Kelly Fisher - Part 1 (From Pub Tables to World Titles)
In Part 1 of our six-part conversation with cue-sports legend Kelly Fisher, MBE, we trace the roots of one of the most accomplished and respected players in the history of women’s pool and snooker. Co-hosts Allison Fisher, MBE and Mark Wilson join Mike Gonzalez to uncover Kelly’s remarkable beginnings in South Elmsall, England — a working-class town where her parents ran a local pub with a snooker table in the back room that would unknowingly launch a Hall of Fame career.
Kelly shares how her lively upbringing — with a mother from a sprawling Irish family and a father who was both a boxer and professional wrestler — gave her equal parts warmth and mental toughness. From tap dancing and kung fu to kicking a football with the boys, she was always in motion. But once she picked up a cue at age 12, everything changed.
Listeners will be drawn into vivid stories of her early lessons with longtime coach Lionel Payne, sneaking into her parents’ pub to play, and competing as the lone girl in men’s club leagues — often facing both age and gender barriers just to take her turn at the table. Through humor and humility, Kelly recalls childhood tournaments, including her unforgettable first World Championship appearance — complete with stage fright, chalk mishaps, and an early glimpse of her fierce competitive spirit.
This opening chapter captures the spark of a future champion: a young girl with extraordinary drive, guided by a devoted father and a coach who saw her potential from the very first shot.
Join us for Legends of the Cue as we begin Kelly Fisher’s inspiring journey from Yorkshire pub tables to world stages — one frame at a time.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Fisher, Kelly
Pool Professional
Before transitioning to pool, Kelly Fisher was the world's top-ranked snooker player, winning 8 World Championship titles, 7 European Championship titles, and over 50 ranking events, including a record 15 consecutive tournament wins.
In 2004, Kelly moved to the USA to pursue American Pool, starting as an amateur and quickly turning professional. She won her first WPBA Pro event in 2005 and went on to claim the US Open title, earning the #1 ranking on the WPBA and Player of the Year honors.
Her rapid playing style earned her the nickname "Kwikfire."
Kelly established herself in the Asian women's pool circuit, winning major titles such as the World 9-ball, World 10-ball, China Open, and the Amway Cup.
From 2012 to the present, she has held the WPA World #1 ranking, WPBA #1 ranking, and CBSA China #1 ranking multiple times and has been named World Player of the Year by the WPA on numerous occasions.
She won numerous events and titles between 2012 and 2019 including the coveted US Open and her second World 9 Ball crown in Sanya, China.
Despite the challenges of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was named Player of the Decade by Billiards Digest and was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. She finished the year as the #1 ranked player on both the WPA and WPBA rankings.
In 2021, as events resumed, Kelly continued her winning streak, claiming the Predator Austrian Open and achieving a record 10 consecutive event wins in American Pool. She maintained her #1 World ranking for… Read More