Any Ideas on the most skilled, player who could win (mostly) no matter what game being played? "Boston Shorty" had a rep of being able to play *any game well, including Billiards.
I'm talking about playing for $. Reyes, in more recent times seems to have a pretty good range.

p.s. Anybody know about the famous three day (night) battle between "Shorty" and "Jersey Red", at the notorious 7-11 sometime in the '50s?

It has to be Efren Reyes. Also, I wouldnt want to play Steve Davis in any cue sport. He plays them all well and is a 6x world snooker champ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IocXrswOU1o
'All I can tell you is, if I shot that ball, I probably woulda had a heart attack.'

BATTA! Have youse all seen his 9-ball match against Strickland from early '90s Reno? Hill-hill then Reyes hits a three railer, which knocks an on the rail ball in, with cueball rolling down the table and stops right behind the 9 near corner pocket.
Stunned Strickland, just walked over to "Batta" and raised his hand in victory.

Is this what you're referring to?
Some of the sickest shots of all time, right here.

YES! Even Jersey Red woulda been impressed with that match winner. Red had a one pocket rail shot where he could spin a ball away from opponent's pocket, down the rail into *his pocket.
Don't know if there's any film of that. But he famously made it playing Harlem legend, James Evans (one of 'Fat's heroes).

The thing about Reyes is he once played 3 cushion at the top level so if we were to gather all the big name pool players and run them through a cue sport decathalon, Reyes is a lock to win 3CC and highly likely 1 pocket as well. How many other big name pros have played 3 cushion before?

Reyes pays 8 and 9 ball extremely well. Obviously must be a fine (at least) banks player; not sure about "Straight" or One Pocket.

p.s. The "Jersey Red" shot is a double kiss on the object ball, sending it away from opponents pocket into the shooters hole.
There's a video on YouTube with a young man making it (in a *non game situation).

Fast Eddie

Steve Davis?

Actually most of them have probably played it a lot. Lots of poolrooms have tables, especially in the midwest and northeast. I'm sure all the Europeans (at least the pool players) have dabbled at it as well.

Efren is considered one of the best one pocket players ever. He's great at all games. Has played competitively against champions in 3 cushion and snooker.

For the time span of the 1980's and 1990's he would have to be considered the most well rounded of all players.

Glad to see that pretty much everyone agrees that Efren takes the cake...

...But let's all not forget a guy name Willie Mosconi either

Yeah, I agree with Reyes, but another to put on the list is Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter.

Sorry but both Lassiter and Mosconi would get crushed by Reyes. Mosconi would probably have a chance only at straight pool, but if they played for like a week straight Reyes would probably come out on top there too.