Kunihiko Takahashi

Kunihiko Takahashi (高橋 邦彦, Takahashi Kunihiko) (b. March 4, 1969 in Nagasaki, Japan) is a Japanese professional pool player and a former world champion. Nicknamed "The Sniper."

He began practicing pool at 17 and turned professional in 1996. 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 WPA World Nine-ball Champion from Japan after Takeshi Okumura who won it in 1994. In that same year, he won the ESPN Ultimate Shootout, earning him $40,000.

Four years later, Takahashi was only 3 stages away from a second world title. Unfortunately, he was defeated by Earl Strickland who would later win it. With regards to Strickland's unpleasant ways in the match, Takahashi ranted "I lost up here. Strickland shows no sportmanship. He played very well. But no sportmanship." But Strickland denied the allgations.