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| minor wins =
| minor wins =
| other wins = 100
| other wins = 100
| world champ = [[Straight Pool]] ([[World Straight Pool Championship|1980]], [[World Straight Pool Championship|1986]]), [[Nine-Ball]] ([[1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship|1999]])
| world champ = [[Straight Pool]] ([[World Straight Pool Championship|1980]], [[World Straight Pool Championship|1986]]), [[Nine-Ball]] (1989, [[1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship|1999]])
| current ranking =
| current ranking =
| highest ranking = 1
| highest ranking = 1
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}}
}}


'''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.<ref>[http://www.bca-pool.com/cgi/site/framegate.cgi?url=http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/hof/hof.shtml&cat=i Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331000000/http://www.bca-pool.com/cgi/site/framegate.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bca-pool.com%2Findustry%2Fhof%2Fhof.shtml&cat=i |date=2007-03-31 }}</ref> Varner is a world champion and has won back to back [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]s, in addition to winning the [[1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship]] at 51 years old.
'''Nick Varner''' (born May 15, 1948, in [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]) is an American professional pool player who was inducted into the [[Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame]] in 1992. Varner is widely considered one of the greatest pool players of all time.<ref>[http://www.bca-pool.com/cgi/site/framegate.cgi?url=http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/hof/hof.shtml&cat=i Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331000000/http://www.bca-pool.com/cgi/site/framegate.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bca-pool.com%2Findustry%2Fhof%2Fhof.shtml&cat=i |date=2007-03-31 }}</ref> Varner is a multiple world champion and has won back to back [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]s, in addition to being the oldest player to ever win the [[WPA World Nine-ball Championship]], at 51 years old.


==Career==
==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.<ref>"Varner Carries Big Stick in World Open", by Bruce Venzke, page 5, ''The National Billiard News'', October 1980. Retrieved May 20, 2007</ref>
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.<ref>"Varner Carries Big Stick in World Open", by Bruce Venzke, page 5, ''The National Billiard News'', October 1980. Retrieved May 20, 2007</ref>


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. He was named Player of the Year in 1980, 1982, 1989, 1994, by the pool media, including the National Billiard News and Billiards Digest Magazine.
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 8 out of the 16 [[Nine-ball]] PBA tour events that year. The same year he won the PBA World 9-Ball Championship, after a momentous hill-hill final against [[Grady Mathews]].


He also represented Team USA eight times at the [[Mosconi Cup]], four times as a non-playing team captain.
He was named Player of the Year in 1980, 1982, 1989, 1994, by the pool media, including the National Billiard News and Billiards Digest Magazine. 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 game|exhibition]] player.<ref>''The Snap'', "Players of the Year", by Kreole Freddie, page 8, February/March 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2007</ref>
Varner is also an author, a video personality, a pool room proprietor, a manufacturer's representative, and an [[Exhibition game|exhibition]] player.<ref>''The Snap'', "Players of the Year", by Kreole Freddie, page 8, February/March 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2007</ref>


Varner is considered one of the best all-around players of all time, winning titles in [[Nine-ball]], [[Eight-ball]], [[Straight Pool]], [[One Pocket]] and [[Bank Pool]].
Varner is considered one of the best all-around players of all time, winning multiple titles in [[Nine-ball]], [[Eight-ball]], [[Straight Pool]], [[One Pocket]] and [[Bank Pool]].


Varner is the only player to be inducted into the [[Billiard Congress of America|BCA]], [[Straight Pool]], [[One Pocket]] and [[Bank Pool]] Hall of Fame.
Varner is one of the few players to be inducted into the [[Billiard Congress of America|BCA]], [[One Pocket]] and [[Bank Pool]] Hall of Fame.

Nick is starring in the upcoming billiard movie, "The Tale of Texas Pool", set to be released on December 25, 2024. <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32864164/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1&cat=i iMDB The Tale of Texas Pool movie] </ref>


==Career titles and achievements==
==Career titles and achievements==
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* 1970 [[ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championship|ACUI Collegiate National Championship]]
* 1970 [[ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championship|ACUI Collegiate National Championship]]
* 1974 Midwest Open 9-Ball
* 1974 Midwest Open 9-Ball
* 1976 Rockford 14.1 Championship
* 1975 Kentucky Open 14.1 Championship
⚫
* 1975 Texas Open 14.1 Championship
* 1976 Rockford 14.1 Championship
⚫
* 1976 Midwest Open 9-Ball
* 1979 Lexington All-Star Tournament
* 1979 Lexington All-Star Tournament
* 1980 '''[[World Straight Pool Championship|PPPA World Straight Pool Championship]]'''
* 1980 [[World Straight Pool Championship|PPPA World Straight Pool Championship]]
* 1980 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1980 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1980 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament
* 1980 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament
* 1980 Illinois 9-Ball Open
* 1980 Illinois Open 9-Ball
* 1980 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
* 1980 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
* 1981 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1981 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1982 PPPA World 9-Ball Invitational
* 1982 [[Wide World of Sports (American TV program)|ABC Sports]] 9-Ball Invitational
* 1982 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1982 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1982 Bowling Green Open Bank Pool
* 1982 Bowling Green Open Bank Pool
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* 1983 National Open 9-Ball
* 1983 National Open 9-Ball
* 1983 Fresno Open 9-Ball
* 1983 Fresno Open 9-Ball
* 1983 Midwest Open 9-Ball
* 1983 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship
* 1983 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship
* 1984 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1984 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
* 1984 Tennessee State 9-Ball
* 1984 Tennessee State 9-Ball
* 1985 Chattanooga 9-Ball
* 1985 Chattanooga Open 9-Ball
* 1985 Tennessee State 9-Ball
* 1985 Tennessee State 9-Ball
* 1985 Zurich Open 9-Ball
* 1985 Zurich Open 9-Ball
* 1986 '''[[World Straight Pool Championship|PPPA World Straight Pool Championship]]'''
* 1986 [[World Straight Pool Championship|PPPA World Straight Pool Championship]]
* 1986 Charlotte Open 9-Ball
* 1986 Charlotte Open 9-Ball
* 1986 Sacramento Open 9-Ball
* 1986 Sacramento Open 9-Ball
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* 1988 Glass City Open 9-Ball
* 1988 Glass City Open 9-Ball
* 1988 Scranton Invitational 9-Ball
* 1988 Scranton Invitational 9-Ball
* 1988 Tennessee State 9-Ball
* 1988 Tennessee Open 9-Ball
* 1988 [[Sands Regency]] 9-Ball Open
* 1988 [[Sands Regency]] 9-Ball Open
* 1989 [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]
* 1989 [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]
* 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic
* 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic
* 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open
* 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open
* 1989 PBA [[J. M. Brunswick|Brunswick]] World Open 9-Ball
* 1989 PBA World 9-Ball Championship
* 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball
* 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball
* 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball
* 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball
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* 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational
* 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational
* 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball
* 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball
⚫
* 1989 Lexington All Star Open
⚫
* 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball
⚫
* 1989 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
⚫
* 1990 Challenge Match vs. ([[Efren Reyes]])


|width="5%"|
|width="5%"|
|valign="top"|
|valign="top"|


⚫
* 1989 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
* 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball
⚫
* 1989 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
* 1990 [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]
* 1990 [[U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship]]
* 1990 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball
* 1990 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball
* 1990 West End All-Around Shoot Out
* 1990 West End All-Around Shoot Out
⚫
* 1990 Challenge Match Race to 60 vs. ([[Efren Reyes]])
⚫
* 1990 World Series Philippines Championship
* 1991 Rak'em Up 9-Ball
* 1990 Philippine 9-Ball Series
* 1991 Rak'M Up Classic 9-Ball
* 1991 Billiards Digest Best 9-Ball Player
* 1991 Billiards Digest Best 9-Ball Player
* 1991 Billiards Digest Best All-Around Player
* 1991 Billiards Digest Best All-Around Player
* 1991 PBA Sportsperson of the Year
* 1991 PBA Sportsperson of the Year
* 1992 International One Pocket Championship
* 1992 International One Pocket Championship
* 1992 Super Bowl XXVI Billiard Championship
* 1992 Super Bowl 9-Ball Open
* 1992 Team America North Vs South Exhibition
* 1992 [[Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame]]
* 1992 [[Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame]]
* 1993 Lexington All Star Open
* 1993 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
* 1994 [[International Challenge of Champions]]
* 1994 [[International Challenge of Champions]]
* 1994 PBT World Eight-ball Championship
* 1994 PBT [[Glass City Center|SeaGate]] Eight-ball Championship
* 1994 Lexington All Star Open
* 1994 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
* 1994 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
* 1994 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
* 1996 [[Sands Regency]] 9-Ball Open
* 1996 [[Sands Regency]] 9-Ball Open
* 1996 Roanoke One Pocket
* 1996 Roanoke One Pocket
* 1996 McDermott Eastern States One Pocket
* 1997 [[Mosconi Cup]]
* 1997 [[Mosconi Cup]]
* 1997 Music City 9-Ball Open
* 1997 Music City 9-Ball Open
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* 1998 Music City 9-Ball Open
* 1998 Music City 9-Ball Open
* 1998 [[Mosconi Cup]]
* 1998 [[Mosconi Cup]]
* 1999 '''[[WPA World Nine-ball Championship]]'''
* 1999 [[WPA World Nine-ball Championship]]
* 1999 [[Derby City Classic]] Bank Pool
* 1999 [[Derby City Classic]] Bank Pool
* 1999 Senior Tour Tulsa 9-Ball
* 1999 Senior Tour Tulsa 9-Ball
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* 2000 [[Derby City Classic]] One Pocket
* 2000 [[Derby City Classic]] One Pocket
* 2000 Music City Classic
* 2000 Music City Classic
* 2000 Senior Masters 9-Ball Open
* 2000 Senior Masters 9-Ball Championship
* 2000 Legends of One-Pocket Championship
* 2000 Legends of One-Pocket Championship
* 2001 Superman Classic 9-Ball Tournament
* 2001 Superman Classic 9-Ball Tournament
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* 2007 Great Southern 9-Ball Tour
* 2007 Great Southern 9-Ball Tour
* 2011 [[Bank Pool]] Hall of Fame
* 2011 [[Bank Pool]] Hall of Fame
* 2023 Seniors One-Pocket Classic
* 2017 [[Straight Pool]] Hall of Fame
|}
|}


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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.nickvarner.com/nickbio.asp/ "bio on NickVarner.com"]
* [http://www.nickvarner.com/nickbio.asp/ "bio on NickVarner.com"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830143014/http://www.nickvarner.com/nickbio.asp |date=2011-08-30 }}
* [http://www.nickvarner.com/ "Nick Varner Custom Cues"], Nick Varner Custom Cues
* [http://www.nickvarner.com/ "Nick Varner Custom Cues"], Nick Varner Custom Cues
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070416073141/http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/ipt_players/bio/Varner_Nick.asp "Nick Varner Player Profile"], ''InternationalPoolTour.com'', International Pool Tour
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070416073141/http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/ipt_players/bio/Varner_Nick.asp "Nick Varner Player Profile"], ''InternationalPoolTour.com'', International Pool Tour
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[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Owensboro, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Owensboro, Kentucky]]
[[Category:World champions in pool]]
[[Category:World champions in pool]]
[[Category:WPA World Nine-ball Champions]]
[[Category:WPA World Nine-ball Champions]]
[[Category:Straight pool world champions]]

Latest revision as of 12:35, 20 November 2024

Nick Varner
Nick Varner at 2008 Mosconi Cup
Born (1948-05-15) 15 May 1948 (age 76)
Owensboro, Kentucky
Sport country United States
Nickname"Kentucky Colonel"
Professional1971
Tournament wins
Other titles100
World ChampionStraight Pool (1980, 1986), Nine-Ball (1989, 1999)

Nick Varner (born May 15, 1948, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an American professional pool player who was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1992. Varner is widely considered one of the greatest pool players of all time.[1] Varner is a multiple world champion and has won back to back U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships, in addition to being the oldest player to ever win the WPA World Nine-ball Championship, at 51 years old.

Career

[edit]

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 8 out of the 16 Nine-ball PBA tour events that year. The same year he won the PBA World 9-Ball Championship, after a momentous hill-hill final against Grady Mathews.

He was named Player of the Year in 1980, 1982, 1989, 1994, by the pool media, including the National Billiard News and Billiards Digest Magazine. 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 considered one of the best all-around players of all time, winning multiple titles in Nine-ball, Eight-ball, Straight Pool, One Pocket and Bank Pool.

Varner is one of the few players to be inducted into the BCA, One Pocket and Bank Pool Hall of Fame.

Nick is starring in the upcoming billiard movie, "The Tale of Texas Pool", set to be released on December 25, 2024. [4]

Career titles and achievements

[edit]
  • 1969 ACUI Collegiate National Championship
  • 1970 ACUI Collegiate National Championship
  • 1974 Midwest Open 9-Ball
  • 1975 Kentucky Open 14.1 Championship
  • 1975 Texas Open 14.1 Championship
  • 1976 Rockford 14.1 Championship
  • 1976 Midwest Open 9-Ball
  • 1979 Lexington All-Star Tournament
  • 1980 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship
  • 1980 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
  • 1980 BCA National 8-Ball Tournament
  • 1980 Illinois Open 9-Ball
  • 1980 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
  • 1981 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
  • 1982 ABC Sports 9-Ball Invitational
  • 1982 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
  • 1982 Bowling Green Open Bank Pool
  • 1982 Prestonburg Open 9-Ball
  • 1982 Owensboro Open 9-Ball
  • 1982 National Billiard News Player of the Year
  • 1983 San Jose Open 9-Ball
  • 1983 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
  • 1983 National Open 9-Ball
  • 1983 Fresno Open 9-Ball
  • 1983 Midwest Open 9-Ball
  • 1983 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship
  • 1984 Kentucky Open 9-Ball
  • 1984 Tennessee State 9-Ball
  • 1985 Chattanooga Open 9-Ball
  • 1985 Tennessee State 9-Ball
  • 1985 Zurich Open 9-Ball
  • 1986 PPPA World Straight Pool Championship
  • 1986 Charlotte Open 9-Ball
  • 1986 Sacramento Open 9-Ball
  • 1986 Midwest Open 9-Ball
  • 1987 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship
  • 1988 Glass City Open 9-Ball
  • 1988 Scranton Invitational 9-Ball
  • 1988 Tennessee Open 9-Ball
  • 1988 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open
  • 1989 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
  • 1989 Rak'em Up 9-Ball Classic
  • 1989 Knoxville 9-Ball Open
  • 1989 PBA World 9-Ball Championship
  • 1989 Governors Cup 9-Ball
  • 1989 Glass City Open 9-Ball
  • 1989 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open
  • 1989 Golden 8-Ball Invitational
  • 1989 Scranton Open 9-Ball
  • 1989 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
  • 1989 Akron Open 9-Ball
  • 1989 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
  • 1990 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
  • 1990 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball
  • 1990 West End All-Around Shoot Out
  • 1990 Challenge Match Race to 60 vs. (Efren Reyes)
  • 1990 Philippine 9-Ball Series
  • 1991 Rak'M Up Classic 9-Ball
  • 1991 Billiards Digest Best 9-Ball Player
  • 1991 Billiards Digest Best All-Around Player
  • 1991 PBA Sportsperson of the Year
  • 1992 International One Pocket Championship
  • 1992 Super Bowl 9-Ball Open
  • 1992 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
  • 1993 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
  • 1994 International Challenge of Champions
  • 1994 PBT SeaGate Eight-ball Championship
  • 1994 Lexington All-Star 9-Ball
  • 1994 Billiards Digest Players of the Year
  • 1996 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open
  • 1996 Roanoke One Pocket
  • 1996 McDermott Eastern States One Pocket
  • 1997 Mosconi Cup
  • 1997 Music City 9-Ball Open
  • 1997 Sands Regency 9-Ball Open
  • 1998 Music City 9-Ball Open
  • 1998 Mosconi Cup
  • 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
  • 1999 Derby City Classic Bank Pool
  • 1999 Senior Tour Tulsa 9-Ball
  • 1999 Senior Tour Player of the Year
  • 1999 Billiards Digest 6th Greatest Living Player of the Century
  • 2000 Derby City Classic One Pocket
  • 2000 Music City Classic
  • 2000 Senior Masters 9-Ball Championship
  • 2000 Legends of One-Pocket Championship
  • 2001 Superman Classic 9-Ball Tournament
  • 2001 Mosconi Cup
  • 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour CM's Place
  • 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Kiss Shot Billiards
  • 2001 Sunshine State One Pocket Tour Capone's Billiards
  • 2001 Sunshine State One Pocekt Tour Sharp Shooters
  • 2001 Hard Times One Pocket
  • 2002 Border Battle, Team USA Vs Team Canada
  • 2002 Jacksonville 9-Ball Open
  • 2002 Glass City Open 9-Ball
  • 2002 Music City Classic
  • 2003 Seminole Pro Tour
  • 2004 Border Battle, Team USA VS Team Canada
  • 2005 One Pocket Hall of Fame
  • 2007 Great Southern 9-Ball Tour
  • 2011 Bank Pool Hall of Fame
  • 2023 Seniors One-Pocket Classic

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame Archived 2007-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Varner Carries Big Stick in World Open", by Bruce Venzke, page 5, The National Billiard News, October 1980. Retrieved May 20, 2007
  3. ^ The Snap, "Players of the Year", by Kreole Freddie, page 8, February/March 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2007
  4. ^ iMDB The Tale of Texas Pool movie
[edit]
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