Oliver Ortmann

Oliver Ortmann (born 11 June 1967) is a German top professional pool player whose nickname is "The Machine". He is renowned not only as a World Champion in Nine-Ball but also in the resurgent discipline of 14.1 or straight pool. He was inducted into the Straight Pool Hall of Fame, during a ceremony in New York City, in August of 2013.

A native-born Hamburger, Ortmann is one of the most successful European players. He first came to prominence by defeating Steve Mizerak to win the 1989 US Open 14.1 Championship. In 1995, he became the WPA Men's Nine-ball World Champion.

Ortmann won the International Challenge of Champions in 1997. He won it for the second time, against the defending champion Francisco Bustamante, three years later

In 2004, Ortmann formed Ortmann Billiards, a company which sells pool products. Two years later he joined the International Pool Tour, and also continued competing in events sanctioned by other organizations.

Ortmann also won the 2007 WPA World Straight Pool Championship defeating Huidji See, 200-171 in the final match. During the tournament Ortmann made the third-highest run of the tournament, 131. He would win that same tournament in 2010 in defeating Mika Immonen. As the straight pool tournament continues to be held without sanctioning from the WPA, Ortmann remains being the last official world straight pool champion.

WPA World Nine-ball Championship

The WPA World Nine-ball Championship is an annual, international, professional nine-ball pool (pocket billiards) tournament, founded in 1990, sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), and principally sponsored and organised by Matchroom Sport (who provide the event's official website, under the less specific name World Pool Championship). It is divided into men's, women's and wheelchair Divisions. Since 2010, it is held in Doha, Qatar.

History

In the summer of 1989, the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) began plans for a world championship tournament. The group sent invitations, rules, sports regulations and by-laws. Reception was positive, and a provisional Board was created. These efforts culminated in February 1990.

In March 1990, the inaugural WPA World Nine-ball Championship was held in Bergheim, Germany. The playing field included 32 men and 16 women in separate divisions, and has since become an annual event. The event was organised solely by the WPA from this inauguration through 1999.

Francisco Bustamante

Francisco Bustamante (born December 29, 1963, Philippines) is a Filipino professional pocket billiards (pool) player from Tarlac, and the 2010 World Nine-ball Champion, nicknamed "Django", after the lead character of the film of the same name, and sometimes also called "Bustie", especially in the United States.

Early life

Bustamante is the youngest of eight siblings. People in his vicinity nicknamed him "Django" because of his scrappy nature and the way he often appeared with a cigarette in his mouth reminded them of the movie character of that name. The character was portrayed by an Italian actor. Their father made a living through building toilets and planting rice, and Bustamante engaged himself in the activities also. His life in pool began when he worked in his sister's pool hall, racking and spotting balls on the tables. When the patrons leave and the place closes for the night, the young Bustamante would grab a stick and practice alone.

He never completed high school and has been concentrating in pocket billiards from 10 years of age. He quoted:

World Pool Masters Tournament

The World Pool Masters Tournament (or World Pool Masters for short) is an annual international nine-ball tournament. Formerly, it was called the European Pool Masters until players from other parts of the globe were invited.

Throughout much of its history, the tournament has been featuring sixteen world-class pool players, competing in single-elimination format. By 2010, the number of players was doubled to 32. The first round of the event was played in double elimination and the next went back to single-elimination.

In 2011 the tournament reverts to the original 16-player Single Elimination format, with each match a Race-to-8, winner breaks. The 2011 edition was held in SM North EDSA Mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Ralf Souquet of Germany won the said tournament for the record-setting sixth time, beating defending champion Dennis Orcollo of the Philippines, 8-5.

Champions

References

External links

Efren Reyes

Efren Manalang Reyes, OLD, PLH (born August 26, 1954), popularly known as Efren "Bata" Reyes and nicknamed 'The Magician', is a Filipino professional pool player. A winner of over 70 international titles , Reyes is the first man in history to win World Championships in two different disciplines in pool. Besides his World titles he is also a 14-time Derby City Classic champion, a two-time World Cup champion, and a two-time World Pool League champion. By defeating Earl Strickland in the inaugural Color of Money event in 1996, Reyes took home the largest single event purse in pool history. Many analysts, fans, and current and former players consider Reyes to be the greatest pool player of all time.

Biography

Early life

Reyes was born in Pampanga in the Philippines in 1954. He moved to Manila with his family at the age of 5. In Manila, he worked as a billiards attendant at his uncle's billiards hall, where he started learning the various cue sports. Because he was not tall enough to reach the pool table, he played while standing on Coca-Cola cases that he moved around. At night, while he was dreaming of playing pool, the pool table was his bed.