Andrew Ponzi

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Andrew Ponzi
Personal information
Born(1903-01-20)20 January 1903
Died11 April 1950(1950-04-11) (aged 47)
Philadelphia, United States[1]
Pool career
CountryFile:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
Turned pro1919
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

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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

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