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 often called "The Machine" because of his amazing skill. Oliver is a three-time world champion in pool, which is a huge achievement! He won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship in 1995. He also won the World Straight Pool Championship in both 2007 and 2010.
Oliver was only the second player ever to win three world championships from the WPA (World Pool-Billiard Association). He is also one of the most successful players at the European Pool Championships, with fourteen wins. He has won fourteen events on the Euro Tour, making him the second most successful player there too. In 1989, Oliver was the first non-American player to win the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship.
He has played for Europe eight times in the yearly Mosconi Cup competition against the USA. His team won in 1995 and 2002. Oliver has won 44 German national medals and 16 German Pool Championships. This makes him one of Germany's most successful pool players ever. In 1996, he received the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt. This is the highest sports award in Germany for cue sports players. In 2014, Oliver Ortmann was added to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.
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Oliver Ortmann's Pool Career
Starting Out in Pool
Oliver Ortmann grew up in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He started playing pool at age six in his parents' restaurant basement. At 17, in 1985, he won his first big title. This was the 8-Ball Junior European championships. He beat Per Anda from Sweden in the final game.
The next year, he won his first German national championship. This was the straight pool championship. He played against Thomas Engert in the final. Oliver later studied to become an electronics technician in Munich. By age 20, he was managing a large billiard center with 80 tables.
In 1989, he became the first European to win the U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. This was his first trip outside Europe. He was not very well known then, but he beat famous player Steve Mizerak in the final. That same year, Oliver also won his first European Pool Championship event. He won the straight-pool final against Waldemar Markert.
Becoming a Pro Pool Player (1993–2010)
Oliver joined his first Euro Tour event in 1993. He finished second at the German Open. Then he won the next events in Austria and Hungary. Later that year, he won his second U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. The next year, he won five Euro Tour events, including four in a row! He reached the finals seven times out of nine events that season.
In 1995, Oliver won his first world championship. This was 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 get the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt award. This is a very special sports award in Germany.
Oliver won the International Challenge of Champions in 1997. This was a "winner-take-all" event, meaning the winner took all the prize money. Two years later, he was second, losing to Francisco Bustamante. But in 2000, Oliver beat Bustamante in the final to win his second championship.
In 2004, Oliver started his own company, Ortmann Billiards. This company makes and sells pool products. It also supports other games like air hockey, darts, and poker. Oliver reached the final of the World Pool Masters in 2004. He lost to Thomas Engert in a close match.
Two years later, he joined the International Pool Tour. He also kept playing in other big tournaments. In 2007, Oliver won the World Straight Pool Championship. He beat many strong players to reach the final. He defeated Huidji See 200–171 to win his second world championship. Oliver also made a "run" of 131 points in that tournament. A "run" is how many balls a player can pocket in a row.
Later Career and Achievements (2010–Present)
In 2008, Oliver reached the quarter-finals of the world straight pool championship. He had won this event the year before. The next year, he made it to the semifinals. In 2010, Oliver won his third world championship. He beat Mika Immonen in the straight-pool final. This tournament is no longer officially recognized by the WPA. So, Oliver is still the last official world straight-pool champion. He is only the second player to win three world championships.
In May 2010, Oliver reached the semifinals of the 2010 World Pool Masters. He beat top players like Darren Appleton and Thomas Engert. He then played in the 2011 WPA World Eight-ball Championship. He won against Mika Immonen but later lost to Ronato Alcano. The next year, he reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 WPA World Eight-ball Championship. He lost to the eventual champion, Chang Jung-Lin.
Oliver's wins on the Euro Tour include the 2009 Netherlands Open. This was his 14th win on the tour. This puts him second on the all-time list of winners, after Ralf Souquet. He has reached the semifinals of a Euro Tour event 35 times. He has also finished second eight times. In 2014, Oliver Ortmann was added to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. He was named European Player of the Year three times: in 1990, 1993, and 1996.
Playing in Team Events
Oliver first played for Europe in the Mosconi Cup in 1994. This is a team competition against the United States. The USA won that first year. But the next year, Oliver was part of Europe's first win! He was also on the winning team in 2002. The snooker world champion Steve Davis said the 2002 win was "one of the best moments of my career." Oliver played in the Mosconi Cup eight times. He was also the non-playing captain in 2003. His eight appearances are the fifth most for any European player.
Oliver has also played for Germany three times at the World Cup of Pool. In 2006, he and Thomas Engert reached the semifinals. They lost to the winners from the Philippines. In 2007, Oliver and Christian Reimering lost in the first round. In 2010, he and Ralf Souquet reached the semifinals again. They were defeated by the winners from China. Oliver also played in the World Team Championship in 2010 and 2012. His team reached the quarter-finals in 2010.
Oliver Ortmann's Career Titles
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