Anthony Beeler is a no-nonsense billiards player, tactician of the pool table, and pool instructor of the highest caliber, providing lessons from his home and on the internet. He plays the game the way it should be played, with beauty, grace, and a simple elegance that sets him apart — moving around the table as an artist does on the white canvas — his cue is his brush, and the table is his canvas. He began his journey in the game at the young age of 12 or 13 in the small Ken

I was 17 years old and was just starting to get my feet wet with serious competition. J.R.’s weekly 8-ball tournament in Lancaster, Kentucky was viewed by many as the strongest tournament in the state. When I arrived on the scene over 50 players had already paid their entries. During the tournament, one player in particular caught my attention. In fact, the man referred to as “Toothpick” waltzed all the way to the finals of the 52-man field. This wasn’t by coincidence. At tha