Welker Cochran, owner of San Francisco's legendary poolroom the 924 Club and an eight-time world champion in billiards, had heard about Masako Katsura. American servicemen returning from Tokyo had described her skill with a cue, and Cochran had sent his own son to scout her out in Japan (famously, his son reported: "This girl is better than you are!"). Still, he was stunned when Katsura, 5 feet tall and less than a hundred pounds, strode into his club.