Among the most popular indoor games in the world, pool is derived from the family of cue sports. There are many variations, but the core idea of pool is to place a ball onto a table that has six pockets. The best pool players have been ranked by different organizations to reflect their performance in major tournaments. The top players earn large sums of money and fame. Rankings can change depending on player skills. A player's popularity can also have an impact on the rankings.
A number of awards have been given to the best pool players, including championships and induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. Ranking players is done by the World Pool and Billiard Association (WPA). This organization includes a number large American pool tournaments that are hosted under their supervision. The association oversees both world championships for nine-ball as well as eight-ball. WPA players are given points based on how they perform in large tournaments.
WPA ratings are the most used rating system. It provides a numerical rating as well as a descriptive rating. The rating system also assesses the pool player's various skills. Although the WPA ranking does not accurately reflect the skill set of real pool players, it can help to determine early pool learning.
Billiard University (BU), a system for rating players, is more comprehensive. It assesses the important pool skills necessary for a player's success. The BU rating also provides a numeric rating. Because it gives more information than other ranking systems, it has been more popular among pool players. The ratings are also correlated to other common rating systems, like AccuStats' rating system or the WPA Rating.
Efren Reyes is another popular player. The Philippines-born Reyes is a world-renowned pool player. He is known for his skill at kickshots and cue ball control. He has won more 80 international titles and was ranked as being the best all around pool player. He is also the first player to win two separate world championships. He has also been named "Pool and Billiards Player of the Year" three times. He is also famous for his impeccable shot selection.
Efren is a talented pool player, but Efren also has an entertaining side. He has been ranked as one the best three players in the world. He has won numerous titles at the US Open. His career began young and he was also ranked amongst the youngest European pool players. Reyes was also voted the best kickshot player. Reyes has been named the best all-around pool player ever.
Both male and women can make the list of the top pool players. The best players are ranked according to their performance, popularity, and skill. Players are ranked not only based on their ranking but also on how many tournaments and achievements they have made throughout their career.