How does a lifelong 9-ball player enter a world championship in a game she has barely played—and leave as the first women’s champion in its history?

That unlikely journey is at the heart of Part 3 with Hydred Goldberg on Legends of the Cue.

Hydred joins Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson and Mike Gonzalez for a detailed exploration of what elite pool really looks like from a wheelchair. She explains how table height, flooring, wheel position, abdominal strength and stroke mechanics affect every shot, why draw can become particularly demanding, and how wheelchair players develop different patterns and solutions around the table.

She also remembers the atmosphere of old-school Southern California poolrooms, watching Keith McCready perform an outrageous draw shot at College Billiards and looking up to top female players such as Tina Pawloski.

Hydred then traces nearly two decades working in makeup before stepping away from that career and recommitting to pool. Her return led her into the National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association, where she became increasingly aware of just how few women were competing in wheelchair billiards.

Then came a phone call about something called Heyball.

Hydred had never seriously played the Chinese-origin discipline and had no regular access to a Heyball table. Yet at the inaugural 2024 WPA Parasport Heyball World Championship in Los Angeles, she kept winning.

Her championship battle with Catherine Schneeberger eventually came down to a spot-shot shootout—the second shootout the two had contested during the event.

Hydred won.

Six months later in Brisbane, she did it again, defeating Schneeberger once more to become a two-time WPA Parasport World Champion.

Hydred discusses the pressure, the friendship, the rivalry—and the lingering imposter syndrome that made even two world titles difficult to comprehend.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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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 Cu...