who is the second best player in the world?
- Thread starter gpeezy
- Start date
Man, what a disappointment!!!!!!!
How do you define second best?
I guess it is the guy not as good as the best but better than everyone else?
The problem is in tournament play a lot of these players are really close to each other, that it is hard to say one will win for sure over another. The ranking system can be used as a reference, but players can get more points by attending more events, so it is not an indication of skill level alone.
If we use money game, then I have to say the pinoy players are the best. Mind you, some great players do not gamble, but they should not be left out.
Just how can we say one person has more knowledge, more experience, and better execution than everyone else except the one who is the very best in the world?
What standard are we going to use to judge that?
I guess it is the guy not as good as the best but better than everyone else?
The problem is in tournament play a lot of these players are really close to each other, that it is hard to say one will win for sure over another. The ranking system can be used as a reference, but players can get more points by attending more events, so it is not an indication of skill level alone.
If we use money game, then I have to say the pinoy players are the best. Mind you, some great players do not gamble, but they should not be left out.
Just how can we say one person has more knowledge, more experience, and better execution than everyone else except the one who is the very best in the world?
What standard are we going to use to judge that?
Not Earl
And we ain't just talking 9-ball.
My answer would be on any given day there are a number of players who might be considered the best.
The question was is not was!showtime said:in case you havent noticed the magician just barely beat him in his prime.so.......................third best is a tie to everyone that has not challenged the great cue artist.
And we ain't just talking 9-ball.My answer would be on any given day there are a number of players who might be considered the best.
When the money is down it has to be Orcullo
No one would agree with me, so I am not going to say who I think. Stats for me mean nothing. I look at how much they tour. Types of games they play. How well they gamble. These guys are so close that any given day somebody can win.
All around, it would still be difficult to not consider Varner.
Island Drive said:
Varner is definitely second ! Mike Sigel is 3rd !
Whatttt, I love orcollo alot, one of my fav. players right now but hes relativly new to the game and I can't scaim he's second best.Dave Mackay said:
I would look at the handfull of guys who have won both the World's and the US open.
Having said that, while Efren has proven himself as number one, I don't think there is a definitive #2
Having said that, while Efren has proven himself as number one, I don't think there is a definitive #2
showtime said:
When everything is good in Earls head which is less and less often it seems(i like him too) but the facts are the facts, when he is Ok nobody can beat him playing 9-Ball, Efren dosent have a chance, Sure Efren won the race to 120. but he had to work for it and he got into Earls head to win, Earl was 17 games ahead and probably could have been 10-15 more games ahead the 3rd night if he didnt beat himself. He is the strongest 9 ball player period when his head is right, Efren beat him because Earl beat himself to a extentant and Efren is more consistant.
Overall Efren is a better player but he dosent have the break Earl does playing 9 ball, its Earls game. Buddy Hall is up there to and probably can beat Earl just like Efren did by getting into Earls head and let Earl beat himself, its too bad, I would like to nothing more to see Earl play at his full potential most of the time like Tiger Woods or Fererov in Tennis.
So my vote for number 2 is Efren, Buddy 3rd. Overall player is Efren, And on any given day Efren can beat Earl playing 9 ball but that dosent mean he plays better he wins better.
Its like Johnnie Morton(Rude Dog) said to me many times "I just have to find a way to win" and he awalys did even when he didnt have the best of it, we ran around Vegas together in 91 for a couple months, he played much better than me, but he was better at winning than playing alot of times, that is what Earl lacks as alot of people do, they play good but cant win, No disrespect but "Doc" Paul Brienza in Sacramento was a great player when I lived there and did good in tournments but I never saw him book a winner in action, it wasnt his thing, He just couldnt win and played great.
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Hail Mary Shot said:Varner is definitely second ! Mike Sigel is 3rd !
depends on how much coke mike has, i heard he is clean now, i hope so. i watched him put together a 5 pack in Reno playing Earl once, Earl said out loud"Stick a fork in me", then years later at the Bike or Commerece at a tournment I watched mike run 6 in a row and *****ing about his tooth ache the whole time and how he couldnt play because of it, meanwhile he was running a 6 pack and when the set was over, he was so geeked up he didnt realize he wasnt missing but thought he was. he probably could have kept going his break was perfect every time just leaving him stop and go racks, When the other player(i cant remember who) broke down his stick mike couldnt figure out why the guy was quitting he didnt even know he won. He was talking to the rail birds a few close friends sitting next to his break cue about his tooth, jet lag all these problems and excuses while never missing, never missing a shot and didnt know it.Now thats being in the zone.
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Honestly, I don't know if even number 1 is so clear. Is it Efren? Certainly playing 1p no one stands a chance, but if we are talking about 9-ball I'm not sure Efren is at the top anymore. I think Thorsten is playing as good as anyone in the world right now in 14.1 and 9-ball. Also, Archer still wins his share of tournaments. What about John Scmidt? If number 1 is unclear by virtue of that number 2 must be equally so.
StraightPoolIU said:
Yes, he's the world's best one-pocket player, but equally clear is that, as winner of two of the three IPT events ever played as well as multiple world eight ball championships before the IPT existed, he is the world's best eight ball player. He's finished second in the 1993 US Open Straight Pool event and third in the 2000 BCA Straight Pool event. He's still one of ten best in nine ball. I really don't think anyone other than Efren is in the conversation for best all-around pool player.
StraightPoolIU said:
The dilemma with a 9-ball game nowadays is that nobody is a consistent winner in every tournament. every tourney has a different winner. so a way to determine who's number 1 in 9-ball is to determine the number and type of tourneys attended by the player, strength of the field, and consistency in the finish (not necessarily champion, but atleast top 5 in events attended).
I already mentioned my top 3 all-around players. but I can't seem to scrutinize to say or mention who's the best in one particular field of the poolgame (most especially in 9-ball) since every great pool player had their era of dominance.
So when the question of who are the best comes to mind, it is better to consider who are the all-time best in most (if not all haven't played) of pool's department.
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