The final episode brings the drama home. With the number climbing, the pressure building, and history within reach, John Schmidt and Bob Keller take us through the closing stages of the 820 run and the decisions that still linger in the mind afterward. This is where the discussion turns to the final racks, the unconventional moments, the nerve required to keep going, and the emotional reality of coming so close to even bigger numbers. John reflects on the shots he would and would not choose in match play, the calm that comes from having lived in these positions before, and the strange mix of satisfaction and agony that can follow a run of this magnitude.

Bob adds an invaluable witness perspective, including how he tracked the run, how they used simple visual markers to measure progress, and when it became obvious that something special was unfolding. Together, they show that the late stages of a great run are not just about execution. They are about trust, rhythm, composure, and the ability to keep your decision-making intact while the number grows heavier with every rack.

The result is a fitting finale to a remarkable series. It is part postgame, part confession, part masterclass, and part love letter to straight pool itself. Above all, it captures what Legends of the Cue does best: preserving the stories behind the shots, in the voices of the people who lived them.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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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 Cue.”

In part four, the series shifts into the pure mechanics of greatness. This is where John Schmidt and Bob Keller begin unpacking the actual run in a way straight pool lovers will savor. They discuss break balls, key balls, rack patterns, cue-ball precision, manufacturing insurance balls, and the many little recovery shots that separate a big run from a broken one. What becomes clear very quickly is that 820 was not a clean, carefree stroll. It was a living, breathing puzzle solved one rack at a time by a player with extraordinary knowledge of the game.

John makes one of the most telling points of the entire interview when he says that the right way to judge a huge run is not just by the final number, but by how many shots in it would still make sense in a real match. That standard matters to him. Bob, meanwhile, highlights how often John had to create break balls, rescue awkward situations, and trust his cue-ball control under constant pressure. Their back-and-forth becomes both technical and dramatic, because every pattern has consequence and every decision carries risk.

For serious students of straight pool, this episode is a gold mine. For casual listeners, it is a chance to hear a master explain his craft in plain language. By the time this installment ends, you will understand why 820 is not just a number. It is a blueprint of elite problem-solving on a pool table.

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 Cue.”

Part three gets inside John Schmidt’s head, and it may be the most revealing episode of the series. John talks candidly about self-doubt, aging, criticism, pride, and the internal switch he flips when it is time to chase a giant number. He explains that for him, straight pool is no longer about trying harder or focusing harder. It is about seeing the game so clearly that entire racks begin to unfold almost automatically. Bob Keller confirms that point in unforgettable fashion, saying there are only a few players he has ever seen who can read a rack at that level, and that John is one of them.

The conversation also explores what separates players who flirt with big runs from those who can survive the emotional grind of repeated failure. John talks about missing a ball, not blinking, and getting right back into the next inning. He describes why experience matters more than pure shot-making and why, at 52, he may actually understand the game better than the younger version of himself ever did. It is a fascinating look at how mastery evolves.

There is humor, honesty, and vulnerability throughout, but the central theme is unmistakable: the run started long before 820. It started with the ability to withstand disappointment, block out noise, and keep coming back. If you have ever wondered what elite cue-sport confidence really sounds like, this episode gives you a rare and deeply human answer.

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 Cue.”