Nick Varner - Part 2 (From First World Title to an Unmatched Season of Greatness)
In Part 2 of our four-part conversation with Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer Nick Varner, we dive deep into the years when his career shifted into high gear — and he began carving out one of the most remarkable résumés in cue sports history.
Nick takes us ringside to legendary match-ups with Minnesota Fats, Hubert “Daddy Warbucks” Cokes, and other colorful characters, sharing the high-stakes gambling culture, sharp banter, and the psychology of playing for your own money. We hear how a divorce, a ranking system, and the release of The Color of Money combined to push him into full-time pool — and how his game transformed when he dedicated eight to ten hours a day to practice.
From his breakthrough at the 1980 World Straight Pool Championship, where he dominated the field and toppled Mike Sigel in the finals, to his unforgettable 1986 title run featuring one of the greatest shots of his career, Nick recounts the pressure of defending a world title and the mindset needed to close out big matches.
We also relive his electric televised victory at the 1982 ABC Wide World of Sports PPPA World Championship, with Howard Cosell in the booth, and fast-forward to his astonishing 1989 season — 11 wins in 22 elite events — a feat still unmatched in the modern era. Along the way, Nick reveals moments of vulnerability, like the time he famously whiffed on a break against Dallas West, and how he turned that embarrassment into laughter, composure, and victory.
It’s a rare inside look at the grit, confidence, and mental toughness that made Nick Varner one of the greatest champions the game has ever seen.
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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.”