Hohmann is for real...Straight pool king

Just for the record, the last three major straight pool events played in the United States in which the really big names competed were the 1993 US Open, the 1999 National Straight Pool championships, and the 2000 US Open.

There is only one player that finished in the top ten in all three of these events. That player also had a 100 ball run in all three of those events, and won the high run prize in the 2000 US Open with a 148 ball run. That player happens to be American, and his name is Tony Robles. I'm well familiar with John Schmidt and his accomplishments, but it is in high-level competition that one's pedigree is earned. Schmidt, whose run of over 400 is common knowledge, is a wonderful straight pooler, but Robles is the one with the established credentials.

I'd pay good money to watch Robles vs Hohmann. And, for the record, I believe that Hohmann is the best straight pooler since Mike Sigel. Hohmann's perfromance in the 2005 European championships rates as one of the most dominant in the history of straight pool, and I think he'd have been a stiff test for Sigel even in Mike's prime (all of which I saw and remember vivdly).
 
Weird how Robles' 9-ball game falls apart under Matchroom TV lights, even though he is a great 14.1 player.
 
I see, that was Finnish sarcasm. Just hard to detect being called a fool from someone who diesn't know me.

Listen, i'm not on here to play pool detective. I am sure this board has enough of them. So, no, I wont name names.

I made a post of my opinion. In my opinion Stephane plays jam up straight pool.

As far as your being Finnish. I couldn't care less. But I do know Helsinki is a long way from Louisville...
 
14.1player said:
Weird how Robles' 9-ball game falls apart under Matchroom TV lights, even though he is a great 14.1 player.
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Wonder what you're referring to, but would be happy for an education on the subject.

To my knowledge, Tony has only played in two of the Matchroom WPC events, and has not participated in either of the last two. He did manage ninth in the last US Open, however, losing double hill in the winner's bracket quarterfinal to eventual champion Gabe Owen due to a scratch after pocketing the seven ball. The TV lights sure don't seem to bother Tony in Las Vegas, where, at the BCA Open, he has both a second place and a first place finish over the last four tourneys.

Still, if you're suggesting 14.1 is his best game, I strongly agree!
 
if i remember correctly, i heard about alex p offering to play people (presumably not everyone would have this option) straight pool race to 100. if alex missed, he went back to 0.
 
telkwa said:
if i remember correctly, i heard about alex p offering to play people (presumably not everyone would have this option) straight pool race to 100. if alex missed, he went back to 0.
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Yep, he has been playing a few matches with 100-no count. But I've heard they weren't pros. Would be nice to watch Alex take on Hohmann with both playing 100-no count ! :cool:
 
i'll_bust_you said:
I see, that was Finnish sarcasm. Just hard to detect being called a fool from someone who diesn't know me.

Listen, i'm not on here to play pool detective. I am sure this board has enough of them. So, no, I wont name names.

I made a post of my opinion. In my opinion Stephane plays jam up straight pool.

As far as your being Finnish. I couldn't care less. But I do know Helsinki is a long way from Louisville...
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Sorry for calling you a fool. My bad.
 
rhncue said:
Just what pool game do you consider tough? There is a straight pool player from Cleveland but I believe is now living in Detroit named Leil Gay. Having never played One-Hole in his life, he went to one of the U.S. Open One-Pocket tournaments in Kalamazoo and won it. Does this meen one-hole is just not a very tough game for any good pool player?
Dick
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I watched an accustats tape of JR Gay playing one hole. He is a fantastic shotmaker with a powerful stroke but I don't think he plays one pocket anywhere near as good as the top players.
 
onepocketchump said:
Straight Pool just isn't "that" tough for great players. There is the famous story about Johnny Archer taking down a straight pool event with only a week's practice beforehand. Johnny ran something like a

Thorsten and John would be a good match. I'd like to see an old-style shootout to 5000 points played over a week.

John
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well.....who did he play?

were they all "non-straight pool players" like him?

were they all veteran 14.1 players over 55 years old and losing their eyesight?

were they all veteran 14.1 players who simply aren't archer caliber players,,,,like, and this is not meant to be a pejorative statement, barouty(who is a great 14.1 player but not anywhere near archer's level as a "pure talent")?

it is hard to get a frame of reference because there are so many issues involved. there are no mizeraks, no mosconis, and they're all old anyway. did archer face any young germans who have played the game growing up?

14.1 is quite unique amongst 14.1 lovers. you don't always have to win to be considered the best. it's how you play the game,,,,who has the best patterns. yes,,,14.1 is not hard if all there is to it is running balls.
 
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sjm said:
Wonder what you're referring to, but would be happy for an education on the subject.

To my knowledge, Tony has only played in two of the Matchroom WPC events, and has not participated in either of the last two. He did manage ninth in the last US Open, however, losing double hill in the winner's bracket quarterfinal to eventual champion Gabe Owen due to a scratch after pocketing the seven ball. The TV lights sure don't seem to bother Tony in Las Vegas, where, at the BCA Open, he has both a second place and a first place finish over the last four tourneys.

Still, if you're suggesting 14.1 is his best game, I strongly agree!
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sjm, I think 14.1 player was referring to Robles play in the Mosconi Cup.


I have a hard time seeing Schmidt beat Hohmann, if John can't beat Alex how is he going to beat Hohmann? Hohmann vs Engert sounds like a more interesting matchup.
 
sniper said:
sjm, I think 14.1 player was referring to Robles play in the Mosconi Cup.
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Ah, you're right, that is a Matchroom event, and Tony definitely didn't play well in the last one. He did, however, beat Mika Immonen with the US leading 9 - 8 and just a few matches to go in the 2003 event, and Captain Nick Varner called it the key match of the final day of that event, which the US won 11 - 9.
 
Williebetmore said:
Nostroke,
Is it possible that you could be mistaken? I was told by one of the participants that they had played once before DCC 2004, and that John Schmidt won (I don't know about high runs). At DCC 2004 in their re-match, John lost 300-298. High run was John at 112; the only run over 100 in the match. I can look up Alex's high run (I kept score and still have the score sheet and a narrative of the match) - but I know he did not run 100 in that match, probably in the 60's or 70's - I'll look it up if you really are interested.

As Alex got down on the last ball at 299-298, for $4,000 or so, getting up from the shot because he was shaking like a leaf after an hour of incredible tension at the end of the match said, "I'm never playing you again."
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You are right. The match was on the Fri or Sat @ the end of the tourney( the days run together I was up a long time). I had a bet on Alex but I was in the other room because Henessey was playing Hager jr. and I had more cash on that. I ended up winning both bets.
 
Can anyone name some money matches where Hohmann has beaten another
good player playing straight pool??

I am not doubting his skills but I think people go a little haywire when leaving out the top overall players out of any category.
Theres no money in pool but theres really no money in straight pool.

If someone really wanted to find the best straight-pool player then there
would have to be a series of high $$$$$ events so that the top players
practice and play the game.


I really can not believe that no one has said anything about the Hohmann
bet. I think I would have to bet against and take my chances. Running
100 in 10 minutes seems pretty tough to me. Especially on good tight
equipment.
 
I believe Hohmann has beaten Feijen in competition before. Feijen is 3 time consecutive European straight pool champion, to me, that says a lot...
 
14.1player said:
I believe Hohmann has beaten Feijen in competition before. Feijen is 3 time consecutive European straight pool champion, to me, that says a lot...
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Yep, true. Feijen is a very strong player in straight pool. One the most amazing thing was at this year's EPC when Feijen was playing Ortmann in the L8 or L16. Ortmann had 117 something and Feijen had 47 something. After a safety battle, Ortmann left Feijen under the rack with a tantalizing ball in the other end of the table. Feijen jumped over the rack, made the ball and ran 78-out ! The crowd was literally on their feet when at the last break shot, Niels near 120, he overjuiced the draw and almost scratched in the head corner, just barely missing it and completing the run out. :cool:
 
Get off of it

Give all the other top pro's (9 ballers) 2 or 3 months to get some practice in and Hohmann will be where he is in the 9 ball standings. Out of the top 10.

I'm the best in the world at playing pogs, oh maybe that's because no one play's anymore.
The only time Europe has produced elite in anything, is when the rest of the world doesn't compete at that particular thing...

That's right I said it!!! ;) :D ;)

Mike
 
bruin70 said:
well.....who did he play?

were they all "non-straight pool players" like him?

were they all veteran 14.1 players over 55 years old and losing their eyesight?

were they all veteran 14.1 players who simply aren't archer caliber players,,,,like, and this is not meant to be a pejorative statement, barouty(who is a great 14.1 player but not anywhere near archer's level as a "pure talent")?

it is hard to get a frame of reference because there are so many issues involved. there are no mizeraks, no mosconis, and they're all old anyway. did archer face any young germans who have played the game growing up?

14.1 is quite unique amongst 14.1 lovers. you don't always have to win to be considered the best. it's how you play the game,,,,who has the best patterns. yes,,,14.1 is not hard if all there is to it is running balls.
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Don't quote me but I believe that Varner, Sigel and a host of other players known for their straight pool prowess were there. It was an all around of sorts with at least ten ball and straight pool being played.

And actually I think that in 14.1 it's who wins the most and who runs the most balls that is remembered as the best. No one ever talks about someone's patterns. I guess the only time I can remember anyone saying anything about it is when the magazine's were commenting on Oliver Ortmann's unothodox style after he beat Mizerak for his first US Open title. Appaerntly Miz was making plans for delivery of the winner's Gold Crown before the match even started.

100 balls in straight pool is six racks of being able to choose any shot. In my mind it is much more difficult to run six or more racks of nine ball where the shots are dictated by the layout and the rules. Straight pool, like one pocket, is simply a game that is boring as hell to watch but fascinating IF you are a true fan of the game.


john
 
rhncue said:
Just what pool game do you consider tough? There is a straight pool player from Cleveland but I believe is now living in Detroit named Leil Gay. Having never played One-Hole in his life, he went to one of the U.S. Open One-Pocket tournaments in Kalamazoo and won it. Does this meen one-hole is just not a very tough game for any good pool player?
Dick
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I guess that's what I mean. Probably a better way to say it is that if one is a great player at any particular game then it's probably fairly easy to adapt to other games quickly. Leil's One Pocket victory and Johnny's straight pool victory are two examples.

John
 
CantEverWin said:
Give all the other top pro's (9 ballers) 2 or 3 months to get some practice in and Hohmann will be where he is in the 9 ball standings. Out of the top 10.
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Have you been hidden under a rock for the past 6 months? Its a toss up between Hohmann and Archer as to who is No1 in the world right now, they've both been at the business end of every tournament they've entered.

Hohmann just beat Rodney Morris 11-10, making the World Games final..
 
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