Allen Hopkins (pool player)

At seven years old, after watching many tournaments on television, Allen began to play pool on a small table his parents bought for him. As an amateur, at the age of 12, Hopkins ran a prodigious 110 balls and took this talent to play against grown men.

Hopkins' professional career began in the 1970s and spans over four decades. He co-founded and served on the board the now-defunct Professional Pool Players Association (PPPA),[1] as well as president of the Men's Professional Billiard Association (MPBA).

He won the PPPA World Nine-ball Championships in 1977 and 1979.[2]

At the 1979 PPPA World Open 14.1 Pocket Billiard Championship in New York City, New York, Hopkins posted the largest victory margin in the event, defeating Richie Florence, 150-1.[3]

Allen Hopkins has earned titles in such varied events as the 1977 World Straight Pool Championship, the 1977 and 1981 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships,[4] the 1990 Cleveland Open 10-Ball Classic and the 1991 Legends of One-Pocket event.

In both 1986 and 1987, Hopkins was the champion of the Japan World Open.

In 1993, he saw victory in the International Challenge of Champions.[5]

Allen Hopkins has a high run of 410 in straight pool (14.1 continuous),[6][7] and has run 15-and-out three times, in the game of one-pocket.[7]

In 2002, Hopkins triumphed in the Denver Ten-ball Open, defeating Earl Strickland, Filipino champion Jose Parica, Corey Deuel, David Matlock, and faced Shannon Daulton in a thrilling double-hill finals.[8]

In 2008, he was inducted to the BCA Hall of Fame by the Billiard Congress of America.[9]

Allen Hopkins Productions started the Super Billiards Expo, each year held in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, which has since become the biggest consumer-oriented trade show in the Billiards industry trade show in the world, with multiple tournaments for amateur, seniors, women and men professional player levels.[10]

He has combined efforts with Billiards International and promoted pocket billiards exhibitions like the Skins Billiards Championship, the Texas Hold'em Billiards Championship, and two short-lived competitions, the Million Dollar Nine-Ball Shootout,[11] and (with business partner Mike Andrews) the Team DMIRO tour.