

Handsumm

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Today, after reading in this post about James Walden and Shane Van Boening matching up, I started thinking that these were two of the top bar box players around, but

Who are the top 5 bar box players in the world?

I know that names like Dave Matlock are usually thrown out there, but what do you guys think. I know Corey Deuel is supposed to play pretty good bar box pool, and I have also heard the name Jamie Baraks come up also when talking bar box pool.

So, to start this off, I will throw a few out there to get things started. Not really a top five per se, but a start to look at:

1) Dennis Orcullo (hard to argue against this guy)
2) Warren Kiamco (played extremely well to win both sides in Reno US Bar Table Championship)
3) James Walden (personally I think he is one of the best around. He had Kiamco and Ernesto beat in Reno and couldn't finish)
4) Rafael Martinez
5) Dave Matlock (synonimous with bar box pool)


Notables:

Corey Deuel, Larry Nevel, Shane Van Boening, Kim Davenport, Ike Runnels, Shannon Daulton
Local Favorites: Glen Atwell, Dan Louie, Mike Zimmerman, Stan Tourangeau

Who else?
 
belmicah said:
Today, after reading in this post about James Walden and Shane Van Boening matching up, I started thinking that these were two of the top bar box players around, but

Who are the top 5 bar box players in the world?

I know that names like Dave Matlock are usually thrown out there, but what do you guys think. I know Corey Deuel is supposed to play pretty good bar box pool, and I have also heard the name Jamie Baraks come up also when talking bar box pool.

So, to start this off, I will throw a few out there to get things started. Not really a top five per se, but a start to look at:

1) Dennis Orcullo (hard to argue against this guy)
2) Warren Kiamco (played extremely well to win both sides in Reno US Bar Table Championship)
3) James Walden (personally I think he is one of the best around. He had Kiamco and Ernesto beat in Reno and couldn't finish)
4) Rafael Martinez
5) Dave Matlock (synonimous with bar box pool)


Notables:

Corey Deuel, Larry Nevel, Shane Van Boening, Kim Davenport, Ike Runnels, Shannon Daulton
Local Favorites: Glen Atwell, Dan Louie, Mike Zimmerman, Stan Tourangeau

Who else?
Click to expand...

I think Gabe Owen belongs in there somewhere. Maybe not in the top five, but at least in the discussion.

I saw him win a bar table tournament that had James Walden, Danny Medina, Dave Gomez, Jamie Bowman, Jesse Bowman, Jeremy Vulgamier (sp), Coy Lee Nicholson, David Matlock, Junior Brown and Cliff Joyner in it. Pretty strong action if you ask me.
 
Bar Box

I heard a small rumor that in the upcoming months there will be a match up between Shane and Waldon. I know you can't say this will prove who is the better player but I am sure it will start even more talk.
 
Dont forget Stevie Moore....he won the world bar table championship in '95 I think it was.

Southpaw
 
sixpack said:
I think Gabe Owen belongs in there somewhere. Maybe not in the top five, but at least in the discussion.

I saw him win a bar table tournament that had James Walden, Danny Medina, Dave Gomez, Jamie Bowman, Jesse Bowman, Jeremy Vulgamier (sp), Coy Lee Nicholson, David Matlock, Junior Brown and Cliff Joyner in it. Pretty strong action if you ask me.
Click to expand...
Wow, what tourney was that? And yes, I was going to mention Gabe, but he did have a very poor showing in Reno this year. I don't know what was going on with him.
 
Here's my pick...had to go with 6

I had to go with 6 here because I'm not sure I could pick between Baraks and Kirkwood. One is a much better tournament player but the other is a better gambler...also I don't know how much Dan or Keith are playing anymore but I know that at one time they could've spotted probably anybody in the world the 7 ball on a bar box...with the exception of Matlock. ;)

1. Dave Matlock
2. Jessie Bowman
3. Dan Louie
4. Keith McCready
5. James Baraks (Jamie Wilson)
6. Jason Kirkwood
 
belmicah said:
Wow, what tourney was that? And yes, I was going to mention Gabe, but he did have a very poor showing in Reno this year. I don't know what was going on with him.
Click to expand...

It was the Thanksgiving tournament at Shooters in Wichita I believe in 1999 or 2000. Maybe even 2001. If you haven't made it to their turkey day shoot, it's a great time. I highly recommend it. I drove out for it a couple of times even after I moved away from there, but now that I'm on the west coast and married, it's a lot tougher to get away during the holidays.

Funny thing was, Gabe was the favorite in that tourney, even over all those champions.

Cheers,
RC
 
Yeah i watched James play some bar pool this last weekend. Plays excellent bar box pool. Has a great close to the rail break and he controls the cue ball excellent. He needs to slow down his lifestyle, he seems to be frying himself out. BTW Buddy Hall was there and he still has the best cue ball control out of all of the players at that certain tournament. He seemed to be anywhere from 9-12 inches away from every object ball he shot on. Those new diamond tables were so fast and all of the amateur players struggled but Buddy adjusted eaisly and played great position time after time. I can see why years ago he was so hard to beat for the cash.
 
No 'pros' on this list ? :-)

1. Jesse Bowman
2. Jeff Sergent
3. SVB
4. Jason Kirkwood
5. Stan T

or

5a. Ike Runnels
5a. Brian Gregg
5a. Mike Bandy
5a. Darren Appleton
5a. Tony Piazza
5a. Glen Atwell

* I limited this list to guys I've played every year in Vegas in the BCA or VNEA. I also assume you are talking about 8ball, since 9ball is a joke on the barbox. ;)
 
Stevie Moore also has won the Smokey Mountain Shootout at least three times and might add one moore this weekend,I hope.--Leonard
 
I_Need_D_8 said:
1. Jesse Bowman
2. Jeff Sergent
3. SVB
4. Jason Kirkwood
5. Stan T

or

5a. Ike Runnels
5a. Brian Gregg
5a. Mike Bandy
5a. Darren Appleton
5a. Tony Piazza
5a. Glen Atwell

* I limited this list to guys I've played every year in Vegas in the BCA or VNEA. I also assume you are talking about 8ball, since 9ball is a joke on the barbox. ;)
Click to expand...

Pizza is a great player, but since he's been focusing on poker, I don't think he's up there as much as he could be if he'd been focusing solely on pool the last 10 years. I've got a lot of love and respect for his game though.

Funny story...

I was in Cupertino on biz and went to California Billiards Club and was doing a little light-stakes gambling to pass an evening. The guy I'm playing with tells me some guys from Denver came through the week before. From his description, I know he's talking about Dave H. and Tony Piazza. Anyway, he said he played Dave and Dave busted him and everybody else there that night. He Said, "I shoulda played his friend, I couldn't hang with the big guy, but I know I could have beaten the other guy." I tried not to laugh and just said "funny how things work out." I went back to Denver and told Dave about it. He thought it was pretty funny and they were going to give everyone a chance against the "other guy" next time they rolled through. I never heard how it turned out though. :D

For those that don't know the two in question, Dave is a great player, but if they couldn't handle him, they certainly couldn't handle Tony.

Cheers,
RC
 
sixpack said:
Pizza is a great player, but since he's been focusing on poker, I don't think he's up there as much as he could be if he'd been focusing solely on pool the last 10 years. I've got a lot of love and respect for his game though.
Click to expand...

Agreed. He's got more tenacity and focus than any pool player I've ever seen. If he ever focuses on pool alone again, he's gonna be tough to beat.

Man, a pool room where Dave is busting everyone? How do I get there? ;)
 
I_Need_D_8 said:
Agreed. He's got more tenacity and focus than any pool player I've ever seen. If he ever focuses on pool alone again, he's gonna be tough to beat.

Man, a pool room where Dave is busting everyone? How do I get there? ;)
Click to expand...

'mon out!

I don't think he would bust everyone most nights there, usually there are at least a couple of champions in there.

Not sure who you are, but we probably already know each other, if not we know folks in common, pm me if you come out and I'll show you around. I'm in the Bay Area now. Not playing so much anymore, so being seen with me will probably help you get action :)

Cheers,
RC
 
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