POOL has always appealed as a game to be played while socialising with friends.
Always seen as an alternative to those not wanting to get involved in a long, drawn out game of snooker the game has seen a surge in competition.
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Who is the best pool player in the world?
The American game has always been seen as the pinnacle of the sport, with TV networks even having channels purely focussed on the game.
Pool has attracted players from all corners of the globe, looking to get involved in the professional sport.
As with most sports, the rankings change season by season but one name constantly crops up when you talk about the world's best.
Efren Reyes, is the one player who has a professional career history to back up such a claim.
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The first player to win the World Championship in two different categories, Reyes has won over 100 professional tournaments.
He has amassed over 80 professional titles and earned himself the nickname "The Magician" as a result.
The Filipino pool player will always be known as a master of the sport and amongst fans, his name evokes imagery of the world's best.
Currently, in the nine-ball world pool rankings, Francisco Sanchez Ruiz leads the way.
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How much do pool players earn?
In the professional game, an average pool player can expect to earn around $50,000 annually.
However, top-level players often earn in excess of $100,000 but a lot of this is dependant on endorsem*nts and sponsorship deals.
Who is the richest pool player in the world?
Efren Reyes will go down as the greatest of all time and "The Magician" has career earnings to back that up.
Over the course of his career, he has racked up earnings of around $2m.
This comes from different deals, exhibitions and tournament wins.
How do I become a pro in pool?
The first step in following in their footsteps, is to study the pros.
Whether you play 8-ball or 9-ball, there is a lot to be learnt from their pathways into the professional game.
Having your own table means being able to practice for endless hours every day, the only true way to become accomplished at anything.
Once you get to a level where your game is peaking, it may then be an option to hire a coach.
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Attending tournaments, irrelevant to your ability, is a way to gauge your abilities.
Playing against people whose game may be higher than yours is a sure fire way to know what you need to aspire to.
