Earl Strickland
Best 9-Ball Player in American Billiards History
Earl “The Pearl” Strickland has been selected as the Best 9-Ball Player in American History, honoring a career distinguished by unmatched offensive firepower, historic championship success and decades of excellence against the strongest competition in the world.
At his peak, Strickland played 9-ball with a combination of speed, accuracy, confidence and shot-making ability rarely seen before or since. His explosive break, fearless position play and ability to run rack after rack made him one of the most dominant and intimidating tournament players of any era.
Strickland is a three-time WPA World 9-Ball Champion and a record five-time U.S. Open 9-Ball Champion. He remains the only player to win consecutive WPA World 9-Ball titles and the only man to capture more than two U.S. Open championships. Those accomplishments established a standard of sustained greatness in the game’s most internationally recognized discipline.
One of the most unforgettable moments of Strickland’s career occurred in 1996, when he broke and ran 11 consecutive racks during a Professional Cuesports Association event. By surpassing the tournament’s 10-rack challenge, he earned a historic $1 million prize, producing one of the most celebrated performances in professional pool history.
Strickland was also a defining figure for Team USA in the Mosconi Cup, representing his country repeatedly from the event’s inaugural year in 1994 through 2015. His intensity, patriotism and unforgettable performances helped transform the competition into one of pool’s premier international spectacles.
Known for his fiery personality and uncompromising passion, Strickland brought drama and excitement whenever he entered the arena. Fans came not only to see whether he would win, but to witness the extraordinary level of pool he could produce when playing his best.
He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2006, recognizing his historic tournament record and lasting influence on the sport.
With three world 9-ball championships, five U.S. Open titles, a million-dollar run and a career filled with unforgettable performances, Earl Strickland stands as the clear choice for Best 9-Ball Player of America’s First 250 Years.