I know there has been a discussion of what makes up the major pool tournaments around the world and the importance of winning the World Championship. Who has won the most titles that are considered the crown jewels of the sport? Please list any titles so the readers can see what each of us consider majors. I would like to see what people from other parts of the world consider the most important. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Who has won the most "majors"
- Thread starter Mole Eye
- Start date
As I'd have no idea where to find the information for Europe and Asia, I'll restrict my consideration of the topic to American players.
In 14.1, which was once the game that determined the world champion, it's Mosconi, with honorable mention to Greenleaf and Mizerak.
In nine ball, it's likely Earl Strickland, with, I think, six world nine ball championships and five US Open titles.
It's really a pretty difficult question, though. For example, are Johnston City Titles majors? As Johnston City sometimes had twenty five hall of famers in the field, I'd day yes, and if Johnston City counts, Luther Lassiter, also a World 14.1 champion, is deserving of consideration.
In 14.1, which was once the game that determined the world champion, it's Mosconi, with honorable mention to Greenleaf and Mizerak.
In nine ball, it's likely Earl Strickland, with, I think, six world nine ball championships and five US Open titles.
It's really a pretty difficult question, though. For example, are Johnston City Titles majors? As Johnston City sometimes had twenty five hall of famers in the field, I'd day yes, and if Johnston City counts, Luther Lassiter, also a World 14.1 champion, is deserving of consideration.
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Raymond ceulemans
Named mr 100 for his 100 titles
23 world 3c titles, won his last at age 70
Actual world titlea where you travel to different countries and played the best players of any country that entered
With many many european and Belgian titles in all carom games
Balkline 1 cushion 3 cushion and most likley straight rail as well
Recently beating our 8 time national champ in the coc tournament, a month ago, his only win all week though
Named mr 100 for his 100 titles
23 world 3c titles, won his last at age 70
Actual world titlea where you travel to different countries and played the best players of any country that entered
With many many european and Belgian titles in all carom games
Balkline 1 cushion 3 cushion and most likley straight rail as well
Recently beating our 8 time national champ in the coc tournament, a month ago, his only win all week though
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sjm got it right in his categorization, especially 14.1.
How would you rate Hoppe? He is said to have won 51 World Titles.
Thanks for your input.
Really dont know as theres not much info on his actual competition play available , or atleast not much i have been able to find
as others have said he pretty much stayed in the states, making money instead of traveling much abroad competing
Afaik
He had plenty of competition from Jake jr and sr , Jake sr supposedly much much better than hoppe
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as others have said he pretty much stayed in the states, making money instead of traveling much abroad competing
Afaik
He had plenty of competition from Jake jr and sr , Jake sr supposedly much much better than hoppe
Sent from my LM-X210(G) using Tapatalk
which 6 count as Earl's world nine ball?
I think he includes those PBT tour sham tourney's
either way its Efren and Earl and then Shane
Celuemans' victories come from a small sample size of players, so no
Hoppe played BCA when alot of the top guys played UMB from south america and europe, so no also
Mosconi played the same guys over and over and couldn't get away from straight pool only
Earl and Efren played at their peak at time when shit was probably even bigger than today
If Shaw could focus he can be the king of all time, too much aaron rodgers syndrome at the moment
I think he includes those PBT tour sham tourney's
either way its Efren and Earl and then Shane
Celuemans' victories come from a small sample size of players, so no
Hoppe played BCA when alot of the top guys played UMB from south america and europe, so no also
Mosconi played the same guys over and over and couldn't get away from straight pool only
Earl and Efren played at their peak at time when shit was probably even bigger than today
If Shaw could focus he can be the king of all time, too much aaron rodgers syndrome at the moment
Must say thats surprisingly ignant even for you
This is not an easy question since not a lot of tournaments stuck around and there is no good list of Majors like in Tennis/Golf, etc...
For example, the Ultimate 10 Ball events, were great, lots of good players, good prize fund, but lasted only a few years. Are we talking US only events? Is Japan Open a Major? Sure probably is, good prize, strong players. Did all the great US players, Euro players play in it? Nope, travel costs. Maybe someone that did not go there could have won, but since there is no pro pool tour, the 5,000 cost to travel and play is a bit much for no guaranteed salary for many players.
If you count US Majors, it may be Sigel. Maybe.
For example, the Ultimate 10 Ball events, were great, lots of good players, good prize fund, but lasted only a few years. Are we talking US only events? Is Japan Open a Major? Sure probably is, good prize, strong players. Did all the great US players, Euro players play in it? Nope, travel costs. Maybe someone that did not go there could have won, but since there is no pro pool tour, the 5,000 cost to travel and play is a bit much for no guaranteed salary for many players.
If you count US Majors, it may be Sigel. Maybe.
Luther Lassiter won six major 9-Ball titles and ten major Straight Pool titles, all in the 1960's! He finished runner-up in either seven or eight (?) other similar events at Johnston City, the Stardust, The U.S. Open 14.1 or the World 14.1, going back to the 1950's.
In the modern era, Earl and Sigel won the most major 9-Ball tournaments. Earl won 50 major tournaments between 1982 and 2013, all were 9-Ball, except one each in One Pocket and Eight Ball. These were all full field events with most of the best players competing in them. Of course there were many more events for him to play in then during Lassiter's era. I wasn't able to find the records on Sigel, but suffice to say he won several dozen major events in the 70's and 80's including 9-Ball, 14.1 and even One Pocket. Nick Varner has also won over 30 major tournaments between 1980 and 2000. All three are far ahead of Efren in overall titles won. Efren was only dominant in One Pocket.
If you count major bar table events, then Buddy Hall stands alone. He won just about everything on the small tables for over twenty years (plus many big table events as well). These are the Big Four of the modern era, that also featured players like Efren, Parica, Mizerak, Davenport, Rempe and Hopkins. Johnny Archer became the dominant player in the 1990's (along with Earl), when we first saw the advent of the European players and more Filipinos playing on U.S. soil. Over the last ten years Shane has won far more than anyone else in major U.S. events, but his opposition in many of them was not nearly as deep or as strong overall (except for the U.S. Open wins).
In the modern era, Earl and Sigel won the most major 9-Ball tournaments. Earl won 50 major tournaments between 1982 and 2013, all were 9-Ball, except one each in One Pocket and Eight Ball. These were all full field events with most of the best players competing in them. Of course there were many more events for him to play in then during Lassiter's era. I wasn't able to find the records on Sigel, but suffice to say he won several dozen major events in the 70's and 80's including 9-Ball, 14.1 and even One Pocket. Nick Varner has also won over 30 major tournaments between 1980 and 2000. All three are far ahead of Efren in overall titles won. Efren was only dominant in One Pocket.
If you count major bar table events, then Buddy Hall stands alone. He won just about everything on the small tables for over twenty years (plus many big table events as well). These are the Big Four of the modern era, that also featured players like Efren, Parica, Mizerak, Davenport, Rempe and Hopkins. Johnny Archer became the dominant player in the 1990's (along with Earl), when we first saw the advent of the European players and more Filipinos playing on U.S. soil. Over the last ten years Shane has won far more than anyone else in major U.S. events, but his opposition in many of them was not nearly as deep or as strong overall (except for the U.S. Open wins).
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