Brian Pauley Abram Diaz Interview

Abram Diaz Interview

By Brian Pauley

To have success in any sport it takes time and dedication. Hours upon hours and year upon year. Rome wasn’t created in a day and neither is a WPA World #1 ranking. For over a decade Abram “Too Tall” Diaz and been a constant at Artistic Pool events all over the world. In 2017 he won the WPA Mexican National Artistic Pool Championships and recently won the 2021

National Artistic Pool Championships. Abram has competed against all the titans of the sport in route to become a titan himself. He is also a premier cue repair person as well as an established cue maker. Most of us that compete in the Artistic Pool events use a Masse cue built by Abram. Known as “Too Tall” for his height, Abram has achieved many highs in the sport of Artistic Pool.

What was your first introduction to pool?

Playing my friend, a game of 8 ball on his outdoor patio table lol.

What was the reason you got into Artistic Pool?

I was watching ESPN Trick shot Magic back in 2006 and seeing Mike Massey and Tom Rossman go at it in the finals sold me.

Who did you look up to in the Artistic Pool world?

Mike Massey, Tom Rossman, Stefano Pelinga, and Sebastian Giumelli

You are currently ranked #1 on the WPA Artistic Pool Rankings. What does it take to earn and then keep that ranking?

Honestly just consistent practice habits and being active on tour by playing events.

When did you realize that you “arrived” in the artistic pool world?

Abram Diaz Interview

Probably when I was one of 12 selected to play in the World Masters Trick shot Championship in 2012 which was held in Shenyang, China.

You are an accomplished cue maker and cue repair person. Who helped you along your cue making/ repair journey?

I would love to play Charles Lakey. What a match that would be to promote our wonderful sport. The internet sensation against the WPA No. 1 ranked artist. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Maybe add Florian Kohler in the mix. Triple threat odd man out. That would be a crazy match.

Any success I have as a Cuemaker and repair guy I owe to the late Curtis Robertson and Dennis Dieckman.

How many cues do you use in competition?

5 minimum. lol

What is something that most people get wrong about Trick Shot Artists?

That it’s all in the set up. There’s more to artistic pool than just set up. It takes great skill to execute majority of these shots

Do you have a favorite trick shot?

Yes!!! The Russian Masse!

Do you have another pool game/ discipline that you like to play and why?

I love the beautiful art of 3 cushion billiards.

or deceased, in any game, who and what would it be?