Dave Daya

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 11, 2024
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INDUCTEE

From the back room at the “Greeks” to the largest ballroom of Resorts International in Las Vegas – that is the route taken by Dave Daya on his way to becoming one of the nations great billiards players. Dave first started shooting pool at the age of 10 in the billiards parlor known as the “Greeks” and now know as the Academy Sports Center. Dave’s father Joe was the manager there and he and well known Eddie Murray taught Dave how to handle the stick. At the age of 14, he won his first local tournament and, after a meeting with Tom Monaski – the organizer of Pennsylvania State Pool Championships – entered the State Pool Championships. That was only the beginning.

Dave would go onto become a 6-time State Champion by winning the 1980 PA Straight Pool Championship, the 1986 PA 8-Ball Championship, the 1987 New York State Championship, the 1995 PA 10 Ball State Championship, and the 2000 and 2001 PA * Ball Scratch State Championship. He was named the Tim Skruggs Player of the Year in 1998 and the Tim Skruggs 9 Ball Champion in 2000. Dave recently placed 2nd in the 2002 State 9 Ball Tournament and 2nd in the 2001 Valley Forge 8 Ball Open.

Daya has played most of the top players in the world including Jim Rempe, Allen Hopkins, Mike Massey, Johnny Archer, Nick Varner, Corey Deul, and Mike Lebron. He was able to play in an exhibition match with the top 2 women players in the world, Allison Fisher and Janette Lee, to raise money for a Philadelphia hospital.

In what Dave considers the highlight of his career was beating Allen Hopkins in the semi-final match to go on to win the 1987 New York State Championship. He has also placed in the top 5 at the Las Vegas Open and National Eight Ball Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. He has also participated in the U.S. Open in Virginia Beach and Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. He is a member of the Pro Billiard Tour and has been favorably mentioned in “Pool and Billiards” magazine.

One of Dave’s life-long desires was to play the nest player n the world in his home town of Mount Carmel. Daya organized the Jared Mariano 9 Ball fund and raised over $10,000 in a match with world-renowned Jim Rempe at Mount Carmel Area High School.

Dave is a 1971 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School and is a partner in the Mount Carmel Auto Supply since 1980. He is the father of 2 daughters, Jennifer, and Didi, and has 2 grandsons Derick and Diono. He and his wife, the former Rose Shannon, make their home in Mount Carmel.