The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European Championships, the precursor to the World Championships, were first held in 1910. The tournament held at the 1920 Summer Olympics is recognized as the first Ice Hockey World Championship. From 1920 to 1968, the Olympic hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year.
Jack William Nicklaus, nicknamed The Golden Bear, is an American retired professional golfer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. He won 117 professional tournaments in his career. Over a quarter-century, he won a record 18 major championships, three more than second-placed Tiger Woods. Nicklaus focused on the major championships—Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship—and played a selective schedule of regular PGA Tour events. He competed in 164 major tournaments, more than any other player, and finished with 73 PGA Tour victories, third behind Sam Snead (82) and Woods (82).
Efren "Bata" Manalang Reyes is a Filipino professional pool player. A winner of over 70 international titles, Reyes was the first player to win world championships in two different pool disciplines. Among his numerous titles, Reyes is a four-time World Eight-ball champion, the 1999 WPA World Nine-ball Championship winner, a three-time U.S. Open winner, a two-time World Pool League winner, and a 14-time Derby City Classic winner. Reyes also represented the Philippines at the World Cup of Pool, winning the event with his partner Francisco Bustamante in 2006 and 2009. By defeating American player Earl Strickland in the inaugural Color of Money event in 1997, Reyes took home the largest single match purse in pool history of $100K. Many analysts, fans, and players consider Reyes to be the greatest pool player of all time.
Tony Drago is a Maltese former professional snooker and pool player.
John James "Jack" McGrath was an American racecar driver.
Paul McGrath is an Irish former professional footballer, who played as a defender. Mainly a centre back, he also played as defensive midfielder. McGrath is widely considered to be one of the greatest Irish players of all time. He spent the majority of his career at Aston Villa and Manchester United. He is one of only six defenders to have won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. He also played for St Patrick's Athletic, Derby County and Sheffield United.
Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was an American professional tennis player. In 1975, Gerulaitis won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon, partnering with Sandy Mayer. He won the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis also won two Italian Open titles, in 1977 and 1979, and the WCT Finals in Dallas, in 1978.
Jeremy McGrath is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport, racking up 7 Supercross championships. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of Supercross." McGrath didn't start riding motocross until the age of 14 because he spent his younger years riding BMX. That experience helped him revolutionize the way supercross was ridden, employing a technique he learned in BMX allowing him to stay a foot or two lower over jumps by coming in with more speed then soaking up the landing into his body similar to the way you ride BMX. One of his BMX "tricks" during jumps on the supercross track, the most famous of which he called the "Nac Nac", helped spawn the sport of freestyle motocross. McGrath won the AMA Pro Athlete of the Year Award in 1996. Still competitive in Motorcycle racing, he has tried his hand in many types of motorcycle competition. Lately he has expanded into off-road trucks in the Pro 2WD division of the LOORS Series and occasionally tries his hand at stock car racing. McGrath lives in Southern California with his wife Kim and daughters Rhowan and Bergen. McGrath has the privilege of being the first rookie ever to win the AMA 250cc Supercross Championship, in 1993.
Marlon Manalo is a former Filipino professional pool player from Mandaluyong, Philippines. He became the League of Barangays of the Philippines Press Relation Officer and ABC president.
Johnny Archer is an American professional pool player. He is nicknamed "the Scorpion". On June 8, 2009, Johnny Archer was nominated to be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.
Mika Immonen is a Finnish professional Hall of Fame pool player, nicknamed "The Iceman."
Speedball, also called speed pool, is a solitary pool game. As its name suggests, one pockets all the pool balls on the table as quickly as possible. It can be played competitively with the aid of a stopwatch.
Daniel (Danny) Basavich is an American professional pool player from New Jersey. He is fondly called "Kid Delicious", a nickname he acquired after defeating a player monickered "Kid Vicious".
Shane Van Boening is an American professional pool player from Rapid City, South Dakota, a former number 1 in the US rankings published by the UPA Tour.
Luc Salvas is a Canadian professional pool player. His quick-paced speed pool play has earned him the nickname "Machine Gun".
Tian Pengfei is a Chinese professional snooker player. He began his career by playing the Challenge Tour in 2004, at the time the second-level professional tour. Tian played on the Main Tour in 2006 and competed on the World Snooker Tour for two seasons until he dropped off in 2008. He won his first professional title, the Beijing International Challenge, and returned to the Main Tour the following year. He is considered to be something of a journeyman.
Meredith McGrath is a former professional tennis player.
Jason Kane is a British pool player nicknamed "Tiger" who has won a number of pool championships and who has a mark in the Guinness Book of World Records. He is best known for his speed pool but he has also won artistic pool tournaments during his career.
The International Speed Pool Challenge is a pool tournament held in the United States from 2006 to 2010. It is the most notable speed pool event, as well as being the richest in prize money for that discipline. Luc Salvas won the 2010 championship, defeating Bobby McGrath in the finals.
Dave Pearson is a British professional pool player.
