Oliver Ortmann facts for kids
Ortmann at the European Pool Championship 2008 in Willingen
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| Born | 11 June 1967 |
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| Sport country |  Germany |
| Nickname | "The Machine" |
| Pool games | Nine-ball, Straight pool |
| Tournament wins | |
| World Champion | Nine-ball (1995), Straight pool (2007, 2010) |
| Ranking info | |
| Highest WPA ranking | 1 |
Oliver Ortmann (born June 11, 1967) is a famous German professional pool player from Gelsenkirchen. He is known as "The Machine" because of his amazing skills. Oliver Ortmann has won three world championships, making him one of the best pool players ever! He won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship in 1995 and the World Straight Pool Championship in 2007 and 2010.
Oliver Ortmann was the second player in history to win three world championships from the WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association). He is also super successful at the European Pool Championships, with fourteen wins. Only one other player, Ralf Souquet, has won more. Oliver was also the first player from outside America to win the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship in 1989. He has played for Europe eight times in the Mosconi Cup, a big team competition, and helped his team win in 1995 and 2002. With 44 German national medals, he is one of Germany's most successful pool players. In 1996, he received Germany's highest sports award, the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt. In 2014, Oliver Ortmann was added to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, which is a huge honor!
Contents
Oliver Ortmann's Amazing Pool Journey
Starting Young: Early Career
Oliver Ortmann grew up in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He started playing pool when he was just six years old, on a pool table in his parents' restaurant basement. Imagine having a pool table right at home!
He won his first big championship in 1985 at age 17. This was the 8-Ball Junior European Championship. The next year, he won his first German national championship in straight pool. Oliver also studied to become an electronics technician. By the time he was 20, he was managing a large billiard center with 80 pool and billiard tables.
In 1989, Oliver made history by becoming the first European player to win the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. This was his first trip outside Europe, and he was not very well known. But he surprised everyone by beating the famous Steve Mizerak in the final! That same year, he also won his first of many European Pool Championship events.
Becoming a Pro: Professional Career (1993–2010)
Oliver Ortmann joined the Euro Tour in 1993. He quickly showed his talent, finishing second in one event and winning two others. Later that year, he won his second U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. In 1994, he had an incredible year, winning five Euro Tour events, including four in a row! He reached the finals seven times out of nine events that season.
His biggest win came in 1995 when he won his first world championship, the WPA World Nine-ball Championship. He played against Dallas West from America in the final.
In 1996, Oliver was the first cue sports player to receive the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, Germany's highest sports award. He also won the "winner-take-all" International Challenge of Champions event in 1997. He won this event again in 2000.
In 2004, Oliver started his own company, Ortmann Billiards. This company sells pool products and also supports other games like air hockey and darts. In 2007, he won his second world championship, the World Straight Pool Championship. He played incredibly well, beating many strong players to reach the final, where he defeated Huidji See.
Oliver won his third world championship in 2010, again in straight pool, by beating Mika Immonen in the final. Since this tournament is no longer officially recognized by the WPA, Oliver remains the last official world straight-pool champion. He is only the second player to win three world championships, after Earl Strickland.
Continuing Success: Later Career (2010–Present)
After 2010, Oliver Ortmann continued to compete at a high level. He reached the semifinals of the 2010 World Pool Masters. He also played in the 2011 WPA World Eight-ball Championship and the 2012 WPA World Eight-ball Championship, showing his skill in different types of pool games.
His win at the 2009 Netherlands Open was his 14th victory on the Euro Tour. This placed him second on the all-time list of winners, right behind Ralf Souquet. He has reached the semifinals of a Euro Tour event 35 times! In 2014, Oliver Ortmann was honored by being inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. He was also named European Player of the Year three times: in 1990, 1993, and 1996.
Playing for the Team: Team Events
Oliver Ortmann first represented Europe in the Mosconi Cup in 1994. This is a big competition between Europe and the United States. He was part of the European team that won for the first time in 1995. He also helped Europe win again in 2002. The famous snooker player Steve Davis said the 2002 victory was "one of the best moments of my career." Oliver played in the Mosconi Cup eight times and was even the non-playing captain in 2003.
He has also represented Germany three times at the World Cup of Pool. In 2006, he and Thomas Engert reached the semifinals. In 2010, he and Ralf Souquet also made it to the semifinals. Oliver also played in the World Team Championship in 2010 and 2012.
Career titles
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