The billiards world is filled with amazing talent, but one player stands out from the rest. Masako Katsura, the first lady of billiards, made her mark on the world stage, becoming the best player in billiards. She was an inspirational woman who achieved the impossible during World War II.
She is still famous in the global billiard community. This blog article will explore her incredible journey and life secrets and look at her rise to success.
General Information
Name: Masako Katsura
Nickname: Katsy
Date of Birth: 7 March 1913
Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan
Died: 20 December 1995
Nationality: Japanese
Citizenship: American
Profession: Billiards Player
Famous Title: World Three-Cushion Billiards
Sport: Carom Billiards
Turned Pro: In 1947
Her Coach’s Name: Tomio Kobashi, Kinrey Matsuyama
Retired: In 1961
Introduction to Masako Katsura
Masako Katsura billiards player was born on 7 March 1913 in Tokyo, Japan. She began playing billiards at age five and won her first national championship at age thirteen. She turned professional at eighteen and quickly became the dominant player in the Japanese billiard society. In December 1951, she moved to the United States to compete with the world’s best pool players.
Personal and married life
In 1947, Katsura was spotted by Master Sergeant Vernon Greenleaf, a member of the Army Quartermaster Corps who had served in the armed forces for 22 years. Greenleaf was impressed by Katsura’s pool and carom skills and offered to teach her how to play billiards. The two became friends.
Greenleaf and Katsura met at a Tokyo service club where she gave a billiards exhibition. She quickly fell in love with Katsura and began taking lessons from her. Their marriage occurred on 30 November 1950, but they never had children.
Although the couple enjoyed a happy married life, they could not have children. In an interview years later, Katsura revealed that she had suffered from several miscarriages. The pair eventually accepted that they would not be able to have kids and instead focused on their careers and enjoying each other’s company.
Early Life and Career of Masako Katsura
The parents of Masako Katsura were both professional billiards players. So it is no surprise that Masako took up the game at a young age. She began competing in tournaments when she was just eight years old. She is very passionate about her profession as she won her first national championship at very young age. She was only thirteen years old when she won national championship for the first time.
Masako continued to dominate the Japanese billiards scene throughout her teens and twenties. She won multiple national titles and set many records. In 1980, she became the first woman inducted into the World Billiards Hall of Fame.
In 1953 and 1954, Masako made history again by becoming the first woman to win the men’s world championship title. She has since won the title five more times, solidifying her status. She was the best female player in the world, regardless of gender.
You can also read about Amanda Aldridge.
Championship Wins by Masako Katsura
Katsura has won many international championships, including the
- Straight Rail Tournament 1928
- US national champion in 1934
- National three-cushion championship in 1937
- World Three-Cushion Billiards tournament in 1952
- World Three-Cushion tournament in 1954
- Hiatus and exhibition 1955–1961
- World Three-Cushion title in 1961
The secret behind the success of Masako Katsura
Several factors have contributed to Katsura’s success as a professional pool player:
- She is a talented athlete with great hand-eye coordination.
- She is a very hard worker and always looks for ways to improve her game.
- She has a great deal of mental toughness and resilience, which allows her to overcome setbacks and continue competing at a high level.
- She can play among male pool players.
Legacy of Masako Katsura
Katsura appeared in a Google Doodle on International Women’s Day on 7 March 2021.
Masako Katsura is a remarkable woman. She made an invaluable contribution to the sport of billiards. Her legacy has changed the sport’s history. Her inspiring story will motivate any aspiring pool player.
Not every day a woman becomes the undisputed champion of a sport as complex and challenging as billiards. But Masako Katsura changed everything, becoming the most decorated Japanese competitor in the game’s history.
The 1952 World Three-Cushion Billiards Championship
The top players that participated in the 1952 championship were
- Masako Katsura
- Ray Miller
- Harold Worst
- Juan and Ezequiel Navarra
- Welker Cochran
- And the defending champion, Kilgore
- Willie Hoppe
The net score of Masako Katsura was 56. She put a high score among all her competitors, shown in the score chart above. Therefore, she gets the title of the first World Three-Cushion Billiards Champion.
Reason & Cause of Death
The reason behind the cause of death of Masako Katsura is not currently unknown. Some say that she died of cancer. But it is not true. She died due to natural human age at 82 in 1995 in Tokyo.
Conclusion
Masako Katsura’s story is inspirational and motivational for sports players. The world of the pool has dominated by male players for generations. But thanks to Masako, it changes the perception of the world. She continues inspiring young female billiard players to pursue their dreams. It gives you the lesson to never give up on achieving your dreams. She also inspired females because she competed with male-dominating billiard players. Her amazing career reminds us all that when you put your heart and soul into your work and sports.
