Pool can be one of the most thrilling sports out there. We often see interesting comebacks and a fascinating matchup of players in tournament play. Pool is played in World Cup tournaments as well as traditional matchups between individuals and in games such as the Mosconi Cup.
Things can happen very quickly in pool and if a team or individual hits a bit of form, there can be some fascinating games that change on a dime. When it comes to betting online, there are always people looking to predict the outcome of the big matches.
Of course, everybody has their own favorites but in this guide, we’re exploring some of the most exciting matches throughout the history of American Pool.
1995 Sands Regency Reno Open XXI Reyes vs Strickland
Could any list like this, not include the most famous shot in billiards history? At hill-hill, it looked like Reyes had lost the match when he accidentally made a ball, while playing a lock up safety. It was “do or die” for Reyes when he came with “The Z Shot”, a two rail kick shot at pocket speed that made the 5-ball and left him with shape on the 6-ball. From there, Reyes ran out for the title.
As was pointed out by Jim Rempe, who was commentating the match, even Earl Strickland was applauding the shot from Reyes.
Fans have debated for years whether Efren was trying to make the 5-ball or just get a legal hit on it. You can see the shot here on YouTube and make up your own mind. To this day, Efren isn’t saying what he was trying to do with the shot.
1996 Color of Money Reyes vs Strickland
This was an amazing matchup between Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland. The two met on numerous occasions but this has become known as the Color of Money and many people remember the thrilling event.
There was also a Color of Money 2 five years later, but this single match had an amazing race to 120 racks format, which was designed to help establish once and for all who was the greatest between these two rivals.
The game lasted for an incredible three days and was unbelievably close when you consider the fact they were racing to 120. It finished 120 to 117, with Reyes winning. The winner-takes-all approach to the prize money saw Reyes win $100,000 while Strickland, who fell just three racks short, took absolutely nothing. When they competed again in the same format in 2001, the prizes were smaller.
1997 US Open – Reyes vs Strickland
Yes, it’s these two again.
We’ve already mentioned multiple Reyes wins between these two greats but in 1997, Strickland, who always seemed to bring his best game to the table against Efren, blew Reyes away in the final of the 1997 9-Ball Championship in the USA.
It finished 11-2 and Strickland won his fourth US Open, as well as $25,000 in prize money.
These two amazing pool players faced off against each other dozens of times in their careers and it was almost always very entertaining.
Shane Van Boening (USA) 8-0 Liu Haitao
Shane Van Boening has become known as one of the greatest pool players of all time and is an icon of the game in the USA. In recent years, he has made some amazing comebacks and shown the amazing tenacity as well as talent that he has.
In 2015, when he took on Liu Haitao, there was no need for a comeback. He won in under 30 minutes and totally blew his opponent away with an 8-0 win, the first such win recorded in the history of the World Pool Masters, and a whitewash that took just 27 minutes to complete. He took the first two racks and then ran six on the spin in virtually no time. It was like watching a master of the game practicing and casually cleaning up racks time after time.
Orcollo vs Van Boening (Money Game)
Another example of the “one on one challenge matches” are are so popular in professional pool was between Van Boening and Orcollo.
Dennis Orcollo is a Filipino player who has been nicknamed RoboCop and is also known as the King of the Money Game. There was a lot for Van Boening to overcome if he was going to win this one, and even though he’s one of the greatest of all time, it was Orcollo who came through victorious.
Like the Color of Money games over 20 years ago, this was a race to 120. It is amazing how close these contests run, and SVB lost by just one rack, which is truly agonizing. The two would meet again the following year and play under the same conditions, where Orcollo’s win was a tiny bit more convincing, when he took it 120-115, but that’s still pretty close, right?
Orcollo has had visa issues in recent years and is currently not able to compete in any US tournaments, but fans of the sport all across the world are hoping that he will get his VISA problems rectified and that he will be able to compete in American events again soon.
Conclusion
Okay, there is always going to be some debate about what the best games in the history of pool are and what some of the most exciting matchups are. We’ve selected these as some of the very greatest games to watch but in truth, there are many that could have made this list.
Do you agree with the selections? Which games have you found the most exciting to watch over the years?
