Kelly Fisher - Part 3 (From Billiards to the Big Break)
In this third installment of Legends of the Cue, hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher and Mark Wilson continue their captivating conversation with Pool and Snooker Hall of Famer Kelly Fisher, MBE, diving into the fascinating — and often funny — years that bridged her snooker stardom and her bold leap into the world of professional pool.
Kelly reflects with trademark honesty and humor on her early dominance in women’s snooker — recounting her world titles, the quirky English billiards events that barely drew a handful of entrants, and her love of playing for beautiful trophies rather than prize money. The laughter flows as Kelly and Allison reminisce about their days on tour, friendly rivalries, and a few unforgettable (and at times unbelievable) stories from the road — including one infamous match Kelly literally can’t remember playing!
But beneath the laughter lies a deeper turning point. Kelly opens up about the challenges facing women’s snooker in the early 2000s — the collapse of tobacco sponsorships, the struggle for recognition, and the harsh reality of world titles that paid little more than rent money. Listeners will hear how the former world champion found herself working in a vegetable factory and a seatbelt assembly line, searching for her next chapter before making the life-changing decision to move to America with little more than determination, a few suitcases, and £400 to her name.
It’s a candid, inspiring, and often hilarious look at a champion’s resilience — how Kelly Fisher reinvented herself and set the stage for one of the most successful second acts in cue sports history.
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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