biography

Age: 73
Born: Chicago, IL
Resides: Cocoa Beach, FL
How Long Playing: 55 Years Professionally: 50 years, playing 3-Cushion Billiards
Has been the No. 1 player in Chicago for the past 40 years and has been one of the top 5 players in the U.S. for over 45 years.
During the 1980’s - 2000 the No.1 or 2 player in U.S.

In 1963 I was introduced to Bensinger’s Billiards, at Clark and Diversey in Chicago by my father, Merhl Smith who was a fine billiard player in his own right. Bensingers was the quintessential billiard room of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, all the way from brass spittoons to the black porters and servers that would take your coat, get your personal cue and bring the ivory balls to your table with a pitcher of ice water, what service!

A friend of my father’s noticed me there all the time with my Dad, and asked, have you ever tried playing this game?, I replied no, he said if you’re going to be here you might as well start learn to play. This man’s name was Ernie Presto, he was the kindest, and most honest person I’ve ever met in my life to this date. Ernie Presto became my best friend and benefactor in my life! This man had played with every world champion of the game form, Alfredo De Oro to Raymond Ceulemans, the knowledge he acquired over 60 years, made Ernie a virtual billiard encyclopedia.

He took me under his wing, and I fell in love with complexity of the game, I was hooked immediately .Having a Architectural and mathematical background, the angles and systems came easily, also being naturally gifted with exceptional hand eye coordination didn’t hurt. After about 3 months, Ernie told me, “You’re a natural Bill, if I show you something you’ve got it immediately”. That praise and desire he had to teach me this game helped me become as good a player as I could be. That was the motivation for me to pursue this game with exhausting enthusiasm, always looking to improve, even to this day.

The fundamentals and concept of pre modern day billiards that Ernie taught me are priceless, along with the era of modern billiards; I formulated my own concepts, techniques and systems to improve my game. I know it it’s hard to believe, but I feel even at my age I play better now than I ever did before, I feel I have more control and so much more knowledge, I have always tried to be a perfectionist, whether that’s good thing or not, I don’t know. One thing is for sure, no one person can ever learn or know all there is about this fascinating game called, ”3 Cushion Billiards”.

Some of the achievements I’d hope for in 3cushion billiards have evaded me for one reason or another, health, personal, and family, I don’t make excuses, but I believe there are some records I’ve set, that no one American player will surpass. In 1968 won the Chicago City Championship at the age of 23 at Howard and Paulina Billiards, I won the City Championships for 8 consecutive years.

In 1982 Set ABA record for 32 consecutive wins in tournament play. Best average for a single game in tournament, 40 points in 11 innings against Gene Johnson in Lansing, MI.

In 1983 Broke all the ABA (American Billiard Association), records ever since Harold Worst; 62 consecutive wins in tournament play, winning 8 consecutive tournaments in a row, during this period best ABA average ever for tournament 1.75 billiards per inning, a high run of 24 consecutive billiards without a miss, (in an Exhibition game in Rockford, IL.), which is equivalent to running 1000 to 1500 balls playing straight pool.

In 1986 won the Midwest Qualifier in Jacksonville, IL, 18 man round robin tournament, went undefeated, with a high run of 14, against Merhl.

In 1987-1990 I became general manager of Hollywood Billiards, in Hollywood, CA. for George Aronek, and his 2 partners. This is where I started my 3 cushion billiard clinics.

In 1992 Finished 2nd to Sang Lee in first US Nationals held at Chris’s Billiards in Chicago. I started writing 3 cushion instructional articles for Billiards Digest, and continued for 4 years.

In 1993 Played in the team championships in Vierson, Germany, with Sang Lee. I've played at 5 World Cup tournaments in Europe.

In 1998 played in first Carom Corner International Tournament held at Chris’s Billiards, in Chicago, IL, having wins over, Semih Sayginer,Francis Forton, Eddy Leppons, and defeating Pedro Piedrabuena, 24 to 4 to reach the finals, and finishing 9th in the tournament.

In 1999 at Chris’s Billiards playing a practice game with Tommy Scherer I made 50 points in 12 innings, final score 50 – 3, on the adjoining table, Sang Lee played a practice game with Frank Stanish, Sang lee made 50 points in 13 innings, final score 50 - 6, witnessed by many spectators.

In 2000 playing a practice game with a friend Ron Schenk, at The Green Room Billiards, Downers Grove, IL., I scored 58 points in 11 innings, the room had a plaque made to put on the table for that day, Over 50 person’s witnessed the game from the weekly 9 ball tournament.

In 2009 became an instructional member of the Old School Pool School team which holds seminars, and clinics for straight pool, one pocket, bank pool, nine ball, and 3 cushion billiards. Held the first Old school Pool clinic at Ultimate Billiards, Fort Pierce, FL. In October started writing instructional articles for On The Break News, The Break, Rackem, and Stroke magazines on a monthly basis.

In 2010 I decided to finally finish a book I’ve been working on for years, “The Concise Book of Position Play”, and DVD, which will be released sometime in March of 2010.

USBA members receive a $50 credit on all One Day 3 Cushion Classes and a $125 credit on all Two Day Classes. Interested in becoming a USBA member? Enroll today at USBA.net