Nick Varner
Nick Varner (born May 15, 1948, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an American pool player who was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1992.[1] Varner is an 7 time world champion and 2 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, in addition to winner the 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship at 51 years old.
![]() Nick Varner at 2008 Mosconi Cup | |
Born | Owensboro, Kentucky | 15 May 1948
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Sport country | ![]() |
Professional | 1970 |
Tournament wins | |
Other titles | 80 |
World Champion | 9-Ball (1999) |
Ranking info | |
Highest WPA ranking | 1 |
Career
Nick D. Varner graduated from Tell City High School in Tell City, Indiana in 1966. Varner learned to play pool in his father's (Nick Varner) pool hall in Grandview, Indiana. After graduating from high school, Varner gained notoriety on the professional pool scene after he won two ACU-I Intercollegiate Championships while attending Purdue University and playing "money games" at an on campus pool room called "The Hole". A cliché given to Varner was "Speak softly and carry a big stick" because of the way he conducted himself as well as his competitive endeavors.[2]
In 1989, Varner became only the second man to Mike Sigel, to earn over $100,000 in prize winnings in single year, accumulating an unprecedented 11 out of 22 Nine-ball events that year. Varner was named "Player of the Year" in 1980, 1989 and 1994.
Varner is considered one of the best all-around players of all time, having won 7 world championship's in 4 different pool disciplines in Nine-ball, Eight-ball, Straight Pool and One Pocket.
He also represented Team USA eight times at the Mosconi Cup, four times as a non-playing team captain.
Varner is also an author, a video personality, a pool room proprietor, a manufacturer's representative, and an exhibition player.[3]
Varner is the only player to be inducted into the BCA, Straight Pool, One Pocket and Bank Pool Hall of Fame.
Achievements
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References
- Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame Archived 2007-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
- "Varner Carries Big Stick in World Open", by Bruce Venzke, page 5, The National Billiard News, October 1980. Retrieved May 20, 2007
- The Snap, "Players of the Year", by Kreole Freddie, page 8, February/March 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2007
External links
- "bio on NickVarner.com"
- "Nick Varner Custom Cues", Nick Varner Custom Cues
- "Nick Varner Player Profile", InternationalPoolTour.com, International Pool Tour