1924 World Straight Pool Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	Ralph Greenleaf
2	Bennie Allen

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

Ralph Greenleaf won the World Straight Pool Championship in 1924, defeating Bennie Allen. This victory was part of his 19-title reign as world champion. The championship was contested in 14.1 continuous, known today as straight pool.

The championship format of this era required matches that often stretched over several days, with competitors working to reach point totals of 1,500 or more. These were challenge matches between the sport's elite rather than annual events, making each victory significant. Greenleaf's win over Allen showed his ability to perform effectively in extended matches.

By 1924, Greenleaf had already become pool's premier attraction after turning professional in 1916 at age 17. His personality and skill helped raise the profile of pocket billiards and establish it as legitimate sporting entertainment in American culture.

This championship victory came during straight pool's golden age, following Jerome Keough's 1910 invention of the game. Straight pool became a comprehensive test of a player's skill, strategy, and endurance. The World Straight Pool Championship remained the sport's most prestigious title until nine-ball's rise in the late 20th century, making Greenleaf's repeated wins particularly impressive.

Greenleaf's defeat of Bennie Allen in 1924 was another major victory in a career that spanned two decades at the top level. Between 1919 and 1938, he claimed 19 world titles, a record that demonstrated his incredible longevity and dominance. He was inducted as one of the first three members of the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1966.

Sources: Ralph Greenleaf – Wikipedia, World Straight Pool Championship – Wikipedia

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