Pool has a long history filled with players who changed the game. Over many decades, certain players stood out by winning world championships, setting new records, creating new playing styles, or becoming well-known figures far beyond local pool halls.

The majority started at a young age, though a few who entered the game later, and several helped open the sport to more people.

Here’s a rundown of the game’s best, covering their achievements, influence, and place in the sport.

19. Mike Massey

Mike Massey, aka “Tennessee Tarzan,” was born on April 9, 1947, in Loudon, Tennessee. He became known for his work in straight pool and nine-ball, as well as his widely recognized trick-shot skills. Massey was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2005.

His strongest competitive year listed is 1996, when he won the Hall of Fame April Championship, the Dutch April Championship, and competed as part of the USA Mosconi Cup team, which won that year. Massey’s reputation also comes from his large following of fans who admire both his shot-making and showmanship.

18. Cisero Murphy

Cisero Murphy was born in 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, into a large family. He began playing professionally at 15. He won the New York City Pool Championship, followed by the Eastern States Championship in the 1960s.

Murphy faced racial barriers at many major tournaments. The NAACP protested these restrictions and picketed events where he was barred. The protests were successful, and that allowed Murphy to gain entry into the 1965 World 14.1 Tournament in Burbank, California. He won the event, becoming the first African American to win a U.S. national billiard title or world national billiard title, and the first person ever to win a world championship at their first event. His win led to the removal of race-based barriers in national tournaments.

17. Irving Crane

Irving Crane, known as “The Deacon,” was born in 1913 and died in 2011. He specialized in straight pool and built a career on careful, measured play. Crane won six World Straight Pool Championship titles, which established his standing in classic pocket billiards.

He entered the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1978, recognizing his long and disciplined career across several decades.

16. Harold Worst

Harold Worst played many cue sports, including straight pool, one-pocket, snooker, nine-ball, and three-cushion. His career accelerated early: at age 25, he became the World Three-Cushion Champion, and he held the title for the rest of his life.

Worst did not focus seriously on pocket billiards until his 30s, but he still won two American All-Round Pocket Billiards Tournaments, an English Snooker Tournament, and another World Three-Cushion Championship before passing away in 1965.

Worst also opened pool rooms in the early 1960s and introduced cues made by local furniture makers. These cues had colored handles that indicated the cue’s weight, and they remain collectible items.

15. Nick Varner

Nick Varner was born on May 15, 1948, in Owensboro, Kentucky. He won two ACU Collegiate Championships and later built a multifaceted career as a professional player, pool-room owner, exhibition player, author, equipment representative, and video personality.

Varner earned Player of the Year honors in 1980 and again in 1989. In 1988, he earned over $100,000 in a series of sixteen nine-ball events. He entered the Billiard American Congress Hall of Fame in 1992.

14. Steve Mizerak

Steve Mizerak, often called “The Miz,” was born on October 12, 1944. His father owned a pool hall, and he started playing at age four, standing on milk crates to reach the table. He turned professional at just 13.

Mizerak graduated from Athens College in Alabama in 1968 and spent more than a decade teaching history in New Jersey, since pool still didn’t pay enough to support a full-time career. The game remained central in his life, though — even Willie Mosconi showed up at his college graduation, which just goes to show how much respect Mizerak had already earned inside the sport.

He competed in snooker, straight pool, and nine-ball throughout his career and was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 1980.

13. Johnny Archer

Johnny Archer was born on November 12, 1968, in Acworth, Georgia. His career includes wins at the 1999 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, the enjoyable.com Open, and four Turning Stone Classic titles. He also co-owns a pool room in Marietta, Georgia, with fellow pro Kim Davenport.

Archer is best known for his run of 16 straight selections to the American Mosconi Cup team — the longest streak in the event’s history. He was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2009.

12. Mike Sigel

Mike Sigel was born in July 1952 and became one of the top competitors in straight pool and nine-ball. At age 35, he entered the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, making him the youngest inductee at the time.

Sigel won three U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, five World Pocket Billiards Championships, and 102 major pool tournaments. He was named Player of the Year three times by Pool and Billiards Magazine and Billiards Digest.

11. Luther Lassiter

Luther “Wimpy” Lassiter was born on November 5, 1918, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He earned his nickname because he frequently ate orange sodas and hot dogs, similar to the Popeye character Wimpy.

Lassiter won the Jansco Brothers All-Around Titles, four 9-ball titles, one one-pocket title, and five straight pool titles between 1962 and 1972. In 1967, he won both the All-Around Title and the Congress of America’s U.S. Open.

He entered the BCA Hall of Fame in 1983 and died on October 25, 1988.

10. Francisco Bustamante

Francisco Bustamante was born on December 29, 1963, in the Philippines. He earned the nickname “Django,” inspired by the 1966 film character, and was often called “Bustie” during his years competing in the United States.

Bustamante collected more than 70 major international titles across his career and twice represented the Philippines alongside Efren Reyes at the World Cup of Pool, in 2006 and again in 2009. He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2010.

9. Jeanette Lee

Jeanette Lee was born Lee Jin-Hee on July 9, 1971, in Brooklyn, New York. She became known as “The Black Widow”, a name she chose because she dressed in black and said she liked “eating people alive” during matches.

Lee won over 27 national and world titles, the WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship in 1994, and the Tournament of Champions twice. She earned the WPBA Sportsperson of the Year Award in 1998. She also played high-level matches against men, including top players such as Efren Reyes.

Lee joined the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2013.

8. Earl Strickland

Earl Strickland was born on June 8, 1961. He picked up a cue when he was eight and was already playing in pro events by sixteen. His first big breakthrough came in 1983, when he beat Steve Mizerak to win the Caesars Tahoe Billiard Classic.

Over the years, Strickland built one of the strongest résumés in the game. He won the PCA $1,000,000 Challenge in 1996 — the biggest payout the sport had seen — along with three WPA World 9-Ball titles, two U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, the World 8-Ball title, the World Pool Masters, and the World All Stars Invitational Team Cup. Altogether, he’s collected more than 100 tournament wins.

He was also on the table for one of the sport’s most replayed moments: the June 11, 1995, match where Efren Reyes pulled off a two-rail kick at 12–12. Strickland was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2006.

7. Rudolf Wanderone (Minnesota Fats)

Rudolf Walter Wanderone was born in 1913 and became widely known as “Minnesota Fats” and “New York Fats.” Although he never won a major event under the “Fats” name, he became the most recognizable billiards figure in the United States.

His nickname came from Jackie Gleason’s character in the 1961 film The Hustler. The association led to book deals and many television appearances, including several matches with Willie Mosconi. He entered the United States Billiards Hall of Fame in 1984 and died in 1996.

6. Shane Van Boening

Shane Van Boening was born on July 14, 1983, in Rapid City, South Dakota. He grew up with a hearing impairment, but in a family where pool was everywhere, he quickly became a wiz at the game. His steady, disciplined approach has been part of his identity from the start.

Across two decades on tour, Van Boening has put up numbers few modern players can match. His major wins include the 2022 WPA World Nine-Ball Championship, the 2023 WPA World Eight-Ball Championship, two World Pool Masters titles, five U.S. Open Nine-Ball crowns, the 2024 U.S. Open Ten-Ball, and the 2024 Premier League Pool. He has more than 100 professional titles to his name.

On March 26, 2024, he added another Premier League Pool victory, earning $20,000.

5. Willie Mosconi

Willie Mosconi was born on June 27, 1913, in Philadelphia. Known as “Mr. Pocket Billiards,” he became one of the central figures in bringing the game to a national audience and spent part of his career working on improvements to cues and billiard balls.

He won 15 world titles, including the World Straight Pool Championship, the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship, and the World 14.1 Continuous Championship. He won the National Straight Pool Invitational in 1958.

Mosconi set the straight-pool world record with 526 consecutive balls. One record lists him as winning 15 championships between 1941 and 1957. He entered the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1968, and another source names him among the first three inductees in 1996. He passed away on September 17, 1993.

4. Dave Pearson

Dave Pearson, known as the “Ginger Wizard,” has spent more than 30 years in professional pool. His best-known achievement is pocketing 16,499 balls in 24 hours.

Pearson said, “The secret thing about the pool is not to move your head.” Bernie Endres, General Manager of Massé, said, “No one was able to beat him, no one came close. I don’t think people realized how hard it is until they tried.”

Pearson performed in 33 countries, earned four Guinness World Records, and created the Pearson Cues brand, which is sold in over 120 countries. Another record states he holds 20 Guinness World Records, making him one of the top pool entertainers worldwide.

3. Allison Fisher

Allison Fisher was born on February 24, 1968, in Cheshunt, England, though another record lists Peachaven, Sussex. She began playing snooker at age seven and won her first world title at 17. She later moved to the United States because she felt that female players in the UK did not receive equal recognition.

Known as the “Duchess of Doom,” she won 12 world titles, three World 9-Ball Championships, 53 WPBA titles in 2009, and over 80 national titles. She was ranked No. 1 in the WPBA from September 1996 to June 2001, and again every year from 2002 to 2007.

Another record credits her with 50 WPBA titles, including four world championships, and multiple “Player of the Year” awards in 2007. Fisher entered the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame on June 8, 2009.

2. Ralph Greenleaf

Ralph Greenleaf was born in 1899 and learned the game in his father’s billiards hall in Monmouth. Nicknamed the “Bank Shot Wizard,” he built his reputation on long, controlled matches and the ability to make tough bank shots look routine.

Greenleaf dominated the World Pocket Billiards Championship from 1919 to 1924 and then again through a long run of titles between 1927 and 1940. Historical records credit him with 20 world pocket-billiards crowns, along with a National Billiards Championship and a World Balkline 18.2 title.

Given his sheer amount of success, he had a major impact beyond the sport; The New York Times once placed him in the same company as Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, and Bill Tilden. Greenleaf was among the first three inductees into the American Billiards Hall of Fame in 1966. He died in 1950.

1. Efren “Bata” Reyes

Efren “Bata” Reyes was born in the Philippines and learned the game early, often taking on adults while he was still a boy. People around the pool halls began calling him “Bata,” meaning “child,” both because of how young he was at the table and to tell him apart from an older Efren Reyes, who played in the same circles. “The Magician” came later, once his shot-making and creativity drew international attention.

Reyes has won more than 100 professional events and over 80 international titles. He is the first player to win world championships in two different disciplines, earning four WPA World 9-Ball titles and a World 8-Ball Championship. His résumé also includes three U.S. Open Championships, two World Championships, and thirteen Derby City Classic victories.

His 1996 Color of Money win over Earl Strickland earned him $100,000, the biggest prize in pool at the time. He beat Strickland again in their 2001 rematch. Reyes also won four Sands Regency 9-Ball Opens and competed across straight pool, nine-ball, three-cushion, one-cushion, and balkline.

He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2003 and continues to appear in exhibitions and tournaments today.

Bonus: For another look at all-time talent in a different sport, here’s our breakdown of the 20 Best Soccer Players in History.

The Brooklyn Nets received welcome clarity on Day’Ron Sharpe’s status after he left Sunday’s loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden with left hamstring tightness. Following evaluation, the injury was determined to be a left glute contusion, easing concerns given his earlier history of missing 21 straight games last season with a left hamstring strain. Sharpe sat out Tuesday’s 119–109 loss to the Raptors, and the team now lists him as day-to-day.

Head coach Jordi Fernández summarized the update, “No hamstring, right? So, it’s a glute contusion and he’s day-to-day. We’re not concerned.”

Sharpe’s Absence Influences Nets’ Rotation

Sharpe’s injury arrived as the Nets were already dealing with the long-term loss of Cam Thomas, creating immediate rotation pressure behind Nic Claxton. Before being sidelined, Sharpe had produced 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting, six rebounds, one block, and one steal in just over 12 minutes at MSG. Through his 10 games this season, he is averaging 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, shooting 64.9% overall and 33.3% from deep. The 24-year-old, who signed a two-year, $12.5 million extension, also missed 10 games at the end of last season with a right knee sprain.

Sharpe’s availability directly influenced the betting market for Brooklyn’s upcoming games. Sportsbooks posted the Nets as significant underdogs in their next matchup, reflecting both their injuries and overall performance. Across major books, Brooklyn was priced around +570 to +599 on the moneyline, with opponents favored by 14.5 points and totals positioned between 226.5 and 227.5. Those numbers aligned with the Nets’ 1–10 record and their 3–7–1 performance against the spread, including 0–2 ATS as underdogs of 14.5 points or more.

Sharpe’s status also affected player prop availability. Sportsbooks were slower to post lines for him while awaiting confirmation on the glute contusion. His props are typically modest and tied to role and minutes, and several operators temporarily withheld them as injury designations shifted. Once listed on a day-to-day basis, books began restoring his rebounds and points props.

In futures markets, oddsmakers continued to view the Nets as long shots. Their championship odds ranged from 300-1 to 1000-1, and their win total held at 19.5, with both sides priced evenly. Rookie futures reflected similar projections, with Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore listed at long-shot award prices.

Wolf Recalled, Clowney Takes Expanded Role

With Sharpe unavailable, the Nets turned to their younger frontcourt options. Brooklyn recalled Danny Wolf, the 27th overall pick, after he delivered 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting, 13 rebounds, and two assists for Long Island in a loss to the Capital City Go-Go. The team also recalled Ben Saraf, while Nolan Traore remained with Long Island.

Despite Wolf’s strong G League outing, Fernández opted to give extended minutes to Noah Clowney, who played 34:42 and finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Wolf appeared for 2:10, scoring two points and finishing 0-of-8 overall and 0-for-7 from deep.

Fernández explained the decision, “Noah’s got, right now, the experience. The opportunities will come for everybody. I just went with Noah because I’ve seen him multiple times.”

The coaching staff also addressed Williams’ recent decline in shooting and defensive impact. Over his last four games, he averaged six points on 7-of-30 shooting and 5-of-24 from three, with a noted defensive drop-off. Fernández challenged him to reestablish his defensive presence, “If he impacts the game defensively the same way he did last year… the shots are going to go in. But it cannot affect your defense.”

Fernández Pushes for Defensive Standards

Brooklyn’s defensive issues remained central to Fernández’s message. The Nets have allowed more points in the paint than any team in the league, and he stressed the need for consistent ball pressure and rim protection: “There’s no negotiables here… if you don’t want to do that, you probably are not going to be able to play for the Nets.”

He praised Nic Claxton’s playmaking, calling it “elite”, but pointed out that Claxton grabbed only four defensive rebounds against Toronto. Claxton agreed, “I got to be better for sure… I’m only averaging around like seven or eight rebounds, and we’ve been struggling as a team in that area.”

Nets Honor Michael Ray Richardson

Before Tuesday’s game, the Nets held a moment of silence for former All-Star Michael Ray Richardson, who died Tuesday at age 70. The night also featured Biggie Night, celebrating The Notorious B.I.G., with bobblehead giveaways, a life-sized statue that plays music, and a halftime performance by Lil’ Kim.

In league news tied to Brooklyn, former Nets executive Matt Riccardi was named co-interim GM of the Dallas Mavericks, alongside Michael Finley.

Federal prosecutors have charged Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, with accepting bribes from sports bettors to throw certain pitches in exchange for payouts. The indictment, unsealed Sunday in Brooklyn federal court, states the players took several thousand dollars to help two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win more than $460,000 in in-game proposition bets.

According to prosecutors, the pitchers deliberately altered the speed or placement of pitches, at times throwing balls in the dirt instead of strikes, to ensure those bets succeeded. The bets focused on pitch-specific outcomes, such as velocity or result. MLB began investigating the players in July 2025 after detecting “unusually high in-game betting activity” during their appearances in April, May, and June.

Inside the Alleged Pitch-Rigging Scheme

Investigators say Clase began providing betting information in 2023, later agreeing to take payment in 2025 for intentionally manipulating certain pitches. The indictment provides several specific examples of rigged pitches.

In April 2025, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox and spoke with him by phone before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would throw a pitch below 97.95 mph (157.63 kph).

In another incident in May 2025, Clase allegedly agreed to throw a ball during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the batter swung, resulting in a strike and costing the bettors $4,000. Afterward, Clase reportedly texted one of the bettors two images: one of a man hanging himself with toilet paper and another of a sad puppy face.

The indictment lists several manipulated pitches by Clase:

• A 98.5 mph cutter low and inside to Starling Marte of the New York Mets on May 19, 2023.
• An 89.4 mph slider that bounced before reaching Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins on June 3, 2023.
• An 89.4 mph slider to Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals on April 12, 2025, that bounced before the plate.
• A 99.1 mph cutter in the dirt to Max Kepler of the Philadelphia Phillies on May 11, 2025.
• A bounced 89.1 mph slider to Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers on May 13, 2025.
• A bounced 87.5 mph slider to Santiago Espinal of the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2025.

Prosecutors allege Luis Ortiz joined the scheme in June 2025, taking part in two games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. On June 15, Ortiz allegedly threw a first-pitch 86.7 mph (139.5 kph) slider that bounced before reaching Randy Arozarena of Seattle. On June 27, he allegedly bounced another 86.7 mph slider to Pedro Pagés of St. Louis that hit the backstop.

The indictment claims Ortiz and Clase accepted cash bribes for these actions. Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, earned $4.5 million in 2025 under a five-year, $20 million contract. Ortiz’s salary for the same season was $782,600.

Federal Arrests, Charges, and Defense Statements

Luis Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Boston Logan International Airport and appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday, November 10, 2025. He is expected to appear later in the Eastern District of New York. Emmanuel Clase remained out of custody as of Sunday, November 9, 2025, according to officials.

Both players are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Each of the first three counts carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the last carries up to five years.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said, “Ortiz and Clase betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty, and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”

Both players deny the charges. Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, stated, “Luis has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.” He said Ortiz’s defense team had shown prosecutors that money transfers between him and people in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities. Georgalis added, “There is no credible evidence that Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court.”

Clase’s attorney, Michael J. Ferrara, issued a statement saying, “Emmanuel has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win. Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

The Cleveland Guardians said they were “aware of the recent law enforcement action” and would continue cooperating with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball. MLB said it contacted federal authorities as soon as the investigation began and has “fully cooperated throughout the process.”

MLB and Sportsbook Partners Tighten Betting Rules

Following the indictments, Major League Baseball and its official sportsbook partners implemented new betting limits. Wagers on pitch-specific prop bets, such as those tied to the speed or result of individual pitches, will now be capped at $200 and excluded from parlay bets.

MLB said the measures were designed to mitigate integrity risks. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine supported the decision, stating, “By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes. I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.”

MLB confirmed that its internal investigation is still ongoing.

Wider Crackdown on Sports Betting in U.S. Leagues

In October 2025, authorities charged more than 30 people — including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones — in a separate gambling sweep involving NBA games.

Earlier, in June 2024, MLB issued a lifetime ban to San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano after determining he had placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 using a legal sportsbook.

These cases have emerged amid a rapid expansion of legalized sports betting following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal ban and allowed states to legalize wagering. Since then, betting revenue in the United States has grown dramatically. The American Gaming Association reported $13.71 billion in national sports betting revenue in 2024.

Professional sports leagues, including MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL, have since signed deals with official betting partners, linking team promotions and broadcasts to sportsbook activity. However, the growing connection between sports and gambling has also raised new integrity concerns across leagues.

MLB’s Historic Rule on Gambling

Major League Baseball’s gambling rule has remained unchanged for decades and is displayed in every clubhouse in multiple languages. It reads, “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

The rule has served as baseball’s firm stance against betting corruption since the early 20th century. The indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz now place that policy, and MLB’s system of monitoring betting integrity, under renewed scrutiny.