Jump to content

Andrew Ponzi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andrew Ponzi
Born(1903-01-20)20 January 1903
Philadelphia, United States
Died11 April 1950(1950-04-11) (aged 47)
Philadelphia, United States[1]
Sport country United States
Professional1919
Pool gamesStraight Pool
Tournament wins
World ChampionFour-time straight pool world champion

Andrew Ponzi (January 20, 1903 – April 11, 1950) was an American pool player and world champion.

Biography

[edit]

Andrew Ponzi was born Andrew D'Allesandro in Philadelphia. As a boy, he injured his right hand as a result of a trolley mishap. He went on to improve it by practicing pool.[2]

At 16, D'Allesandro was already a skilled player who won numerous money matches. By that time, the infamous swindler, Charles Ponzi, was in the press. Thus friends gave him the nickname Ponzi.[3]

In 1934, Ponzi won his first world pool title by defeating Erwin Rudolph.[2]

Ponzi won the world title again in 1940 by besting Jimmy Caras.[4][full citation needed]

In 1943, Ponzi won his third world championship, subduing Willie Mosconi.[5] He won the world title for the fourth and final time by defeating Irving Crane that same year.[6]

He suffered a heart attack while participating in a tournament in 1950. He died two weeks later at age 47.[3]

Ponzi was inducted in the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1988.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chicago Tribune". 1950. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Ponzi Defeats Erwin Rudolph for Cue Crown". Chicago Tribune. March 1, 1934. pp. 1, 25.
  3. ^ a b "Ponzi Dies at 47; Former Cue Titlist". The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 12, 1950. p. 37.
  4. ^ "Andrew Ponzi Displaces Caras as Cue Champion". The Morning News. April 29, 1940. p. 16.
  5. ^ "Ponzi Regains World Pocket Billiards Title". San Bernardino Sun. April 19, 1943. p. 7.
  6. ^ "Crane Cinch to Annex Cue Crown, Ponzi Says a Big Time". Democrat and Chronicle. December 13, 1943. p. 21.
  7. ^ Dyer, R. A. (2005). Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book. Billiard Congress of America. p. 156. ISBN 1-59228-744-1.