Famous Billiard Players

Michael Phelan is considered by many as the “Father of American Billiards” as a player, inventor, manufacturer, and tireless popularize of billiards. He won the first billiard stakes match in 1859. He holds many patents for billiard table designs, and cushions. He is credited to be the first to put diamonds on the table. He authored the book Billiards Without a Master, the first American book on billiards, and set the trend for lavish billiard rooms through his New York room on Broadway.

 

Eddie Taylor is a two-time world all-around tournament champion. He defeated Hall-of-Famer Luther Lassiter in all-around finals in Johnston City, in 1964. He also defeated Danny Jones, and Mike Eufemia at the 1967 Stardust Open finals in Las Vegas. He lost to Lassiter in the 1967 Johnston City all-around finals, and finished 7^th in the 1967 World 14.1 championship in New York. Eddie Taylor being born in Knoxville, Tennessee was known as the “Knoxville Bear” He was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. He is an active promoter of billiards in Boys Clubs of America, and is regarded as one of the greatest one-pocket and bank pool players of all time.

 

Ray Martin: Born in 1936, his world titles in straight pool in 1971, 1974, and 1978 make Ray Martin one of only seven players in this century to win three or more world 14.1 titles. He has as many nine-ball tournament wins to his credit as well, including the 1980 Caesars Tahoe Invitational, the 1981 ESPN King of the Hill, and the 1983 Music City Open. While concentrating today more on teaching than playing, Martin is still a threat in straight pool tournaments, finishing 4^th and 5^th in the 1992 and 1993 BCA U.S. Opens. In collaboration with Rosser Reeves , Martin wrote a book called The 99 Critical Shots in Pool.

Tournaments

        These are just 5 of the most popular billiards tournaments in the World.

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