Hohmann??

Cornerman

Cornerman

Cue Author...Sometimes
Silver Member
Am I missing something? I've read many posts now writing about Thorsten as if he's a lock or at the least, that he's the man to beat. When did he become someone that people viewed as elite? I know he won the World's out of nowhere a few years ago, beating Alex, and I know he won the over-sized pocketed BCA Open (they're ridiculously too big, every year), but is there some other tournament or accomplishment that I've missed that lead people to believe that he belongs so high on the list that he's somehow a lock or the man on top?

For me, I think he's got a slim outside shot at best. Does he even play 8-ball? It is important to actually know the game intimately, you know? I don't think he'll make it out of his grouping at the IPT. I've watched him in person a few times, and he's as good as any professional, but I never saw anything that makes me think he's consistently better than his own countryman, Souquet. (And what happened to Ortmann?).

The recent US Open showed me the top players, yet again. Alex, Bustamante, Strickland. I was pleasantly surprised to see Parica in the finals. When McCready is in gear, he is untouchable. Archer? Superman in every aspect of the game. Hohmann? He's steady. Very steady. But all of the other guys seem to have a higher gear that I've not seen in Hohmann.

Anyway, that's my take. I think he's a great player, but I just haven't seen that extra special whatever. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
Am I missing something? I've read many posts now writing about Thorsten as if he's a lock or at the least, that he's the man to beat. When did he become someone that people viewed as elite? I know he won the World's out of nowhere a few years ago, beating Alex, and I know he won the over-sized pocketed BCA Open (they're ridiculously too big, every year), but is there some other tournament or accomplishment that I've missed that lead people to believe that he belongs so high on the list that he's somehow a lock or the man on top?

For me, I think he's got a slim outside shot at best. Does he even play 8-ball? It is important to actually know the game intimately, you know? I don't think he'll make it out of his grouping at the IPT. I've watched him in person a few times, and he's as good as any professional, but I never saw anything that makes me think he's consistently better than his own countryman, Souquet. (And what happened to Ortmann?).

The recent US Open showed me the top players, yet again. Alex, Bustamante, Strickland. I was pleasantly surprised to see Parica in the finals. When McCready is in gear, he is untouchable. Archer? Superman in every aspect of the game. Hohmann? He's steady. Very steady. But all of the other guys seem to have a higher gear that I've not seen in Hohmann.

Anyway, that's my take. I think he's a great player, but I just haven't seen that extra special whatever. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

Fred
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A 400 ball straight pool run is nothing to sneeze at.
 
I agree Cornerman...I really think the old school players will excel in the coming IPT. Just too many newer players have not proved themselves on slow clothed tables with tight pockets. The game being 8 ball also will change strategies ALOT.

I really think people are not taking into account that breaking and running a 5 pack on these tables under these conditions is going to be a rarity.

I really wish Jimmy Reid would come back into the picture...I think he could dominate.

Shorty
 
Here is a quote from Inside Pool "Thorsten Hohmann is the 2003 WPA World 9-Ball champion, a two-time European championships winner in 8-ball and 14.1, and the number three-ranked player o*n the 2002 International Billiard World Tour."

So I'm guessing his Straight Pool and 8 ball skills are right up there or better than his 9 ball skills. Only time will tell.
 
CrownCityCorey said:
A 400 ball straight pool run is nothing to sneeze at.
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No doubt. But... Earl and Schmidt have 400 ball runs. Nobody is talking about Schmidt like they are Thorsten. Engert had a 400 ball run, and wasn't a threat at the US 14.1 Open.

And I know it will sound like an insult, but is the European 8-ball Championship a true test? Do they play 8-ball in Europe? (That's a serious question).

And, as Colin Colenso's post should have shown, prowess at 14.1 can be helpful, but you have to be an 8-ball player to win at 8-ball. Unless you're Efren. And Thorsten is no Efren.

It's not true that just because you're good at 14.1, that you'll be good at 8-ball. They're too different, and have different foci when it comes to running out.

Fred
 
Shorty said:
I really wish Jimmy Reid would come back into the picture...I think he could dominate.

Shorty
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Oooooh. Good name, Shorty. There are also other proven 8-ballers that hopefully will come out of the woodwork. Wade Crane and Larry Hubbart, to name two.

Fred
 
According to the IPT player list, Wade Crane is going to be on the tour in '06.

Cornerman said:
Oooooh. Good name, Shorty. There are also other proven 8-ballers that hopefully will come out of the woodwork. Wade Crane and Larry Hubbart, to name two.

Fred
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Cornerman said:
No doubt. But... Earl and Schmidt have 400 ball runs. Nobody is talking about Schmidt like they are Thorsten. Engert had a 400 ball run, and wasn't a threat at the US 14.1 Open.

And I know it will sound like an insult, but is the European 8-ball Championship a true test? Do they play 8-ball in Europe? (That's a serious question).

And, as Colin Colenso's post should have shown, prowess at 14.1 can be helpful, but you have to be an 8-ball player to win at 8-ball. Unless you're Efren. And Thorsten is no Efren.

It's not true that just because you're good at 14.1, that you'll be good at 8-ball. They're too different, and have different foci when it comes to running out.

Fred
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Hmmm... Hohmann's best game is reportedly 8 ball (by himself, and one member of this forum). This, from a 400 ball runner... And how many 400 ball runners do we have walking around the face of the Earth today?

With all due respect, Fred, I think you're dead wrong. At any event, this guy is very young, and we'll all find out soon. My bet is, very soon.
 
An excerpt from Billiards Digest, from the July 2005 feature:


"Growing up on straight pool and 8-ball almost exclusively, Hohmann would eventually become the junior king of German pool and one the greatest European junior players ever, capturing three junior European Championship titles - two in 14.1, one in 8-ball. At 16, the same year he ran 150 balls in straight pool for the first time, Hohmann made his mark in the big arena in a big way: shutting out Souquet, 11-0, at the Osnabrueck 8-Ball Grand Prix - in two innings!"

Yeah, I think Fred is dead wrong. Couldn't be more wrong.
 
It's an opinion.

One I happen to agree with though.

I have seen the man do nothing but pick up speed.
 
Hohmann is currently ranked 4th on the WPA rankings just behind Feijin, Chamat and Souquet http://www.wpa-pool.com/index.asp?content=players_men

I asked Ralf about 8-ball in Europe and he said it is pretty common and most of them take the game quite seriously, so I expect the Europeans will mostly be very strong in 8-ball.

Ralf himself has won at least a couple of European 8-ball titles, not to mention 12 straight final appearances in the German 8-ball championship.
 
I personally think that Hohmann's mental control and stability are what gives him the edge over most players. When the world's best are playing eachother, the difference in skill is often negligable. This is where concentration, sound decision making and mental toughness come into play. In a largely strategy-based game like 8-ball, such traits can make all the difference.

JMO
 
I agree

NaClBandit said:
I personally think that Hohmann's mental control and stability are what gives him the edge over most players. When the world's best are playing eachother, the difference in skill is often negligable. This is where concentration, sound decision making and mental toughness come into play. In a largely strategy-based game like 8-ball, such traits can make all the difference.

JMO
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with you Bandit, and his accomplishments in various games of Pool show
his intelligence at being able to analyze a Pool situation, and make right
decisions for excellence. Plus the guy just executes extremely well in a
very consistent manner. In that light, he reminds me of Mike Sigel when
Sigel was playing in the 80's, always bringing a high level game to the
table.
 
standards are getting better.

Cornerman said:
No doubt. But... Earl and Schmidt have 400 ball runs. Nobody is talking about Schmidt like they are Thorsten. Engert had a 400 ball run, and wasn't a threat at the US 14.1 Open.

And I know it will sound like an insult, Cornerman :) to be frank[ and not Fred :p ] ,yes it does. :p but is the European 8-ball Championship a true test? Do they play 8-ball in Europe? (That's a serious question).Most tournys are 9ball but 8ball is also played. I think you would be surprised how much the Euros have improved in the last 5 years! The standard is high.

And, as Colin Colenso's post should have shown, prowess at 14.1 can be helpful, but you have to be an 8-ball player to win at 8-ball. Unless you're Efren. And Thorsten is no Efren.
It's not true that just because you're good at 14.1, that you'll be good at 8-ball. They're too different, and have different foci when it comes to running out.I totally agree. Each game has its own certain set of problems that have to be overcome. Should be interesting.

Fred
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Gabber...apparently, my post is too short so ignore this sentence. :)
 
He could win the the whole thing easily, a lot of the European players play great 8-ball and many are better at 8-ball then 9-ball.

Plus I'll take a great 14.1 player over a great 9 ball player any day of the week in 8 ball, the patterns and shots you learn in 14.1 lend well to 8-ball, in fact I tell every new player I meet to learn 14.1 before any other game, I consider it the foundation of pool.

Many of the younger players in the US have played nothing but 9 ball on fast cloth, I think many will pick it up really fast, but I still give the edge to foreign players some have had more time on slow nap, and played more 14.1 or 8 ball then there US counterparts.
 
Hard to single out one guy outta the gaggle of talent. He plays good but on the the top tier who isnt. I would love to see super senior Ray Martin stick it to all of them in Orlando, or Nick Varner. Old school is the ONLY school!!! :cool:
 
Gabber said:
I think you would be surprised how much the Euros have improved in the last 5 years! The standard is high)
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Actually, I am one of the very few on this board who really knows how much the Europeans have improved in the last 10 years, let alone 5 years.

I'm just talking about Hohmann.

Fred
 
StevenPWaldon said:
Yeah, I think Fred is dead wrong. Couldn't be more wrong.
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and
lewdo26 said:
With all due respect, Fred, I think you're dead wrong.
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Are you saying that I'm dead wrong when I say he isn't "the man to beat"? Or are you saying that I'm dead wrong when I don't think he's one of the elite players? If it's the latter, that's what we'll disagree on. So far, I haven't seen one thing written that hints that he's a cut above the rest. He's damned good, don't get me wrong. But, I don't see where he's done anything to get the praise that you would have given Johnny Archer in the 90's, Mike Sigel of the 70's-80's, Strickland in the 80's-90's.

That is to say, I think he's a great player (again), but not part of that elite class. Not yet. Maybe someday. Maybe soon. But so far, nothing yet. That's what I'm asking. What did I miss? And 400 balls isn't it. There are a mulititude of 400 ball runners that will not be considered elite, yet a lot of 300 ball runners that will.

Did he win two or three majors in a row that I missed? Challenge of Champions? What tournaments has he won this year? Did he play at the Derby City Classic? How did he do? What about his record is making people write as if he's the man to beat? I think he's a man to watch out for, but I don't think he's the man to beat. And, I don't think he'll make it out of his grouping. I may be dead wrong in a month, but I don't think I'm dead wrong to think that today. Maybe you all have a different idea about "dead wrong."

Fred
 
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SlimShafty said:
He could win the the whole thing easily, .
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Why easily? Why him? That's my question.

Players like Gabe Owen still play 8-ball, on slow crappy equipment. Why would anyone have any advantage over Gabe Owen, the 2004 US Open Champion? And I don't even have Gabe making it out of his grouping.

I hope people don't seriously think that the professionals that are going to these events are going to gag and fold just because the cloth is slower? All of them grew up on slower cloth! I hope people don't think we all have new Simonis on our tables!!!

Fred
 
Wait, a deserved world champion and yet he's not among the elite?

"For me, I think he's got a slim outside shot at best. Does he even play 8-ball?"

"So far, I haven't seen one thing written that hints that he's a cut above the rest."

How do you reconcile those statements? A world champ, but not a cut above the rest. A world champ but only a "slim outside shot at best." You don't even think he'll make it out of his grouping? Those are pretty strong assertions.

It sounds like you're covering yourself saying, "no no I think he's great!" But then you say he's just alright and will crumble in the IPT. you even question his abilities at 8-ball?

I think his resume speaks for itself, and I think his success on the IPT will speak even more.

- 2003 World Champion
- 2003 World Pool League (2nd)
- 2003 NJ 14.1 Champion
- 2004 Euro 8-Ball Champion
- 2004 US Open Runner-up
- 2004 Challenge of Champions Runner-up
- 2005 BCA Open champion (7-0 against Archer in the finals)
 
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