Doctors and Lawyers have letters after their names – pool players have nicknames.
Over the years I have been called many things, not always complimentary! It seems that you can’t pick up a cue stick without someone giving you an additional moniker.
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| Snooker players need big nicknames to match the big table |
As a rookie it can be quite daunting getting your first pool nickname – most of the best ones have gone. Whatever you do, I suggest you get in first before some one else sticks you with a label that you really don’t want.
In the UK, many snooker players have nicknames, despite the game being more sedate than other cue sports. To give you some inspiration, here is a summary of some famous players, their nicknames and how they came about:
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Eddie Charlton “Steady Eddie” |
Australia’s legendary cue man acquired this name for his ‘dependable’ style of play. Some would say he played slowly, I thought he had a considered approach to the game |
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Joe Davis “Mr Snooker” |
The great Joe Davis was the greatest snooker player of his time and dominated the sport as well as being its greatest ambassador. “Mr Snooker” sums it up; his life was snooker through and through. |
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Ken Doherty “Crafty” Ken Doherty |
The Irish Snooker Champion got his name for his tactics, and the fact that ‘Crafty’ sits well next to the word ‘Ken’ |
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Tony Drago Tony “The Tornado” Drago |
The Maltese snooker star is known for his quick fire style, and there are a lot of different ‘winds’ in snooker – Tornado fits. |
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Quinten Hann “The Wizard of Oz” |
He’s from Australia – enough said. |
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Stephen Hendry “The Wonder Bairn” |
A Scottish nickname given to him when he was winning snooker tournaments as a kid. ‘Bairn’ is a Scottish term meaning child. Worked well then, not so good now he is over 40. |
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Alex Higgins Alex “Hurricane” Higgins |
Probably the most famous of all snooker nicknames – The Hurricane became more than a nickname; he became a brand synonymous with chaos and controversy. |
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John Higgins “The Wizard of Wishaw” |
The ‘Wizard’, implying his supernatural powers with a cue, coupled with ‘Wishaw’, where John comes from. Nice. |
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Tony Meo “The Cat” |
Meo, Meo. Ha ha! |
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Shaun Murphy Shaun “The Magician” Murphy |
Nicknames in the magical area are good, they imply that there are wonders to behold and the cue looks a bit like a wand. Shaun can make the balls disappear, but can he saw a lady in half? |
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Ronnie O’Sulliivan Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan |
Ronnie is named the ‘Rocket’ due to his speed around the table. You can also get a ‘Rocket’ Salad. |
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Ray Reardon “Dracula” |
Ray was a huge star of the snooker world and was always immaculately turned out. Once he bought a nice cape to go with his dress suit and coupled with his ‘widows peak’ hairstyle – an image was born. As far as I know he has never actually bitten anyone. |
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Mark Selby “The Jester from Leicester” |
He likes a laugh, he’s based in Leicester – and it rhymes. A nicknamer’s dream |
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Cliff Thorburn “The Grinder” |
Cliff used to wear down his opponents until they gave up. He had some matches lasting several days, some lasted a week. |
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Willie Thorne “Mr Maximum” |
Willie has the reputation of making more 147 breaks than any other player, hence the ‘Maximum’ moniker. |
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Judd Trump Judd “The Ace” Trump |
Judd burst on the snooker scene this year with a tremendous effort at the World Snooker Championships, losing to John Higgins in the final. His surname has provided a few nicknames with card connotations – so far “The Ace” has stuck |
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John Virgo "JV" |
The master of the snooker trickshot, John Virgo provided the trickshot challenge for years on BBC’s Big Break. His calling card was his trick shots and snooker impressions before Big Break host Jim Davidson tagged him with his initials. “Say goodnight JV….” |
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Jimmy White Jimmy “The Whirlwind” White |
Jimmy followed in the footsteps of Alex Higgins as a fast attacking player. His ‘Whirlwind’ nickname is almost a tribute to the “Hurricane”. Kind of “Hurricane the next generation” |
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Steve Davis Steve “Interesting” Davis |
For years Steve Struggled on without any sort of nickname, until ITV’s Spitting Image took care of that and named him “Interesting” and you know what? He really is… |
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Ding Junhui “Chinese Sensation” |
Commentators struggle enough with the names of Chinese snooker players, so they don’t need complicated nicknames in the same sentence – “Chinese sensation” is simple and too the point |
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| A "Handle" is standard issue for any pool player |
Many snooker players were given their nicknames by the great Alan Hughes (now retired), who acted as M.C. for many years at the crucible and other snooker tournaments around the world. I once had a surreal couple of hours driving Alan around Swindon looking for his car (He couldn't remember where he parked it) but that's another story….
As well as the snooker players, many British pool players have also picked up additional names:
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Mick Hill Mick “Machine Gun” Hill |
“Machine Gun Mick” rolls off the tongue, and is reference to Mick’s amazing abilities to pot balls. |
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Carl Morris Carl “Houdini” Morris |
Carl named himself after the famous magician and escape artist of the early 20th century. Presumably because Carl is good at getting out of tricky situations on the pool table – not escaping from lock strongboxes dangling over the Hudson River. |
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Gareth Potts Gareth “The Golden Boy” Potts |
For a pool player, you couldn’t wish for a better name than “Potts”. Personally I think Gareth should have gone with the nickname Gareth “consistently and relentlessly” Potts. He is stuck with the “Golden Boy” after great success at a young age. Looks good now, wait until he gets his pension! |
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Darren Appleton Darren “Dynamite” Appleton |
The “Dynamite” is explosive at the table – and begins with ‘D’ like “Darren” |
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Jason Twist Jason “Tornado” Twist |
UK pool’s very own high velocity wind. |
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Chris Melling Chris “The Magician” Melling |
Another magician, Chris makes the balls vanish. |
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Keith Brewer Keith “The Brew” Brewer |
Keith has won pretty much everything in pool – failed in the imaginative nickname stakes. |
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Phil Harrison “The Farmer” |
The ultimate occupational nickname. Phil used to drive a tractor and in his spare time won the WEPF World Championship. A great harvest! |
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Dave Pearson “Ginger Wizard” |
Dave is the fastest around the American pool table. He is slightly Ginger, I have never seen him dressed as a wizard – it would probably slow him down. |
I have been known by several aliases over the years, here are a few and their origins:
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Steve “The Breeze” Daking |
When I frequented the pool halls of my youth, I really wanted a windy nickname like the “Hurricane” and the “Whirlwind”. The idea was that I would “Breeze” past my opponents. The name didn’t catch on, it fell into disrepair and was eventually lost down the back of the sofa |
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Steve “The Pro’ with the Show!” Daking |
When I did my first pool exhibitions as a professional I was looking for a catchy slogan to illustrate that I didn’t just play pool – I put on a show! Therefore the phrase “Pro’ with the Show” sums it all up perfectly. By far my most successful nickname – my friends just call me Pro’ |
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Steve “The Pool Guy” Daking |
“The Pool Guy” was the name of the theatre show I took to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe a few years ago. So for a while, I was “The Pool Guy” for the purposes of show publicity. |
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Steve “The 8 Ball Entertainer” Daking |
Following my retirement form competitive play, I have spent most of my time on entertainment projects. If they are around a pool table then the ‘8 Ball Entertainer’ gives people a good idea of what’s in store. |
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Steve “The Executive Hustler” Daking |
My current corporate show is branded with the “Executive Hustler” logo. Instead of the usual trick shot show – this looks at things you can do around the pool table to earn you cash – be it trickshots or other bar bets. |
That’s all my official nicknames so far, I am sure the list will get added to as I have more adventures. I am hoping to work them all into a massive introduction before a show – that should take care of the first five minutes.
If you are still without a nickname, there a few ways you can go. You could create something that describes your style of play, a physical characteristic, or a habit you have away from the table. Nicknames could be linked to your occupation or your favourite food, or where you live – or a combination of any of these.
Or, you could always use modern technology. To save you the bother of coming up with a nickname, I am happy to present – The Pool Nickname Generator – here at stevedaking.com. Click the link, enter your name and the generator will analyse your name and from this extrapolate your character and history before constructing a nickname that sums up all the necessary factors and encapsulates them in one or two words you can attach to your name. (Or it will randomly pick one from a list)
You can also get a ‘Rocket’ Salad. Nice one!