Mike Sigel - Part 3 (The Art, Science & Fire of a Champion)
In this third installment of our multi-part conversation with Hall of Famer Mike Sigel, we dive deeper into the mind of one of the most electrifying champions in cue sports history. With characteristic candor, humor, and razor-sharp recall, Sigel leads us through the gritty realities of the pool circuit—from the early ’70s through his era of dominance—while revealing why only a select few ever truly separated themselves from the pack.
Sigel unpacks how conditions, equipment, and formats have reshaped the modern game, explaining why today’s environment compresses the skill gap and makes sustained dominance nearly impossible. He contrasts that with the wide-open, high-pressure world he thrived in—long races, slow cloths, unpredictable breaks, and an atmosphere where the strongest mental game always won out.
The stories flow as freely as Sigel’s legendary stroke. He recalls tournaments where winning was the easy part and getting paid was the real challenge, the strategies behind numerical racking, the inside realities of gambling matches, and being “incognito” on the road with Larry Hubbard. He talks rivalries—Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Earl Strickland—and the rare few who could push him to the edge. And he shares why he earned the nickname “Mr. Finals,” describing the mindset that allowed him to win 107 career titles and deliver under pressure time after time.
Sigel also offers a fascinating comparison between pool and golf, drawing parallels to icons like Trevino and Tiger Woods, and revealing how he managed his adrenaline, nerves, and focus during the biggest moments of his career.
This episode is pure cue-sport gold—raw, insightful, funny, and filled with the unmistakable voice of a legend who lived the game at its highest level. Whether you’re a student of pool history or simply love a great story well told, this chapter of Mike Sigel’s life is not to be missed.
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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.”
Pool Professional
Mike Sigel, at 35, became the youngest male elected to the BCA Hall of Fame. Born in Rochester, N.Y. Sigel began playing pool at 13, and turned professional when he was 20. A natural right-hander who shoots left-handed, Sigel won his first major tournament, the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, in 1975. His career blossomed quickly, and Sigel was perhaps the game's dominant player in the 1980s. He amassed 38 major 14.1 and 9-ball championships in that decade. Sigel has won three World 14.1 crowns (1979, 1981 and 1985) and one World 9-Ball title (1985) as well as numerous national titles.