Saturday, January 28, 2012
About the NYAC Billard Room Minimize

THE BILLIARDS ROOM

 The billiards room on the tenth floor of the Club is considered to be the most outstanding room of its type in America - if not the world. Mike Shamos and George Bennett chose it as one of the two classic private clubrooms in the book Shooting Pool. Richard Dunne, Europe’s premiere snooker coach, who has played and taught all over the world, called it “the most beautiful snooker and pool room I have ever seen.”

Very few changes have been made in this room since the building was constructed in 1928. The history of pool champions at the New York Athletic Club goes back to 1885. On the east wall of the room you see the brass plate for the first champion - W.H. Raynor. Many of the plaques you see around the room honor members of the Knights of the Green Table who have made outstanding contributions to the room and to the Athletic Club. The Knights of the Green Table is the name of the intra club that inhabits this room. Its name was conceived in 1928 and it is one of the oldest intra clubs in the AC. 

There are six pool tables or pocket billiard tables if you want to get politically correct. Here is where members and guests play.. Read More
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President

Maurice Doucet
 

Past President

Noel Miller-Cheevers
 

Honorary Members Minimize

Allison Fisher
Born: February 24 1968
Representing : England

Allison Fisher (born 24 February 1968) is an English professional pool (and former professional snooker) player. She won her first world title at the age of 17. To date, she has won over 80 national titles and 11 world titles in total. Fisher did not take long to make her mark in the world of pool, winning only the second tournament that she played in. She has an unequaled record, winning 50 WPBA titles, which includes 4 world 9-Ball championships. Since her move, she has also been the highest-earning player on a number of occasions, which takes into account male and female players. Matchroom sports invited her to play in the Matchroom snooker league, and she was also invited to play in the Mosconi Cup 1994, when Europe lost 16:12 against Team USA.Fisher was nicknamed "the Duchess of Doom" and gained a reputation similar to that of the fifteen-time darts world champion Phil Taylor and snooker players Joe Davis, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry in the 1930s and 80s–90s, respectively.

 

Ray Reardon
Born: October 8 1932
Representing : Wales

In 1957, Ray Reardon was nearly killed when he was trapped for three hours after a mining accident. After his lucky escape, he decided to quit the Welsh pits and find employment as a policeman in Stoke. The English Amateur champion in 1964, Ray captured his first World Professional title in 1970 and went on to dominate the decade by winning the World title on another five occasions including a remarkable quartet of successes from 1973-1976. A former president of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Ray remains a snooker legend and managed to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1985 - at the age of 53! Awarded an MBE for his services to snooker, Ray was a role model for many young players coming into the game in the 1970's and 1980's.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS - winner World Championship (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978), Pot Black (1969), B&H Masters (1976), Professional Players' Tournament (1982), Yamaha
 

Cliff Thorburn
Born: January 16 1948
Representing : Canada

Cliff Thorburn will always be remembered for becoming the first overseas player to win the Embassy World Championship in 1980 AND for being the first player to compile a World Championship 147 maximum in 1983. He was also the first player to make TWO 147's, his second maximum coming in the Matchroom League in 1989. Nicknamed "The Grinder" for his steely determination to win, Cliff reached two World finals, claiming the famous trophy in 1980 with an 18-16 victory over Alex Higgins. World No.1 in the 1981/82 season, Cliff enjoyed the unique surroundings of the Wembley Conference Centre for the Benson and Hedges Masters, taking the gold trophy on three occasions in 1983, 1985 and 1986. He also revelled in the World Team Cup as he skippered Canada to victory in 1982 and 1990.

Copyright 2009 International Snooker League