Ewa Mataya Laurance - Part 2 (Bunnies, Breakthroughs, and the FBI Raid: Ewa Mataya Laurance Finds Her Fire)

Part 2 picks up as Ewa Mataya Laurance—“The Striking Viking”—plants her feet in America with one goal: play pool, and nothing else. From home in Michigan to road trips with her friend Vicky Frechen (Paski), Ewa relives the hustle behind the highlight reels: waitressing shifts, a brief—and doomed—stint in an insurance office (“How did you get here?”), and even landing a job at a Playboy Club, learning the bunny dip while trying to run racks on a bumper-pool table in costume.

But the real story is the turning points. Ewa opens up about becoming a young mother, the fear and responsibility that reshaped her life, and how that pressure changed her relationship with the game. Then comes the breakthrough: the gritty, smoke-thick Maverick Club scene, a title match versus Lori Shampo, and the moment 20 FBI agents storm the room mid-finals—forcing Ewa to fight not only for the trophy, but for the scoreline itself.

Along the way, Ewa, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson revisit the stars and influencers of the era—Belinda Bearden, LoreeJon, Gloria Walker, Vivian Villarreal, Billie Billing, Palmer Byrd, and more—painting a vivid picture of women’s pro pool before it went mainstream. Ewa also shares a surprising partnership with “Mr. Humble” Mike Sigel in a pioneering live doubles event, plus what it felt like to watch trailblazer Jean Balukas carry the weight of attention, controversy, and expectation on national TV on ESPN—right up to the $200 fine that became her exit line.

Outside the arena, a Brunswick sponsorship arrives just as Ewa’s marriage fractures—raising the stakes on every rack as she chases big wins like her U.S. Open titles of the late ’80s. And in a fascinating behind-the-scenes chapter, she details the ambitious (and messy) attempt to unite men and women under one tour umbrella—the early blueprint that foreshadowed modern professional pool.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”