Kunihiko Takahashi

Kunihiko Takahashi (高橋 邦彦, Takahashi Kunihiko) (born March 4, 1969, in Nagasaki) is a Japanese professional pool player and a WPA World Nine-ball Champion. Nicknamed "the Sniper".

Kunihiko Takahashi

Born	(1969-03-04) 4 March 1969 (age 55) Nagasaki, Japan
Nickname	"The Sniper"
Professional	1996
Pool games	9-Ball
Tournament wins
World Champion	9-Ball (1998)
Medal record Representing  Japan Men's Eight-Ball 1998 Asian Games 1998 Bangkok Individual

He began practicing pool at 17 and turned professional in 1996.^[1] In 1998, he won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship by defeating the reigning champion, Johnny Archer, in the final match. He became the second World Nine-ball Champion from Japan, after Takeshi Okumura, who won it in 1994. In 1999, Takahashi won the ESPN Ultimate Shootout, earning him US$40,000.^[2]

Four years later, Takahashi was three stages away from a second world title when he lost to Earl Strickland, who would later win the championship. Takahashi was critical of the Strickland's behavior during the match: "I lost up here. Strickland shows no sportsmanship. He played very well. But no sportsmanship." Strickland denied the allegation of unsportsmanlike conduct.^[3]