Athletes - Jean Balukas

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	Athletes - Jean Balukas

Jean Balukas (June 28, 1959 – ?), an American billiards player from Brooklyn, New York, ranks among the stellar females players in the history of the sport. Many aficionados place her as the greatest female player ever.

Balukas' rise through the ranks from a young age is legendary. She began playing at four years of age and competed in her first Billiard Congress of America U.S. Open at a precocious nine, taking seventh place. At twelve she won her first BCA title and at fourteen her first national women's championship. Her subsequent titles include seven BCA U.S. Open straight pool titles, six World Open titles and numerous 9-ball and straight pool first place finishes. She was inducted into the BCA's hall of fame in 1985 with the added honor of being its youngest inductee.

Dissension among the ranks

In the mid to late 1980s, a rancorous dispute occurred in the Womens Professional Billiards Association in which Balukas was accused of unprofessional conduct. Balukas vehemently denied the charges. There were countercharges of professional jealousy based on Balukas' then virtual domination of women's professional pool. The result was that Balukas reportedly quit the sport in disgust rather than accept professional sanction. Although she no longer competes professionally, Balukas helps run her family's billiard parlor, Hall of Fame Billiards, located in Brooklyn, New York.

Selected career titles

::1983

McDermott Masters 9-Ball
PPPA World Open 14.1
WPBA National 9-Ball
BCA US Open 14.1

::1984

River City Open
Eastern States Open
US Open
WPBA National 9-Ball
Classic Cup

::1985

Sands Regent 9-Ball
Busch 9-Ball Open

::1986

Cleveland Open II 9-Ball
California Mixed 9-Ball
US Open 9-Ball
Fall Classic 9-Ball
WPBA National 9-Ball
Resorts Last Call 9-Ball

::1987

WPBA Cleveland Open
WPBA Rakm Up Classic
WPBA Grove Open
WPBA Classic Cup VI
WPBA McDermott Masters
WPBA Glass City Open
WPBA U.S. Open
WPBA Fall Classic

::1988

WPBA Brunswick World Open

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Jean Balukas ]

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