Legends of the Cue

Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson & Mike Gonzalez
  • 5.0 (52)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

"Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with notable players, promoters, administrators and other people of influence in and around cue sports. We also plan to highlight memorable brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of cue sport’s greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

  1. 2d ago

    Darren Appleton - Part 3 (Inside the Mosconi Cup—Leadership, Rivalry and Team Europe)

    Few players have embodied the emotion of the Mosconi Cup like Darren Appleton. In Part 3 of his Legends of the Cue interview, the European pool icon goes inside the team room, the arena and the pressure cooker that transformed the annual USA-versus-Europe contest into one of cue sports’ greatest spectacles. Appleton reflects on joining Team Europe in 2009 and bringing a more vocal, fiery presence to a group traditionally known for quiet professionalism. He explains why assembling the highest-ranked players does not automatically create the strongest team—and why character, chemistry and off-table support can matter as much as shot-making. The conversation revisits Darren’s 2010 Mosconi Cup MVP performance, his memorable battles against American stars and the intensity of playing in front of partisan crowds. He discusses the personalities who defined both sides of the rivalry, including Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Rodney Morris, Shane Van Boening, Niels Feijen, Ralf Souquet, Mika Immonen, Thorsten Hohmann, Chris Melling and Karl Boyes. A major focus is legendary European captain Johan Ruijsink. Darren describes Johan’s discipline, emotional intelligence and uncanny ability to tell each player exactly what he needed to hear. One powerful example involves Chris Melling’s struggle after losing his mother and the private conversation that helped him produce an MVP-caliber turnaround. Mark Wilson adds the American captain’s perspective, including Darren’s support for his appointment and the intimidating atmosphere of the 2014 event at Blackpool’s Tower Circus. Allison Fisher also looks back on the early Mosconi Cup years and how dramatically the competition evolved. Appleton closes with candid opinions about playing captains, Team USA’s future, the importance of preserving national identity and why Mosconi Cup memories mean more than trophies or prize money. This episode is essential listening for fans of professional pool, Team Europe, the Mosconi Cup and cue sports history. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Darren Appleton - Part 3 (Inside the Mosconi Cup—Leadership, Rivalry and Team Europe)

  2. 3d ago

    Darren Appleton - Part 2 (Reinventing a Champion—From English 8-Ball to World 10-Ball Glory)

    Darren Appleton’s rise was anything but gradual. In Part 2 of this Legends of the Cue interview, “Dynamite” recalls winning the first professional tournament he entered, developing one of pool’s most admired cue deliveries and making the career-defining decision to leave English 8-ball behind for American pool. Appleton explains why his compact stroke, timing and cue-ball control were developed through observation rather than formal coaching. He remembers studying Jimmy White, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, borrowing pieces from great cueists and shaping them into a style built for pressure. The discussion also turns to English stars Chris Melling and Karl Boyes and their early years together. Darren traces his first exposure to American pool through televised women’s events, the Mosconi Cup and Matchroom’s World 9-Ball Championship. He recalls qualifying for the 2000 world championship, meeting Allison Fisher in Las Vegas and recognizing that the larger-table game offered both a technical challenge and a better financial future. The road was difficult. Appleton discusses the International Pool Tour, the collapse of its promises and the reality of starting over in a discipline where kicking, jumping, breaking and percentage play demanded a complete education. His determination took him to the Philippines, where he immersed himself in the game, learned from elite players and discovered a pool culture that became a second home. The gamble paid off spectacularly. In 2008, Darren Appleton became the inaugural WPA World 10-Ball Champion, earned a life-changing $100,000 prize and opened the floodgates to the World Pool Masters, the U.S. Open and the Mosconi Cup. This is the story of reinvention, risk and a champion rebuilding himself from scratch. Appleton’s account shows how technical humility, total commitment and the willingness to enter unfamiliar territory can turn an established winner in one game into a global force in another. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Darren Appleton - Part 2 (Reinventing a Champion—From English 8-Ball to World 10-Ball Glory)

  3. 3d ago

    Darren Appleton - Part 1 (From Pontefract to Professional Pool—The Making of “Dynamite”)

    Before Darren “Dynamite” Appleton became a multiple world champion and BCA Hall of Famer, he was a fiercely competitive kid growing up on a council estate in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. In Part 1 of this five-part Legends of the Cue interview, Appleton takes Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher and Mark Wilson back to the beginning of a remarkable cue sports journey. Darren explains how a childhood shaped by working-class values, football, boxing and family competition forged the mentality that later made him one of pool’s most relentless winners. He shares the story behind the nickname “Dynamite,” reflects on his father’s influence as a boxing coach and recalls the sights, sounds and unmistakable atmosphere of English pub pool in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The conversation explores the distinctive demands of English 8-ball: the smaller table, nap cloth, lighter cue ball, tactical exchanges and competing rule sets. Darren also discusses the limited financial opportunities available to professional English pool players and why that reality eventually encouraged him to seek a larger stage. Along the way, he remembers learning from his cousin Andy Appleton, competing with his brother Shane, leaving football and boxing behind, winning major junior and amateur events at his first attempts and developing the practice habits that separated him from other talented players. His intense hatred of losing became both a burden and a competitive advantage. This opening episode is the origin story of a pool legend—a candid look at family, ambition, sporting obsession and the moment Darren Appleton decided that pool would not simply be a pastime, but his life. He also considers what might have happened had snooker offered more opportunities in his youth, and why pool’s one-on-one nature captured the competitive thrill he once found in the boxing ring and on the football pitch. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Darren Appleton - Part 1 (From Pontefract to Professional Pool—The Making of “Dynamite”)

  4. Aug 4

    Alan McManus - Part 6 (The Future of Snooker, Pool vs. Snooker, and Alli’s Rapid Rack)

    The sixth and final part of our Legends of the Cue interview with Alan “Angles” McManus looks forward as much as it looks back. After tracing Alan’s journey from Glasgow schoolboy to Masters champion, Crucible semi-finalist, commentator, and podcaster, this closing episode turns to the future of snooker, the growth of cue sports, and the enduring connection between snooker and pool. Alan shares his views on the modern professional game, the extraordinary standard of today’s players, and the influence of young talent from China and around the world. He, Mike Gonzalez, Mark Wilson, and Allison Fisher discuss how snooker continues to evolve, what makes the current generation different, and what the sport must do to keep expanding its audience. The conversation then bridges snooker and pool, a perfect fit for Legends of the Cue. Alan reflects on the skills that transfer between cue-sports disciplines, while Allison and Mark bring their world-class perspectives from snooker, pool, teaching, and competition. The discussion touches on technique, stance, cue action, equipment, and the challenge of moving between games played on very different tables under very different cultural conditions. The episode also features our fun new segment: Alli’s Rapid Rack. Allison puts Alan on the clock with quick-fire cue-sports questions, bringing out his humor, honesty, and love for the game. The interview closes with reflective final questions about what snooker has given him, how he views his legacy, and what he hopes people remember about Alan McManus. For fans of snooker history, pool history, cue-sports technique, modern snooker, Chinese snooker, Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Alan McManus, this finale is a thoughtful, funny, and fitting conclusion to a remarkable six-part conversation. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Alan McManus - Part 6 (The Future of Snooker, Pool vs. Snooker, and Alli’s Rapid Rack)

  5. Aug 4

    Alan McManus - Part 5 (From Professional Snooker Player to Commentator, Analyst, and Podcaster)

    In Part 5 of our Legends of the Cue conversation with Alan McManus, we follow his transition from the professional arena to the commentary box, the television studio, and the world of podcasting. After more than three decades as a professional snooker player, Alan retired in 2021 and moved more fully into broadcasting. In this episode, he reflects on how the balance gradually shifted from competing to commentating, what he learned from being around television production, and why explaining the game well is a craft in itself. Alan discusses the difference between studio work and live commentary, the challenge of offering insight in short broadcast windows, and his desire for more time to explore the deeper “nuts and bolts” of snooker stories. That natural curiosity leads into a discussion of The Snooker Breakfast Podcast, Alan’s own show. He explains how the podcast began partly as a way to fill time during tournaments, only for him to discover how demanding regular podcasting can be. From recording late at night during the Crucible to getting episodes out early in the morning, Alan shares the behind-the-scenes reality that every podcaster will recognize. The conversation is full of warmth and humor, especially as Alan admits to being old-school about technology, recording, editing, and the mechanics of modern media. Mike, Mark, and Allison connect his experience to the mission of Legends of the Cue: preserving cue-sports stories in the voices of the people who lived them. This episode is ideal for listeners interested in snooker commentary, sports broadcasting, podcasting, retirement from professional sport, BBC and television analysis, and the storytelling side of cue sports. Alan McManus proves that the same qualities that made him a great tactician—observation, patience, curiosity, and honesty—also make him one of snooker’s most engaging voices. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Alan McManus - Part 5 (From Professional Snooker Player to Commentator, Analyst, and Podcaster)

  6. Aug 4

    Alan McManus - Part 4 (Beating Stephen Hendry, Winning the Masters, and Crucible Memories)

    Part 4 of our Alan McManus series brings us to the championship heart of his career: the 1994 Masters at Wembley, the famous final against Stephen Hendry, and the long arc of a professional snooker life lived at the highest level. Alan takes Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson inside one of the most memorable wins of his career: defeating Hendry 9–8 in the Masters final. He reflects on what finals felt like, why some players seemed naturally built for them, and how different the atmosphere became as a tournament moved from the early rounds to the title match. His memories of Hendry are especially compelling: the aura, the standard, the pressure, and the knowledge that Stephen was operating in a different competitive stratosphere during that era. The conversation also explores Alan’s wider professional résumé, including the Dubai Classic, Thailand Open, and his consistency as a top player during the fiercely competitive 1990s. He discusses what it meant to perform in the Hendry era, how he viewed his own strengths and limitations, and why tactical awareness and match craft mattered so much. A major thread in this episode is the Crucible Theatre and the World Snooker Championship. Alan reflects on his early Crucible semi-final appearances and the extraordinary later-career run in 2016, when he once again reached the semi-finals more than two decades after first doing so. The discussion captures the endurance, resilience, travel, fatigue, and deep love of the game required to sustain a 31-year professional career. For fans of Stephen Hendry, the Masters, Wembley, the Crucible, Scottish snooker, World Championship history, and snooker’s golden era, this episode delivers the stories behind the results—and the mind of the man who lived them. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Alan McManus - Part 4 (Beating Stephen Hendry, Winning the Masters, and Crucible Memories)

  7. Jul 28

    Alan McManus - Part 3 (Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Technique, Talent, and the Rise of “Angles”)

    Part 3 of our Legends of the Cue series with Alan “Angles” McManus explores the influences, techniques, rivalries, and self-awareness that helped define his rise in professional snooker. Alan looks back on Steve Davis as the model player of his youth: the standard-bearer whose technique, discipline, and professionalism changed what young snooker players believed was possible. As a boy, Alan even staged imaginary tournaments at home, pretending to be Davis, Jimmy White, and other stars while studying their cue actions and trying to understand what made each player different. That leads to a rich discussion of snooker technique, including stance, cue action, cue-ball striking, and why the game changed when players began to treat fundamentals as seriously as scoring. Alan, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson compare snooker and pool mechanics, discussing why a 12-foot snooker table exposes flaws and why elite cueing demands repeatability under pressure. This episode also digs into the contrast between structure and genius. Alan reflects on Jimmy White’s incredible natural ability, his fearless shot-making, and the difference between being able to pot balls and knowing when not to attack. The conversation examines why some gifted players thrive on instinct while others build their careers through practice, method, and tactical judgment. Mike, Mark, and Allison guide Alan through his early professional breakthrough, his first big win at the Masters qualifying event, the insecurity he felt before matches, and the confidence he often found once play began. Alan describes being afraid beforehand but comfortable at the table—a revealing insight into the psychology of competition. For listeners interested in Steve Davis, Jimmy White, snooker technique, cue action, pressure, practice habits, and the mental architecture of a top professional, this episode is a deep dive into how Alan McManus became one of the game’s sharpest minds. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Alan McManus - Part 3 (Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Technique, Talent, and the Rise of “Angles”)

  8. Jul 28

    Alan McManus - Part 2 (Pool Rooms, Road Players, Turning Pro, and the Discipline of Safety)

    In Part 2 of our Legends of the Cue interview with Alan McManus, the conversation moves from Glasgow snooker halls to New York pool rooms, from schoolboy promise to professional ambition, and from natural ability to the hard-earned craft of safety play. Alan begins with a fascinating cue-sports crossover discussion, asking Allison Fisher about the open bridge, snooker technique, and how her move to American pool may have influenced the way pool players approached fundamentals. That opens the door to a broader conversation about equipment, discipline, practice structure, and the difference between snooker and pool culture. One of the great stories in this segment is Alan’s unexpected visit to Chelsea Billiards in Manhattan during a spontaneous 1996 trip to New York. He describes walking into a 24-hour pool room, playing nine-ball without fully knowing the rules, losing money to a local player, and loving the atmosphere of American action pool. Mark Wilson then offers his own memories of the road-player era, where pool halls, road atlases, small-stakes matches, and local champions created a romantic and competitive underground cue-sports world. The episode also returns to Alan’s own development as a snooker player: his first century break at 14, the Scottish amateur circuit, his decision to leave behind a short-lived job as a trainee car mechanic, and the moment he committed himself to trying to become a professional snooker player. Alan also shares a telling story from the Scottish amateur final, where he spent the break between sessions practicing safety shots instead of relaxing. For fans of snooker, pool, road-player culture, nine-ball, safety play, and cue-sports development, this episode captures the moment ambition becomes discipline—and discipline becomes a career. Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text. Support the show Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1 Music by Lyrium. About "Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with Hall of Fame members, world champions, and influential figures from across the world of cue sports—including pocket billiards, snooker, and carom disciplines such as three-cushion billiards. We highlight the people, places, and moments that have shaped the game—celebrating iconic players, memorable events, historic venues, and the brands that helped define generations of play. With a focus on the positive spirit of the sport, our goal is to create a rich, engaging, and timeless archive of stories that fans can enjoy now and for years to come. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher and Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, Legends of the Cue brings these stories to life—told in the voices of the game’s greatest figures.  Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cu...

    Alan McManus - Part 2 (Pool Rooms, Road Players, Turning Pro, and the Discipline of Safety)
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5
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a cue sports history podcast featuring interviews with notable players, promoters, administrators and other people of influence in and around cue sports. We also plan to highlight memorable brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of cue sport’s greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

Information

  • Creator
    Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson & Mike Gonzalez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Legends of the Cue
  • Show Website
    Legends of the Cue

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