Born | Philadelphia, United States | 20 January 1903
---|---|
Died | 11 April 1950 Philadelphia, United States [1] | (aged 47)
Sport country | ![]() |
Professional | 1919 |
Pool games | Straight Pool |
Tournament wins | |
World Champion | Four-time straight pool world champion |
Andrew Ponzi (January 20, 1903 – April 11, 1950) was an American pool player and world champion.
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]
Born | Philadelphia, United States | 20 January 1903
---|---|
Died | 11 April 1950 Philadelphia, United States [1] | (aged 47)
Sport country | ![]() |
Professional | 1919 |
Pool games | Straight Pool |
Tournament wins | |
World Champion | Four-time straight pool world champion |
Andrew Ponzi (January 20, 1903 – April 11, 1950) was an American pool player and world champion.
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]