One of the best American three-cushion players of the modern era died Saturday, July 15, in Los Angeles at the age of 77. Allen Gilbert passed away at Veterans Hospital in West Hollywood from renal failure after suffering from a variety of ailments in recent years. He was a veteran of the Korean War.

He was a very strong player as a teenager in Los Angeles, but didn’t come to national attention until the Billiard Federation of the USA (later the USBA) was organized. He won the first BFUSA National tournament in 1968, followed by wins in 1970, 1971, 1977, and 1988, and finished second eight times. In the 1993 event, he led Sang Lee 35-25 only to lose 50-44. He won four Champ of Champs national tournament sponsored by the American Billiard Association, He spent four years competing against the best players in the world in the Billiard World Cup tournaments, finishing fifth overall in 1986.

In addition to successes in national and international tournaments, he won at least twenty other elite events in his 40-year career as a top player. Gilbert was a left-handed slip-stroker whose confident style was all his own. He had a great fighting heart and could never be counted out of any game no matter what the score. His scoring ability and safety play gave him many come-from-behind wins. — Robert Byrne