European Pool Players

[Snapshot9]

I am rather interested in knowing more about
European Players?

What equipment they have? Is it European made?
What kind of cues and cases?

Also, how they are regarded within their own countries?
Do they enjoy more status and noteriety than our
Pool players? or not?

Do their countries rally behind them?

Take Vilmos Foldes, a 21 yr old hotshot from Hungary for instance.
How is he regarded in Hungary?

Or Thorsten Hohmann? Do people recognize him on the
street, and ask him for autographs. Does he get sponsorship?

 

[Heckler]

I think to be honest pool players are pool players the world over(With the exception of some parts of Asia)....the only cue sport players to receive more media coverage, sponsorships and be treated like true professionals are the Snooker Players.

But thats is where we at the CueSportGroup are working hard to improve things, we are currently involved with several top players and tours. One of our jobs is to attract coporate sponsors for our players and tours/events. This is a long term job and takes time, but believe me the face of pool is changing, and not just with the IPT, there are coporations and international brand names at out there starting to look at pool and pool players and see the potential.

 

[predator]

Take Vilmos Foldes, a 21 yr old hotshot from Hungary for instance.
How is he regarded in Hungary?

I suppose he is regarded as student of Sandor Tot everywhere. But a brilliant player. Had a chance to watch him put a 7 pack in person. Great stuff!

 

[Solartje]

I am rather interested in knowing more about
European Players?
GREATH post

What equipment they have? Is it European made?
same as in america; Ollhausen, clash, diamond. In fact Loontjes billiard is probably the biggest installer of pooltables in every greath competition, poolhall in europe (at least in belgium, holland, and im pritty sure in other country's too.
What kind of cues and cases?
in Belgium: most use 50-100$ cue's poohalls sell. Mostly brands ive never heared of. The better players seem to like cuetec. Ive seen many of those, and the top players mostly play with predators or other good industrial cue's u can find on any site or custom made. (but i dont know who makes them in europe.) most cue's in holland, belgium come from fmcues or loontjes. (u can find site easy with google)

Also, how they are regarded within their own countries?
Not so good actually. They are looked at as drinking, sharking , bragging people who spend there days in barr, drinking and playing. not really as professional sportsplayers (in belgium) who train, who study, who analyse, who think of pool 24/7.
Do they enjoy more status and noteriety than our
Pool players? or not? No, pool isnt a national sport or anything. Ive just been told that there are around 470 registered pool players. Really not enough to enjoy of any status.
Do their countries rally behind them?

Take Vilmos Foldes, a 21 yr old hotshot from Hungary for instance.
How is he regarded in Hungary?

Or Thorsten Hohmann? Do people recognize him on the
street, and ask him for autographs. Does he get sponsorship?
I dont think any pooplayer in our country will be recognised in the streets exept by maybe another top 50 player.

we do have GREATH poolplayers. one example. Mario lanoye, who has competed vs the best US players. I never met him, as he's taking a brake for personal reasons, but ive heared he is considered the greatest player our country had. Yvan Haessen, unbeaten in 21 matches in our national championship, winning the 2005 national 8ball and 20005 national 9ball championship and the 2006 1st A-ranking event without losing a single match... what is his future?. Young players like the poolkid are greath too. He just started training for the first ranking in 14-1 this january, and made a 97 break in a game he hardly ever plays. dont know how old he is, but id say 15 16 or so?
there is 1 pro player, and he gets his money from working with aramith. There is no pro player in our country who lives only from the money he wins in tournaments or on the road.