Ronnie Allen

Who was Ronnie Allen?

Ronnie Monroe "Fast Eddie" Allen was labeled as a pool "super star" in the prime of his pool-shooting career by his peers during pool's golden era. He was an American professional pool player.

For several decades from the 1960s to 1980s, Allen was the most dominant one pocket player in the world. He was inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2004 for his contributions to the pocket billiard game of one pocket.

Allen's gift of gab often lured crowds to congregate around his table. He was a well-known gambler who enjoyed entertaining the crowds. Some believe that Walter Tevis, who wrote the book The Hustler that later became an Academy Award-winning film, based the character of "Fast Eddie" on Ronnie Allen after seeing him compete. Minnesota Fats said of Ronnie Allen, "Anybody who plays him for money ain't got no chance at all."