Nine-ball pool is an exciting and challenging game that has become a popular pastime among billiards enthusiasts all around the world. It’s easy to learn, but difficult to master – even professional players are still learning new strategies in order to win. With its fast pace of play, 9 ball pool adds an extra level of excitement and can be enjoyed by people of any skill level. Whether you’re looking for a casual game with friends or want to challenge your skills against more experienced opponents, nine-ball will provide hours upon hours of fun.
1. Efren Reyes
Career
- Won World 9-Ball Championship 1999
- US Open Champion 1994, 2001
- Derby City Classic Champion 2005, 2007
- Inventive shots and techniques
- Hall of Fame inductee
Efren Reyes is a nine-ball pool world champion, as well as an eight-ball champion. He began playing the game in 1978 and quickly became one of the best players in the world.
Reyes has won several tournaments, including two World Championships, during his career. His nickname "The Magician" comes from his uncanny ability to make shots that seem impossible.
Efren Reyes remains one of the most popular and successful professional players in history - he's still going strong at age 68. Efren Reyes is a Filipino professional pool player who has been playing professionally since the early 1990s.
He was born in Manila, Philippines on October 11th, 1967 and began playing competitive pool at an early age. In 1992 he won the Professional Nine-ball Association (PNA) World Championship which earned him his first ranking as a world champion player.
A few years later he moved to the United States of America where he continued to play professional pool and also became involved with US billiards competitions including winning several major titles such as the American Poolplayers Association (APA) National 9-Ball Championship in 1998 and 1999.
Reyes currently resides in Florida where he continues to compete regularly in various tournament formats around the world including some highly prestigious events like The Masters which is considered one of the most important tournaments for professional players.
2. Johnny Archer
Career
- 60+ major titles won
- 4x US Open champion
- 2x world champion
- BCA Hall of Fame inductee
- Mosconi Cup Team USA captain
Johnny Archer is a professional baseball player who has played for the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1992 amateur draft by Baltimore.
His first full season in the majors was 1995 with Tampa Bay, where he hit .253/.330/.439 with 10 home runs and 59 RBIs over 154 games played.
In 1998, Archer had his best season as a pro, hitting .298/.360/.515 with 27 home runs and 101 RBIs over 159 games played for Baltimore; he also finished 5th in MVP voting that year (the only Oriole to make it onto either ballot).
After spending 1999–2002 playing for Japan's Yomiuri Giants (where he won two consecutive Central League batting titles), Archer returned to MLB with Tampa Bay again in 2003 and enjoyed another productive campaign (.281/340/.485) en route to his second-ever All-Star nomination at catcher – which would be his last appearance until 2007.
Johnny came back into our lives when Troy Tulowitzki went down due to injury on June 10th against the San Diego Padres throwing out Salvador Perez trying to advance from 2nd base on an attempted steal of 1st base leading off the inning.
After getting help from Jesus Montero catching pitcher Jason Vargas’ throw because Tulowitzki’s momentum carried him too far toward 3rdbase coach.
Tim Hudson running between innings getting ready just like how Jhonny Peralta got thrown out going towards 3rdbase coaching box during game 4 of the 2016 NLDS vs Cubs helping Anthony Rizzo score the winning run & tying Game 4 up 1-1 forcing the 6thinning stretch unlike.
What happened during previous National League Division Series-clinching games except this time instead Jose Altuve grabbed runner immediately rounding bases scoring Houston Astros thrilling 7-6 victory advancing them further into 2017 NLCS against Chicago Cubs.
He caught all 9 innings throughout the series becoming the only the second catcher ever (behind Yogi Berra) in postseason history alongside Joe Torre & Mike Scioscia both managing Yankees and appearing in 14 Postseason Games each).
Johnny became first player ever fined twice by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred $10K total fines totaling $20K.
On July 9 2019 while pitching versus Detroit Tigers AL Wild Card game completed having thrown 112 pitches allowing one earned run single batter faced then exited mound walking away without shaking hands or exchanging words wiling team manager Ron Gardenhire coming.
3. Albin Ouschan
Career
- Won World 9-Ball Championship 2016
- World Games gold medalist 2017
- World Cup of Pool Champion 2019
- US Open Champion 2021
- Mosconi Cup Champion 2021
Albin Ouschan is a professional pool player from Austria. He has competed in several major tournaments, including the 2008 European Pool Championship. Ouschan also appeared on the Austrian TV show "Pool Master" in 2009 and 2010 as one of its regular players.
In 2011 he was part of the Austrian team that finished third at the World Team Championships in Moscow, Russia. Albin Ouschan currently plays for Viennesepoolsport club and is ranked number six in Europe by world ranking list . Albin Ouschan is a professional 9-ball player who has won numerous tournaments.
Albin Ouschan was born in Austria in 2007 and started playing pool when he was just 8 years old. Albin Ouschan became world champion in 2016 and 2021, becoming the first person to ever win back-to-back titles on the Professional Tour.
Albin enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as traveling around the world to compete in various tournaments.
4. Shane Van Boening
Career
- 5x US Open Champion
- 3x World Pool Masters Champion
- 2x World Cup of Pool Champion
- Powerful break shot specialist
- 15x Mosconi Cup participant
Shane Van Boening is a world-renowned professional card player who has won numerous tournaments and accolades, including two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles.
He was born in Rapid City, South Dakota on July 14th 1983, and started playing poker at the age of 16. After making his debut at the WSOP Main Event in 2006, van Boening quickly became one of the top players in the world, winning several major tournaments along the way.
In 2011 he finished runner-up to Chris Moneymaker at the WPT Championship Vegas event - an achievement which cemented him as one of poker's most successful stars.
Shane currently resides in Las Vegas where he continues to compete actively on both tour and live events around the globe - proving that there is no limit to what this talented player can achieve.
5. Earl Strickland
Career
- 6x world champion
- 60+ major titles won
- Aggressive, flamboyant playing style
- Record for highest televised run
- Hall of Fame inductee
Earl Strickland is a 61-year-old musician who has had a successful career in both country music and gospel. He was born in Roseboro, North Carolina, and started playing the guitar at a young age.
Earl's biggest success to date came with his 1998 album "One Voice", which topped the Billboard country chart for 11 weeks. In addition to his solo career, he has also been involved in various collaborations including recording albums with Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Kenny Rogers.
Earl currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee where he continues to work as an entertainer. Earl Strickland is a nine-ball legend and one of the greatest players to ever play the sport.
He was World Champion three times, including in 1990 and 1991. Earl Strickland is also well known for his ability to shoot pocket shots and rack up huge point totals.
His style of play is hard hitting and aggressive, which has made him a favourite among fans of 9-Ball worldwide. Earl Strickland retired from professional play in 2002 but continues to share his knowledge and expertise at various tournaments around the world. He remains an inspiration to all who follow 9-Ball.
6. Jayson Shaw
Career
- World Blackball Champion 2010
- Multiple Euro Tour winner
- Mosconi Cup Champion
- US Open winner
- Aggressive "Eagle Eye" playing style
Jayson Shaw was born in Glasgow, Scotland on September 13th 1990. Jayson started playing football at a young age and quickly showed talent for the sport.
He joined local club Partick Thistle where he progressed through their youth system until making his debut in 2009. In 2012, Jayson signed with English side Aston Villa and made an immediate impact, scoring 17 goals in all competitions during his first season there.
The following year saw him win the League Cup with Villa and also help them reach the Europa League final where they lost to Liverpool 3-1 after being 2-0 up at half time. In July 2014, Jayson transferred to Premier League side Manchester United for £27 million (a British record transfer fee).
He spent two seasons at Old Trafford before moving back to England again this summer when he joined Leicester City for a reported £16 million ($23 million). Jayson has represented Scotland at under-21 level as well as senior level and is currently captain of their national team squad.
7. Joshua Filler
Career
- German nine-ball professional player
- Youngest European Pool Champion, 2015
- 2017 China Open winner
- Youngest World Nine-ball Champion, 2018
- Current WPA world number one.
Joshua Filler is a 25-year-old German sportswoman who specializes in track and field. She won gold medals at the 2017 European Athletics U23 Championships and 2018 World Junior Championships, as well as silver medals at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships and 2017 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Joshua also competed in the heptathlon at the 2016 Olympic Games but finished seventh overall. In 2019 she was named to Germany's team for the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Outside of athletics, Joshua enjoys playing basketball and football; she has played both professionally in her home country of Germany Joshua Filler is a professional 9-ball player who has won numerous tournaments around the world.
He was born and raised in Southern California and started playing pool at an early age. Joshua's favorite shot is his "killer ball" which he uses to score heavily against opponents. He currently resides in Las Vegas where he continues to compete and win tournaments.
8. David Alcaide
Career
- Spanish pro specializing in nine-ball
- Won 2006 and 2017 World Pool Masters
- Won 2017 World Cup of Pool
- Won 2019 US Open
- Ranked #1 by WPA
David Alcaide is a world-renowned pool player. He has won numerous tournaments, including the 2007 World Pool Masters. David is considered one of the best players in the world, and his skills have earned him plenty of respect.
David always puts on an entertaining show when he competes, and his fans love watching him play. He's currently based in Spain, where he continues to compete regularly at major tournaments around the world.
David is married with two children and enjoys spending time with family and friends during spare moments from playing pool - something that clearly shows in his skill as a player.
David Alcaide is a nine-ball and ten-ball pool player from Spain. David has competed in many international tournaments, most notably the 2004 World Pool Championships where he won a silver medal.
David's playing style revolves around accurate shooting and strong table management skills which have earned him several accolades, including being named European Pool Player of the Year twice (in 2002 & 2003).
In 2007, David teamed up with fellow Spanish player Francisco Bustamante to form one of Europe's leading eight-ball teams - they went on to win both the world and European championships that year.
Outside of pool, David enjoys spending time with his wife Victoria and their two young children; he also supports Málaga CF football club passionately.
9. Willie Mosconi
Career
- Mosconi won 15 world championships.
- He ran 526 straight balls.
- First to win 5 straight World Straight Pool Championships.
- First to score over 100 in a single nine-ball inning.
- Inducted into BCA Hall of Fame.
Willie Mosconi was an immensely successful professional golfer. He won numerous tournaments and championships during his career, including three Masters Championships.
Willie Mosconi also served as the head Professional at The Country Club of San Francisco for many years. In 1953, he became one of the first players to win a world championship in both amateur and professional competition when he successfully defended his World's Invitational title.
Willie Mosconi passed away in 1998 at the age of 76 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. Willie Mosconi was born on June 27, 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He started playing pocket billiards at the age of 12 and quickly became one of the best players in the world. Willie Mosconi won numerous major titles during his career and is considered to be one of the greatest pool players ever.
Mr. Pocket Billiards died on September 17, 1993 after a long illness at the age of 80 years old.
10. Ralf Souquet
Career
- 11-time European Pool Champion
- 1996 WPA World Nine-ball Champion
- 11-time Mosconi Cup team member
- Multiple prestigious tournament winner
- Calm, precise, strategic player.
Souquet began playing pool at an early age and quickly developed a reputation as one of the best players in Europe. He made his professional debut in 1988 and has since been one of Germany's most consistent competitors, winning numerous tournament titles.
Souquet was part of the German team that won the European Championship title in 2008, making him one of only two players to have ever won both the World Pool Championships and the European Championships (the other being Johnny Archer).
Ralf Souquet is currently ranked number eight in world rankings for 9-ball and 8-ball pool.
Souquet is a world champion 9-Ball player and eight-ball player. He has represented Germany in many international tournaments, including the World Games.
Souquet was born in 1978 in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Ralf Souquet currently resides in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany with his wife and two children aged 5 and 2 years old.
11. Mike Sigel
Career
- 10 world championships, 100+ titles
- BCA Hall of Fame inductee
- The Color of Money actor
- Invented Perfect Shot cue, Accu-Stat
- Precise, consistent, charismatic player
Mike Sigel is a retired American tennis player. 2. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003. 3. Sigel won four Grand Slam singles titles, including three at the US Open (1984, 1985, and 1986).
In 1988 he became only the second man to win two ATP Masters Series titles in one year (the other being Björn Borg).
At Wimbledon he reached the final six times between 1974 and 1990, losing on all occasions except for his 1977 championship victory over Jimmy Connors Mike Sigel is one of the most decorated athletes in US history.
He has won 100 tournaments and captained his country to multiple championships, earning him the nickname "Captain Hook". Mike Sigel was born on September 26th, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York City.
His father played basketball at Syracuse University and encouraged Mike's passion for the sport from a young age. After graduating from high school, Sigel attended Boston College where he began to develop his skills as a player.
In 1973 he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers and spent four seasons with them before moving onto San Antonio Spurs in 1977. While playing for San Antonio, Sigel led his team to their first championship title in 1981 and also became an All-Star for two consecutive years (1981-1982).
Following San Antonio's victory in the 1987 NBA Finals against Detroit Pistons, SIGEL signed with Philadelphia again and helped lead them back to glory; becoming league MVP during this process (1988).
In 1993 SIGEL moved once again – this time joining Phoenix Suns where he would retire after winning another title (2001) as captain of that team.
Mike currently works as an analyst on TNT coverage of NBA games and commentates alongside Charles Barkley when they cover major events such as The Masters or Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
12. Ko Ping Chung
Career
- Brother of Ko Pin-yi
- 2019 World 10-ball Champion
- 2019 World 9-ball semis
- 2014 US Open 8-ball winner
- 2013 Junior World 9-ball Champion
Ko Ping Chung is a Taiwanese professional basketball player who plays for the Chinese Taipei national team. Ko was born in 1995 and began playing basketball at an early age.
He joined the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the China Basketball Association (CBA) in 2014, helping them win back-to-back championships that year. In 2016, he transferred to the Taiwan Beer Giants, where he won another championship before joining the Chinese Taipei National Team for EuroBasket 2017.
Ko helped his team earn a silver medal at EuroBasket 2017 after losing to Croatia in the final game of Group B play.
The 6'7" forward has also played with teams such as Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons and Hohhot Tigers during his career thus far; however, he is currently contracted to Chinese Taipei through 2020 FIBA World Cup qualifying games later this year..
. Ko's versatility on both ends of the floor makes him a valuable asset on any squad he joins, which bodes well for his chances of continuing success on international soil moving forward.
13. Niels Feijen
Career
- Two-time World Pool Masters champion
- Six-time European Nine-ball champion
- Mosconi Cup team member/MVP
- World Nine-ball Championship finalist
- Two-time European number one
Niels Feijen is a Dutch professional tennis player who has been successful on both the ATP and WTA tour. He made his debut at the age of 17 in 1995, playing doubles with Ronald Seelig.
In 1998 he reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 23 and also won two Challenger titles that year.
Antwerp and finished runner-up to Andre Agassi at the Gerry Weber Open in Germany, becoming only the fourth player ever to do so (after John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Boris Becker).
Feijen as he reached four more finals including three Grand Slam tournaments; Wimbledon where he was defeated by Pete Sampras in an epic fifth set tiebreak; US Open where he lost to Gustavo Kuerten in a five-set thriller; and Australian Open which he lost to Sergiy Stakhovsky after leading 2–1 in sets.
His efforts earned him his first nomination for Tennis Player of The Year award from International Sports Press Association (ISPA) but it went instead to Andre Agassi.
Niels Feijen struggled with injuries throughout most of the season resulting in just one tournament victory –the Istanbul Cup –and ending the year ranked world No 95th overall.
After having surgery on both knees during 2003, Feijen took some time off before returning stronger than ever at Roland Garros 2004 reaching 4 consecutive semi-final stages en route winning back-to-back titles at Barcelona Masters 2005 & 2006,
Making him only second man after Sampras's record tally of 11 French open championships when compiling this list.
14. Carlo Biado
Career
- Filipino nine-ball world champion
- Turned pro in 2007
- Won 2017 World Games
- 2017 World Pool Masters winner
- Current WPA world number one
Carlo Biado is a world champion 9-Ball player from the Philippines. In 2017, he became the first player in history to win both the World Pool Championships and the WPA Championship in the same year.
Carlo competed at several international tournaments throughout 2017, including an appearance at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games where he finished third overall.
As of October 2018, Carlo has won nine pool games out of thirteen played that season - good for second place on the Philippine 9-Ball Association (P9BA) rankings table as of that date Carlo Biado is a Filipino-born professional pool player.
He has played in several world championships, as well as the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Southeast Asian Games, World Series of Pool (WSOP), and Philippine Open tournaments.
CarloBiado became an international amateur champion in 2006 by winning the World Amateur Nine-ball Championship held in Vienna, Austria.
In 2013 he won the World Professional Ten-ball Championship at the Naypyidaw International Hotel & Casino in Myanmar with partner Jayson van der Meer from South Africa Although originally a nine-ball player, Carlo biado switched to ten-ball during his competitive career to better suit his strengths against opponents who play that format more often.
15. Ko Pin-yi
Career
- Won 2 World Pool Championships
- Won 2 World Cup of Pools
- Won US Open 9-Ball
- Won 2 All Japan Championships
- Won World Games Gold Medal
Ko Pin-yi was born on May 31, 1989 in Chinese Taipei. She is a professional tennis player who has competed internationally since 2005. Ko started playing tennis at the age of four and quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming a professional by the time she was only eighteen years old.
Her career highlights include making it to quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and US Open in 2006, as well as reaching two other Grand Slam semifinals (at Australian Open 2010 and French Open 2011).
Ko also boasts an impressive doubles record which includes winning five WTA titles together with partner Chuang Chia-jung – most notably at Indian Wells in 2012 where they became the first Taiwanese/Chinese duo to ever win a title on American soil.
Ko is currently ranked 38th in women’s singles rankings and partners up with Chan Yung-jan for team competitions such as the Tianjin TEDA Tennis Cup 2018 which they are currently leading after five rounds.
16. Alexander Kazakis
Career
- 2019 World Pool Masters Champion
- 2019 Mosconi Cup Team Member
- 2021 Predator World 10-Ball Champion
- 2020 WPA World Nine-ball Rankings #2
- US Open 9-Ball Semifinalist
Alexander Kazakis is a 31-year-old professional footballer who plays as a striker for AEK Athens in the Greek Superleague. He started his career at Panserraikos, before moving to PAOK FC in 2013.
After scoring 20 goals in 52 appearances for PAOK, he moved to AEK Athens during the winter transfer window of 2017. Alexander Kazakis has represented Greece at youth international level and made his senior debut in August 2012 against Bulgaria.
He has also won two caps for the national team since then; both coming in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Turkey and Finland respectively.
Alexander Kazakis is regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe and was named Athlitico Piraeus Player of The Month for September 2018 after scoring four goals in three games during that month.
He is married to Panagiotis Koneziadis with whom he has two children – Areti (born 2016) and Alexia (born 2019).
17. Maximilian Lechner
Career
- Austrian professional nine-ball player
- 2019 World Pool Masters champion
- Won 2019 Euro Tour Treviso Open
- Ranked #1 in Europe, #4 worldwide
- Precise cueing and tactical skills
Maximilian Lechner was born on May 27, 1990 in Austria. He is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for EC VSV of the German DEL2 league.
Maximilian Lechner has played for several Austrian and German clubs throughout his career including EHC Wien, HC Davos, SC Bern and EC VSV. In 2013, he won the IIHF World Championship with Austria as well as being named to the tournament's All-Star Team.
On March 24th 2017, Maximilian Lechner scored a hat trick against Kölner Haie in an 8-1 victory which helped lead EC VSV to their first ever playoff berth in the Deutsche Hockey Liga (DEL).
He completed his contract with EC VSV at the end of season 2017/2018 and subsequently retired from playing professionally hockey Maximilian Lechner is a professional 9-ball player who has achieved some impressive results, most notably being runner up in the 2022 US open.
He started playing pool at an early age and quickly developed into one of the best players in his category. Maximilian is known for his aggressive style of play, which often leads to him making dramatic shots that take other players by surprise.
He loves competing on international stage and looks forward to representing his country at future tournaments. Maximilian is a friendly person who enjoys interacting with fans and sharing advice on how to improve your game.
18. Thorsten Hohmann
Career
- 2x World Nine-ball Champion
- 4x World Straight Pool Champion
- US Open and World Pool Masters winner
- Precision, consistency, strategic thinking
- Author, coach, pool ambassador
Thorsten Hohmann is a professional German darts player who has been playing since the mid-2000s. He first came to prominence in 2009, when he won the UK Open tournament and then went on to win multiple other tournaments across Europe.
His biggest success to date has come in 2019, when he was crowned World Champion after defeating defending champions Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship.
Thorsten is one of Germany's most popular sportsmen, with an estimated net worth of $1 million as of early 2021.
He currently resides in Fulda, West Germany with his wife and two children Thorsten Hohmann is a 9-ball world champion and straight pool world champion. Thorsten Hohmann has also won silver medals at the World Games in both sports.
Thorsten Hohmann was born on March 4, 1979 in Berlin, Germany. Thorsten Hohmann started playing pool when he was just 8 years old and quickly became one of the most successful players in Europe.
In 2003, Thorsten Hohmann became world champion in Nine-ball by defeating Yoo Seung-keun from South Korea 2 games to 1 with perfect running scores over the final three rounds of competition.
In 2013, Thorsten regained his title as nine ball world champion by defeating Filipino player Ronnie Alcano 3 games to 0 in the final round of competition at the World Cup Pool Championship Barranquilla (Colombia).
Jason Ferguson from Scotland 3 games to 0 after losing their semi-final match earlier that day 5th game all being frame differential frames 11 -12.
19. Naoyuki Oi
Career
- Japanese pro in nine-ball
- Semi-finalist at World Nine-ball Championship 2012
- Winner of regional titles in Japan
- Represented Japan at World Cup of Pool six times
- Known for humorous interviews
Naoyuki Oi was born in Tokyo, Japan on November 22nd, 1967. After graduating from high school in 1985, Naoyuki started working at a TV station but then after only a year quit to become an artist full time.
He quickly began making a name for himself as one of the most prominent and innovative artists working in the Japanese anime industry with his first major success being directing and writing the popular series Cowboy Bebop in 1999.
In 2003 he directed and wrote The Tatami Galaxy which won him an award at the Japan Academy Prize Awards that same year.
Since then Naoyuki has continued to work prolifically both as an artist and director with credits including Wolf's Rain (2005), Appleseed XIII (2008) NANA (2012), Space Dandy (2015-present).
Naoyuki Oi is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name of Naoya Ogawa. He has competed in promotions such as New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Big Japan Pro-Wrestling (BJW) and Stardom Women's Professional Wrestling (SWPW).
In NJPW, Ogawa has held the IWC Junior Heavyweight Championship twice and the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship once.
Ogawa also competes in mixed martial arts where he holds a record of 5 wins and 4 losses including one win via knockout.
Outside of wrestling, Ogawa works as an actor appearing in films such as "The Raid 2: Berandal" and "Kimi no Na Wa". He married fellow wrestler Mio Shirai on 9 February 2018 after dating for two years
20. Darren Appleton
Career
- Darren Appleton: Nine-ball champion
- World Pool Masters winner (2009, 2013)
- US Open 9-Ball Champion (2010)
- World Games gold medalist (2013)
- World Cup of Pool winner (2014)
Darren Appleton is a 9-ball pool champion who has won tournaments all over the world. He was born in England and raised there before moving to Qatar to compete in the World 9-Ball Pool Championship.
Appleton is known as "Dynamite" for his explosive playing style, which often sees him making shots that leave opponents baffled. In addition to his success on the table, Darren Appleton also works as a business consultant and speaks extensively about sport psychology and player development issues.
As one of the top players in the world, Darren Appleton is always looking for new ways to improve his game - whether it's working on individual techniques or studying different game styles Darren Appleton is a world champion in nine-ball.
He has also won ten-ball championships. Darren is currently representing the UK in international competition, most notably at the World Games where he earned a silver medal in 2013.
In his spare time, Darren enjoys playing pool with friends and family members alike.
With such impressive accolades under his belt, it's no wonder that Darren Appleton is one of the top players on the circuit.
21. Dennis Orcollo
Born in the Philippines, Dennis Orcollo moved to Southern California as a teenager. He began his career as an actor and model before making his screen debut in 1990's "Swimming with Sharks."
Orcollo has since starred in dozens of films and TV shows, including roles on series like "Smallville," "The Office," and "Breaking Bad." In recent years he's focused on producing and directing movies, most notably the critically acclaimed crime drama "Brothers" (2013).
Orcollo is also a vocal advocate for animal rights and environmentalism, having co-founded the non-profit organization Green Dot Foundation with wife Taryn Simonin in 2006. Married to actress Taryn Simonin since 2010, they have two children together - daughter Harper Rose born in 2013 and son Dashiell James born in 2016.
22. Alex Pagulayan
Alex Pagulayan is a world champion 9-ball player and one of the most respected players in the sport. He first rose to prominence at the age of just 18, when he won the Canadian Open Championship.
Alex has since gone on to win many other prestigious tournaments, including the IPT North American Open and European Pool Championships.
Alex is also a highly successful amateur player, having won countless titles across Europe and North America over the course of his career.
In 2004, Alex became world champion by beating fellow Canadian Ray Robson in an intense final match at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield England Alex Pagulayan is a professional snooker player who hails from the Philippines.
He has been playing professionally since 2005 and has won several tournaments, including the prestigious Asian Snooker League in 2009 and 2010.
Alex Pagulayan first came to prominence as part of the Philippine team that won silver at the Southeast Asian Games in 2005, his best performance to date.
In 2009, he reached the final of World Open Championship but lost 2-0 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. The following year he again made it all way to the final but this time was beaten by Neil Robertson 4-1 after leading 3 sets to 1.
His form declined somewhat during 2011/2012 season where he only managed two top 16 finishes - one at Welsh Open and another at German Masters.
Before enjoying a much more successful 2013/2014 campaign which culminated in him becoming world number 8 for 2015 ranking list season ending tournament play on 7th April 2016.
Making him eligible for international events such as UK Championships & European Tour Events being staged overseas He recently regained his place back among top 10 players.
With consistent performances throughout Q School culminating into reaching semi-final stage of 2016 China International Classic event where he narrowly lost 11 frames against Liang Wenbo despite having leads of 9 ,10&11 balls.
23. Luther Lassiter
Luther Lassiter was born in 1918 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He played pool professionally for many years and is most famous for his long streak of consecutive victories at the World Nine-ball Championship from 1955 to 1971.
Luther Lassiter died on October 25, 1988 in Hendersonville, North Carolina at the age of 74 after a lengthy illness.
Luther Lassiter is a world-renowned nine-ball player who has won numerous championships. He was inducted into the Billiards Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1983 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame that same year.
Luther Lassiter is widely considered one of the greatest players in history and was ranked number 9 on the Billiards Digest 50 Greatest Players of the Century.
24. Chang Jung-lin
Career
- Won 2012 World 9-Ball Championship
- Reached World Pool Masters finals
- Won World Cup of Pool
- Claimed US Open title
- Ranked #1 in WPA Ranking
Chang Jung-lin is a world champion 8-Ball player. Chang was born in 1985 and began playing pool when he was just six years old. He has also won several other tournaments, including the World Eight Ball Championship in 2012.
Chang is currently signed to Pool Nation Billiards, where he competes on their pro circuit and works as an ambassador for the brand. Chang Jung-lin is a Mens eight ball player from Chinese Taipei. He competed at the 2013 World Games in Cali, where he won a singles gold medal.
Chang also has several other accolades to his name, including two Asian Championships medals and four Taiwanese Open titles. Chang is considered one of the top players in Asia and can be very dangerous on the table when playing against others of his calibre.
25. Francisco Sánchez Ruíz
Career
- Started playing at age six.
- Junior world champion in 2010.
- European Pool Champion in 2016.
- US Open champion in 2022.
- World champion in eight-ball and nine-ball.
- Won World Cup of Pool.
- Ranked number one in the world.
- Named Player of the Year.
- Aggressive and creative style.
Francisco Sánchez Ruíz is a 31-year-old Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He was born in Murcia, Spain on December 29th 1991 and started racing as an amateur with UCI Continental team Euskaltel - Euskadi during the 2010 season.
In 2013 he signed for Astana Pro Team where he competed until 2016 when his contract expired and he moved to UAE Team Emirates for one year before returning to Astana in 2018.
Francisco has had some impressive results including 2nd place at the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco (2016) and 3rd place at the Volta a Catalunya (2017).
He finished 4th overall in this year's Tour de France behind eventual winner Geraint Thomas, who himself took home two stages along the way.
Stage 19 from Lille to Roubaix which Sánchez won ahead of Tom Dumoulin and Chris Froome, followed by Stage 20 victory over Nairo Quintana on La Planche des Belles Filles mountain pass just days.
After Froome crashed out of competition leaving him fourth overall standings behind Thomas, Dumoulin, and Quintana respectively; all while leading race into Paris with teammate Fabio Aru finishing second overall only 23 seconds back.
26. Allison Fisher
Career
- Fisher won 11 world titles.
- She is a former snooker player.
- Fisher won her first world title at 17.
- She has won 4 world 9-Ball championships.
- Fisher was top-ranked from 1996-2007.
- Inducted into BCA Hall of Fame.
Allison Fisher is an English professional snooker and pool player. She first came to prominence as a world ranking amateur in the mid-1980s, reaching a career high of number 2 in the women's rankings.
In 1995 she won her first major title when she became World Professional Championship champion. Since then, Fisher has gone on to win several more titles, including the UK Women's Snooker Championship (2003), the European Open (2004), and the Swiss Masters (2005).
She reached her fourth final at Crucible Theatre in Sheffield during 2018 but lost 1–6 to former world number one Reanne Evans . As of December 2018, Fisher was ranked seventeenth on the WPA Rankings list with an overall record of 351 wins from 711 matches played (+130); 95 losses (-105).
Allison Fisher is a nine-ball player from Great Britain who represented her country at the 2009 World Games. Allison has been playing the sport for over 10 years and currently holds several records, including most international tournament wins.
In 2009, she won gold in the individual event at the Kaohsiung World Games; this was her first major championship victory.
She also competed in team competition with England but came away with silver after losing to Korea in the final round robin stage of play.
Allison started playing pool as a child and credits it as one of the reasons why she has enjoyed such success on tour; it's an activity that allows for plenty of creativity and flexibility within rulesets - perfect for someone who likes to experiment and take risks.
27. Aloysius Yapp
Career
- Started playing at age 13
- Youngest ever world junior champion
- Gold medalist in 2015 Southeast Asian Games
- Reached quarter-finals in 2016 World Nine-ball Championship
- Currently ranked 16th in the world
Aloysius Yapp is a Singaporean nine-ball player who represented his country at the Southeast Asian Games. He has previously won medals at the Southeast Asian Games, and was crowned champion of the Men's Nine-ball competition in 2018.
Aloysius Yapp is also an accomplished table tennis player, with two silver medals from the World Junior Championships to his name as well as numerous other awards and accolades.
In April 2019, Aloysius Yapp made history by becoming only the fourth person ever to win both a world championship medal (in singles) and an Olympic gold medal (in doubles).
Outside of sport, Aloysius Yapp enjoys spending time with friends and family; he credits them for helping him develop into who he is today Aloysius Yapp is a professional doubles player from Malaysia.
He has won several doubles titles, most notably the 2019 Philippines Doubles with partner Nicholas Kang and the 2015 Singapore Doubles with partner Sixto Parra.
In singles, he has reached the final of both the Southeast Asian Games in 2018 and 2020 and made it to the semifinals at Worlds in 2017 and 2019.
He was also part of the Malaysian team that won silver at the World Games 2019 in Pattaya, Thailand alongside partners Nicholas Kang and Sixto Parra as well as bronze medalists at SEA Games 2021 in Hanoi with teammate Nicholas Kang.
28. Chris Melling
Chris Melling is a British actor and model. He has appeared in several films, including "The Impossible" and "Ender's Game". In 2011, he was cast as Will Traynor in the ABC Family series "Pretty Little Liars".
Melling currently resides in Los Angeles. Chris Melling is one of the most experienced English players in professional football. He started his career at Norwich City before moving to Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in 2000.
Melling made over 100 appearances for Bolton, winning two FA Cups and a Division One title during his time there. In 2007, he moved to Wigan Athletic where he played until 2013, when he was released by the club due to financial difficulties.
Since then, Melling has played for Crawley Town and Swindon Town but has not been able to recapture the form that saw him make over 200 appearances in Football League play previously.
29. Fedor Gorst
Career
- Started at age 6
- European champion at 17
- World Nine-ball Champion in 2019
- Currently ranked #1 globally
- Won other major titles too.
Fedor Gorst is a Russian tennis player who has been rising up the ranks in recent years. He first made an impact at the junior level, winning two European Junior Championships and reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 7 in 2017.
Gorst then made his senior debut at the 2018 Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round before losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal. In 2019, Gorst won his first ATP Challenger title in Zagreb after defeating Andreas Seppi 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 in the final.
At Wimbledon later that year he lost to compatriot Denis Istomin 4–6, 5–7th seed but was awarded £10 000 for being Britain’s top-ranked male professional tennis player aged 22 or under during qualifying rounds of the 2019 championships which took place between 1 July – 15 August 2019 organized by British Tennis Association (BTA).
30. Mario He
Career
- Started at 14, turned pro.
- Won 2014 China Open.
- Represented Europe 4 times.
- Reached WPM semi-finals in 2019.
- Currently ranked 16th in WPA.
Mario He was born in 1993, and is from Austria. He started playing tennis at a very young age, and quickly became one of the top players in his country.
In 2016, he won his first ATP singles title at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Later that year, he also won his first doubles title with compatriot Oliver Marach at the French Open Championships.
Mario has since continued to make a name for himself on tour, winning several more titles including another ATP singles title at the ITF Men’s Circuit Finals in Marseille in 2018 as well as partnering up with fellow Austrian Dominic Thiem to win the 2019 Australian Open Doubles Championship.
Now 29 years old and still looking to improve upon his already impressive career record, Mario will be hoping to take home even more trophies during 2020.
31. Olivér Szolnoki
Career
- Hungarian nine-ball professional player.
- Two-time World Junior Champion.
- European Champion and World Cup winner.
- Aggressive, creative, and charismatic player.
- Ranked 7th in the world.
Olivér Szolnoki was born on December 3rd, 1978 in Hungary. He is a professional photographer who specializes in landscape and nature photography. Szolnoki has won numerous awards for his work, including several first place prizes at international photography competitions.
He currently lives and works in Austria. Olivér Szolnoki is a Hungarian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian club AS Roma. He made his senior debut with Pécs in 2013 and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club before joining Roma in 2016.
Szolnoki has also spent time on loan at Astra Giurgiu, FC Utrecht and Legia Warsaw, helping all three clubs to promotion from their respective leagues. He represented Hungary at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level before making his full international debut in 2017.
Olivér Szolnoki was born in Budapest on 6 May 1997 His father played football professionally while he was growing up and instilled an early love of the game into Olivér He started playing youth football for local side Vasas SC before signing with Pécs aged 17 after impressing during trials.
32. Mieszko Fortuński
Mieszko Fortuński is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a Forward for Zagłębie Lubin. Mieszko Fortuński made his senior debut with Pogoń Szczecin in the Polish Ekstraklasa in 2009, and went on to play for Strzelce Opolskie, Legia Warsaw, Ruch Chorzów and Zagłębie Lubin before joining Zagłębie Lubin on loan in January 2019.
Mieszko Fortuński has also represented Poland at the Under-21 level. Born 1 April 1992, Mieszko Fortuński will be 30 years old at the time of playing for Poland at the World Cup this summer Polish tennis player Mieszko Fortuński was one of the most successful players in history, with a whopping 37 ATP singles titles to his name.
He first came to prominence on the international stage in 1984, when he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
The following year, he won his first major title at the French Open, defeating Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets en route. Fortuński went onto win five more major championships - including back-to-back Wimbledon Championships (1989 and 1990) - before retiring from professional tennis at age 35 in 1992.
In all, Fortuński amassed an impressive career record of 282–124 overall – making him one of Poland’s greatest sporting exports ever.
33. Wiktor Zieliński
Career
- Started at six, won at 13.
- Youngest European champ in 2016.
- World Cup of Pool quarter-finalist.
- Ranked sixth in the world.
- Contender for Mosconi Cup.
Wiktor Zieliński is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a forward for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. He began his career with Górnik Łęczna, before joining Vitesse Arnhem in 2017.
In 2018, he moved to PSV and made his senior debut later that year. Zieliński represented Poland at under-19 level before making his full international debut in November 2018.
He has also played for the under-21 side on several occasions and was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2017 Wiktor Zieliński is a Polish professional pool player who has won many tournaments around the world.
Wiktor was born in 1984 and started playing pool at an early age. He has competed in some of the biggest professional tournaments, including The World Pool Championships and European Snooker Championship where he has reached the final stages on multiple occasions.
Wiktor is currently ranked number one in Europe and number four in the world by online ranking site Pocket Billiards Rankings. In 2017, he won the Treviso Open tournament with a clear victory over top players from all over Europe.
34. Konrad Juszczyszyn
Career
- Started at 14, turned pro in 2010.
- European Nine-ball Champion 2014, 2016.
- Represented Poland in World Cup of Pool 2015, 2017, 2019.
- Competed in World Nine-ball Championship 2014, 2015, 2018.
- Currently ranked #1 in Poland, #17 in Europe.
Konrad Juszczyszyn is a Polish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Portuguese club Benfica. He made his professional debut with Piast Gliwice in the Ekstraklasa in 2011, and went on to play for several other clubs in Poland and Portugal before joining Benfica in 2018.
Juszczyszyn has represented Poland at youth level, but hasn't played senior international football yet. Fans of Benfica have hailed him as one of their most promising players, and he's been linked with moves to top European sides such as Barcelona and Manchester United.
Konrad Juszczyszyn was born on November 28th 1993, making him only 29 years old at the moment of this article publishing.
Konrad Juszczyszyn was born in Poland in 1974. He is a 9-Ball Pool player and has won several championships. Konrad started playing pool when he was just 7 years old and quickly became one of the best players in his country.
He has competed in many international tournaments, including the World Pool Championship and the European Pool Championships, and has been successful on both regional and national levels.
Konrad is married with two children and lives near Warsaw. He enjoys spending time with family, going fishing, reading books, listening to music, and playing video games. Konrad is a devout Christian who credits God for giving him the skills necessary to become one of the world's greatest pool players.
35. Mika Immonen
Career
- 2x World Pool Champion
- 2x US Open Champion
- 3x World Pool Masters Champion
- 2x World Cup of Pool Champion
- 2009 Player of the Year
Mika Immonen is a Finnish professional tennis player. She has been ranked in the top 10 for over ten years, and reached her career-high singles ranking of World No.
4 in December 2007. In doubles, she has won four Grand Slam titles with partner Jennie Danforth—the 1999 Australian Open, 2000 Wimbledon Championships.
2002 US Open Championship and 2006 French Open Championship—and two Olympic gold medals with Anna Kournikova at the 1996 Atlanta Games and 2004 Athens Olympics respectively.
After leaving Finland's Davis Cup team in early 2008 to focus on her singles career, Immonen made a successful return to the country's national team later that year as captain of its Fed Cup squad.
Which played Sweden in the semifinals before losing 2–1 after taking lead twice in regulation time; it was also Finland's first semifinal appearance since 1984 (Davis Cup).
Mika retired from professional tennis following her quarterfinal defeat at Wimbledon 2009 against Justine Henin-Hardenne but returned briefly to play pro tournaments on occasion thereafter until March 2011.
When she announced her retirement for good due to an irregular heartbeat caused by long term anxiety issues Though born near Helsinki – only 150 kilometers north of Tampere where many other current stars.
Were developing their game – not much was expected of then 16-year old Mika Immonen when deciding whether or not he would pursue his interest in Tennis or Golf during his formative years.
It wasn't until 1994 though that things started moving forward for him: He qualified into both men’s U18 European Championships & entered together with future world # 1 Pete Sampras playing doubles partnering Jukka Rantanen who went onto reach final defeating eventual champions Andrés Gómez / David Prinosil 6–7(6), 7–6(11).
The following year he teamed up once more this time competing separately representing Finland at Men’s U20 European Team Championships qualifying through Zonal competitions beating Germany en route including fellow Junior Sampras teammate Timo Teräväinen.
A semifinal encounter versus hosts Spain saw them progress courtesy of another tight victory 11th seed vs 8th seed but eventually lose 3 sets all resulting from a Spaniard winning each set consecutively.
Without allowing any points off court except one tiebreak point saved late by Teräväinen converting his second chance thanks againt Spanish opposite number Ser.
36. John Morra
Career
- Started at age 4, pro at 18
- Won Canadian 9-ball twice
- Reached World Pool Masters final
- Took break to play snooker
- Currently ranked 15th in world
John Morra is a 33-year-old American professional soccer player who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. Morra began his career with USL club Rochester Rhinos and made his MLS debut in 2009 with D.C.
United before being traded to the New York Red Bulls midway through the 2010 season. He has since played over 150 games for NYRB, winning two Supporters' Shields (2011, 2012) and one Eastern Conference Championship (2013).
In January of 2014, he was named to the United States Men's National Team roster for their upcoming World Cup qualification matches against Saint Vincent and The Grenadines and Guatemala, but did not feature in any of those games due to an injury sustained weeks earlier against Jamaica which ruled him out for six months.
After making a full return to action late in 2015, John helped lead NYRB to another Eastern Conference Championship title as well as their first ever appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs where they were ultimately defeated by Toronto FC on penalty kicks following a 0-0 draw at BMO Field.
37. Sanjin Pehlivanović
Career
- Started playing pool at 6
- Youngest European champion at 15
- World Junior Champion in 2018
- World Cup of Pool winner
- Currently ranked 12th worldwide
Sanjin is a young Serbian footballer who has been playing for FK Rad in the Serbian First League. He started his career with FK Borac Čačak and made his debut in the 2017-18 season.
Sanjin was also part of Serbia's U17 team that participated at the European Championship where they reached the semi-finals before losing to Spain. He became a first team regular during the 2018-19 season, making 20 appearances and scoring one goal as Rad finished sixth in their group stage campaign.
In May 2019, it was announced that Pehlivanovic had signed for Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade on an undisclosed contract until 2022 with an option for another year.
At 19 years old, Sanjin is already one of Serbia's most promising young players and he will be looking to continue this progress next season with Roda JC Kerkrade.
38. Marc Bijsterbosch
Career
- European Youth Champion in 2012 and 2013
- World Cup of Pool quarter-finalist in 2014 and 2015
- European Champion in 2017
- Ranked 17th in the world in 2018
- Mosconi Cup wildcard in 2019
Marc Bijsterbosch was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands on 31 December 1993. He started his musical career as a drummer at the young age of six and continued to play throughout high school.
In 2014, he released his first album which featured collaborations with artists such as Robin Schulz and The Vamps. Marc is currently working on his second album which will be released later this year.
He has also performed alongside some of the biggest names in music including Justin Bieber, Fifth Harmony, Selena Gomez and Maren Morris among others. Marc Bijsterbosch is a Dutch 9-Ball player who has won major tournaments across Europe.
He first came to prominence in 2017 when he became the European Champion. Marc is known for his solid play and sharp shooting, which has helped him achieve success on the international stage.
39. Skyler Woodward
Career
- Pro since 2012
- Reached World Cup final
- Two-time Mosconi Cup winner
- 2019 Derby City Classic champion
- Charismatic style and walk-on music.
Skyler Woodward is a 29-year-old American actress and singer. Skyler was born in San Diego, California on May 7th 1993. She started her career as a child actor appearing in several television shows and films throughout the 2000s before breaking out as part of the cast of Fox's hit show Glee from 2009 to 2013.
Since then, she has appeared in several feature films including The Fault in Our Stars (2014), Pride & Prejudice and Zombies (2016) and Split (2017).
In addition to her acting work, Skyler is also known for her singing talents; she has released two albums - debut album Awake: A Collection of Songs About Life (2015) and follow up Higher Truth: A Collection of Love Songs (2018).
Skyler married music producer Walker Lee on October 12th 2018 Skyler Woodward is a professional pool player who has competed internationally. Skyler was born in Paducah, Kentucky and began playing pool at the age of six.
Skyler currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky where he continues to compete professionally and teach students how to play pool. Skyler has won numerous tournaments both nationally and internationally over the course of his career including two Amateur World Championships titles.
In addition to being an accomplished competitor, Skyler is also a highly sought-after instructor with expertise in teaching beginners all the way up to professionals. He has been featured on various television programs such as "The Billiard Show" and "Pool Nation".
Skylar's philosophy revolves around promoting education within the sport of pool making it available for everyone regardless of skill level or ability to pay for lessons.
40. Wu Jia-qing
Wu Jia-qing is a professional pool player from Taiwan. She became well-known in 2007 when she won the World Pool Trickshot Masters tournament. Wu has also competed at several world championships and other top tournaments.
In 2013, Wu was accused of match fixing by an opponent but the charges were later dropped. Wu currently plays on the Professional Women's Tour with partner Huang Chien-jen.
Wu Jia-qing is a world champion 9-Ball player. Wu Jia-qing was born in China in 1975.
Wu Jia-qing won the 2005 World Championship and the 8 Ball championship in 2005. Wu Jia-quing also has many other accolades, such as 2 Asian Games gold medals (1998, 2002), 3 Asian Team Championships titles (1995, 1997, 2001) and 10 Chinese National Billiards Championships titles including 7 Singles titles (1994, 1998 - 2003).
Wu Jia qing retired from professional play at the end of 2007 but continues to coach and manage players both domestically and internationally.
41. Corey Deuel
Career
- US Open Champion in 2001
- Four-time Mosconi Cup player
- World Pool Masters winner in 2003
- Three-time Master of the Table
- Inducted into BCA Hall of Fame
Corey Deuel is a professional golfer who has competed on the PGA tour for over 15 years. He has won several tournaments, including the 2003 Big Apple Championship and the 2007 FedEx St Jude Classic.
Corey Deuel was born in 1977 in Ocala, Florida and currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Corey Deuel is a retired American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. Corey Deuel was born in Santa Barbara, California and started playing golf at an early age.
He had a successful career on the PGA Tour, winning nine tournaments including two major championships – the 2008 United States Open and 2011 Masters Tournament. After retiring from competitive golfing, Corey Deuel went into business with his father and currently runs their sports marketing company .
In 2012 he was named one of Golf Magazine's 50 Most Powerful People in Golf for his contributions to the sport both on and off the course.
42. Jeanette Lee
Jeanette Lee is a retired American professional wrestler who performed under the name Black Widow. She was one of the most accomplished female wrestlers in history, having won dozens of championships throughout her career.
Jeanette is best known for her time with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where she became one of the company's biggest stars and main contenders for its world title.
After WCW folded in 2001, Black Widow went on to compete in numerous other promotions across North America before retiring from wrestling altogether in 2009.
Jeanette has since made occasional appearances at live events and worked as a trainer and commentator for various organizations around the world, including WWE Raw and NXT UK TV series'.
Jeanette Lee is a nine-ball player who represented the United States at the 2001 World Games. She achieved a silver medal in her individual event and helped Team USA to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
Jeanette has won several awards, including Women’s Professional Nine-Ball Association (WPNA) Player of the Year and American Poolplayers Association Female Athlete of the Year Award, both in 2002.
In 2006 she was inducted into WPNA Hall of Fame and became only the second woman ever to be honored with an MVP plaque from The SportCafe 9 Ball Tour (former name for world9balls tour).
43. Buddy Hall
Buddy Hall is a retired American tennis player who had a successful career in the 1970s and 1980s. He reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1978 and the semifinals of US Open in 1983.
In 1984, he won his only doubles title at French Open with John McEnroe.
After retiring from professional tennis, Hall became an ABC commentator for Grand Slam tournaments until 2006 when he was diagnosed with leukemia and withdrew from work to focus on his treatment Buddy Hall is one of the most decorated athletes in American history.
He has won 100 tournaments, including 11 major championships. Buddy was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas and started playing golf at a young age.
In 1970, he became professional golfer and quickly made a name for himself on the Tour with his powerful drives and accurate shots. He won numerous tournaments during his career, but it was his performance at The Masters that cemented his place as one of the greatest ever players in American history.
After retiring from competition, Buddy continued to support various charities throughout America while also working as a television commentator for events like The Open Championship and PGA Championship.
44. Tyler Styer
Career
- Started at 14, pro at 22
- US Open Nine-ball Champion
- 4-time Mosconi Cup winner
- World Pool Masters Champion
- Multiple other championship wins
Tyler Styer was born on January 1, 1995 in Irvine, California. Tyler is a professional skateboarder who has competed in numerous competitions around the world.
He is most well known for his impressive feats during the 2017 X Games where he won silver medal in street skateboarding and bronze medal in vert skating. In 2018, Tyler made history by becoming the first person to ever land a backside 900 at an X Games competition.
Tyler currently resides in Huntington Beach, California with his wife Katelyn and their two children Ace and Piper.
Tyler Styer is a pitcher for the Vernon WI FireAnts in the Wisconsin State League. He has been one of the team's most consistent performers, posting a record of 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA this season.
Tyler was born and raised in Vernon, WI and played baseball at home as a youngster before moving on to other sports during his high school years.
After graduating from high school he returned to baseball full-time and has not looked back since then.
His hard work paid off this year when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in June but decided to stay with Vernon instead because he felt like it would be better for his development as an athlete and person.
Tyler is dedicated to his craft both on and off the field, constantly improving himself both physically and mentally so that he can become an even better player next season and beyond.
In addition to playing baseball, Tyler also enjoys swimming, biking, running, skiing (both downhill and cross country), weightlifting, rugby union/7s football/soccer (his favorite sport.), Ultimate Frisbee & more.
45. Mateusz Śniegocki
Mateusz Śniegocki was born in 1985 in Poznan, Poland. He is a professional Polish basketball player who played for the Unicaja Málaga team from Spain during the 2011-2012 season and also spent time with BCM Ural Great Perm (Russia) between 2012-2013.
CB Granada of the Liga ACB where he has averaged 14 points per game over his last three seasons with them.
In addition to playing basketball, Mateusz is also a strong swimmer and cyclist who represented Poland at international competitions such as the European Championships in 2007 and 2013, both times reaching the quarterfinals stage.
In 2016, Mateusz married fellow Polish basketball player Ewelina Szymańska; they have one child together - a daughter named Kamila Milena Śniegocka born on 3 March 2017.
46. John Schmidt
Career
- Started at 18, pro '96.
- 2006 US Open Champion.
- Played Mosconi Cup events.
- 626-ball straight pool record.
- "Mr. 400" nickname.
Schmidt has been a top player in the world for many years, and he is known as one of the most consistent players on tour. He has won numerous tournaments throughout his career, including multiple major championships.
Schmidt was once nicknamed "The Machine" by commentators because of his incredible ability to shoot balls consistently well.
In 2004, Schmidt became one of only two men ever to win three US Open 9-Ball Championship titles (the other being Willie Mosconi).
Schmidt currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia where he teaches ballroom dance and works as a personal coach for some of the world's top athletes Schmidt is a former professional pool player who has accumulated over 600 career victories. Schmidt won the 2006 US Open 9-ball Championship, his most notable victory to date.
Schmidt also played on the winning team at the 2004 World Nine-Ball Championships and was a member of Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where they reached the semifinals.
John Schmidt is one of only six players in history to win both an amateur and professional world championship title in nine-ball pool - another accolade he claimed in 2010 when he became champion of Europe's Professional Pool League (PPL).
Outside of playing pool, Schmidt enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children, as well as travelling extensively throughout North America and Europe for tournaments or exhibitions.
47. Lee Vann Corteza
Career
- Filipino pro, nine-ball specialist.
- Won 2013 World Cup of Pool.
- 2013 US Open One Pocket.
- 2014 Derby City Classic One Pocket.
- 2018 World Pool Masters.
- 2019 WPA Players Championship.
Lee Vann Corteza is a nine-ball pool player from the Philippines. He first came to prominence as a result of his performance at the 2013 China Open, where he won the 9-Ball Championship.
Cortez has since gone on to win several other tournaments around the world, including major championships such as the 2013 U.S. Open Ten-Ball Championship and 2015 World Pool Championships in Shanghai, China.
Lee Vann Cortez is currently ranked number one in the world by billiard publication CueSports Magazine and was named Male Player of The Year for 2016 by Streetball Worldwide magazine.. Lee Vann Corteza is a Filipino professional nine-ball player who has competed in the Southeast Asian Games since 1999.
He was born on October 10, 1971 in Manila and started playing pool at age 12. Lee Vann Corteza won the World Pool Championships 2004 with teammates Tony Meo and Peter Lopez.
In 2007 he became the first Filipino to win an international title when he took home the Nakhon Ratchasima Open 9-Ball Championship doubles title with compatriot Rey Salvador.
Lee Vann Corteza finished as runner-up at both the 2008 WPA Billiards Championship and 2010 APA/BSA World Nine-ball Championship, losing to eventual champions Steve Davis of England and Terry Griffiths respectively.
48. Yukio Akakariyama
Yukio Akakariyama is a Japanese athlete who competes in the shot put. He has won medals at both the Asian and Olympic Games, most notably gold in 2004. He retired from competition after winning his fourth consecutive title at the Japan Athletics Championships in 2013.
In 2015 he was appointed as an advisor to track and field federation president Tatsumi Takano, helping develop new policies for athletics development in Japan Yukio Akakariyama is a nine-ball world champion. He has been playing the game for over 20 years and is considered one of the best players in the world.
Yukio Akakariyama was born on October 2, 1978, in Japan and began playing pool at an early age. In 2001, he became the first Japanese player to win a professional 9-Ball event when he won the World Championship title.
Recently, Yukio Akakariyama has focused more on competing in international events rather than domestic tournaments due to his busy schedule as a professional athlete and father of two young children.
49. Chang Yu-Lung
Chang Yu-Lung is a Taiwanese taekwondo athlete who has won numerous world titles. Chang also competed in weightlifting and was the 2004 Asian Games gold medalist in that event.
In 2007, he became Chinese Taipei's first ever Olympic flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. He currently holds 7 World Taekwondo Championships medals (5 golds, 2 silvers), as well as 3 Asian Games medals (1 gold, 2 silvers).
Chang is known for his explosive power and fast kicks which have helped him win many championships both domestically and internationally Chang Yu-Lung is a professional 9-Ball player who has won championships in both China and abroad.
Chang was part of the Chinese team that won the 2015 World Cup of Pool, becoming the first Asian country to do so.
Chang also boasts numerous other accolades, including four gold medals at major international tournaments.
50. Karol Skowerski
Karol Skowerski is an American actor, best known for his roles in the films "The Usual Suspects" and "Con Air". He was born on October 9, 1959 in New York City.
Karol started his acting career at the age of nine, appearing in a number of small TV appearances before landing his first major role as Michael McKean's son in the crime film The Usual Suspects.
After playing supporting roles in several other films throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Skowerski starred opposite Denzel Washington and Robert De Niro in Con Air - becoming one of only two actors to receive an Oscar nomination for both lead and supporting performance (the other being John Travolta).
Since then, he has appeared mainly on television but made a return to feature-length filmmaking with 2005's A Home at the End of the World.
51. Wojciech Szewczyk
Career
- Won PRP Nineball Open in 2023.
- Won World 10-Ball Championship in 2022.
- Won EEBC Men 9-Ball Championship in 2022.
- Won junior European 9-Ball Championship in 2011.
- Won junior European 8-Ball Championship in 2010.
Wojciech Szewczyk was born on 1 September 1994 in Poland. He is a professional tennis player who has competed internationally since the age of 17. In 2017, he reached his first career ATP World Tour final, where he lost to Roger Federer in Paris.
Szewczik also boasts two ATP Challenger titles and four ITF Futures titles to his name, as well as ranking world No 118 at the end of 2016. Outside of tennis, Wojciech is an avid supporter of the Warsaw Eagles football club and graduated from university with a degree in sports science & coaching.
Wojciech Szewczyk is a world champion ten-ball player. He has won many tournaments, including the World Ten-Ball Championship in 2022. Szewczyk is known for his fast play and aggressive style of pool shooting.
Final Words
. . There are many great 9 Ball Pool players out there, but who are the best of all time? This is a difficult question to answer as there are so many excellent pool players around.
However, if we look at the overall records of these top performers, then it’s clear that some individuals have truly mastered this challenging game.
