Predator 69th World Straight Pool Championship European Perspective
Parsippany, New Jersey- Europe’s domination on straight pool this millennium doesn’t seem to be faltering if top palyers such 2007 World 14.1 Champion Oliver Ortmann, 2006 World 14.1 Champion Thorsten Hohmann, and World #1 Mika Immonen all aiming for the top spot. The Dragon Promotions has resurrected the event and it is now in its 4th consecutive year with the assistance of industry giants like Predator, Ozone Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Simonis Cloth, Master Chalk, Aramith Balls, Accu-Stats and the Laser Rack. Comet Billiards will host this year’s event which will commence on August 24, 2009 and end on August 29. The greatest straight pool players from around the world will arrive on USA’s east coast New Jersey, and attend this prestigious tournament to play for the coveted title of World Straight Pool Champion.
If there is one country that can be said is the dominant force in 14.1, that distinction would goto Germany. The last US Open 14.1 Champion was held by Oliver Ortmann, and then in the 2006 revival of the World 14.1, Germans Thorsten Hohmann and Thomas Engert both dominated for Gold and Silver. In 2007, again Germany’s Oliver Ortmann won the Gold.
“It would be great to win the 14.1 title twice after the US Open straight pool title twice.Straight pool is my desire and to win a world championship title in my favourite game. This means more to me than to win a title in other disciplines.Straight pool compared to 9 or 10 ball is more a game of “let the cue go”. The strategy is obvious and the goal is to get in stroke to follow your own way to the breakball. 9 or 10 ball is always a game of different strategies and luck is necessary as well. The better player not always is the winner”, explained Ortmann on the different nuances of 14.1 compared to the more popular rotation games. Ortmann, known as “The Machine” will be coming into this year’s World 14.1 Championship as the #2 seed.