Oliver Ortmann

Terry Ardeno

Terry Ardeno

I still love my wife
Silver Member
Most of us know that Jose "Amang" Parica is called the "Leader of the invasion" because he was the Filipino who opened the door so to speak for Efren "Ceasar Moralez" aka "Bata" Reyes, Rudolfo "Boy Samson" Luat, Leonardo "Dodong" Andam and Francisco "Django" Bustamonte. And after that murderers row, the next generations followed their lead.

But the very first European player to "lead the invasion" from over the pond was Oliver Ortmann when he won the 1989 U.S. Open 14.1 Championship. Prior to that, no European had ever won a major championship on American soil.
And who was the first European player to win a World 9 Ball Championship? Oliver Ortmann in 1995.

Here are just some of his major accomplishments....

1989 & 1993 U.S. Open 14.1 Champion
1995 World 9 Ball Champion
2007 World 14.1 Champion
1997 & 2000 Challenge of Champions winner
1987, 1989, 1990, 2000 & 2006 European 14.1 Champion
1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002 & 2003 European 9 Ball Champion
1996 & 2006 European 8 Ball Champion
1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2005 & 2006 German 14.1 Champion
1997, 1998, 2003 & 2006 German 9 Ball Champion

He's won many other big tournaments, but I just listed what I consider to be his major accomplishments.

Oliver was born on June 17, 1967 and started playing pool at age 6.
His 14.1 high run is 326.

I like Ortmann's "professionalism" at the table. He doesn't whine or complain. He does get out of position sometimes but he has exceptional shotmaking ability that helps get him out of jams.
He's been one of my very favorite players for a long time now. And I have to admit that I was really surprised when he didn't win this year's big 14.1 tournament in N.J. back in August.

Anybody else enjoy watching Ortmann? Any stories from our friends accross the pond? I'm hoping Roy Steffenen can add some stories or remarks.

Bottom line is I think Ortmann should be given serious consideration for induction into the BCA H.O.F. His credentials dwarf those of some of the inductees already enshrined.
 
Oliver is a totally class act all the way! He set a good example for other European players to follow.
 
If you ever get to know Oliver you will soon find out that he has a great sense of humor. When he is away from the table he is a totally different person, he will keep you laughing all night. When hes playing he is all buisness. Great player, great guy.
 
Oliver is a fairly overlooked player, his countryman Ralf gets a heck of alot more fanfaire. That said when I see Oliver about to start a match I don't really care who in the world he is playing I am probably not gonna bet against him. He is flat out awesome.
 
Marop said:
If you ever get to know Oliver you will soon find out that he has a great sense of humor. When he is away from the table he is a totally different person, he will keep you laughing all night. When hes playing he is all buisness. Great player, great guy.
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I would not have guessed this, since he seems so calm and serious when he is playing.

By the way, I agree with everything Terry has said and think that Ortmann should be in serious contention for hall of fame.
 
Ortmann had some impressive runs at the world 14.1 championship this year but fell short of winning the title.

Great player, a threat to win any tournament he enters.
 
yea Terry, Oliver is one of my top 3 favorite 14.1 players.....with Sigel, and Dallas West right there!

Somewhere out there on the web theres a vid of Oliver running in the high 200's, maybe 300?.....he looks to b about 19 years old in the vid.


how you feeling man?

all my best....

G.
 
Welcome back Terry! Oliver is one of my favorite players; he won the qualifier for the IPT here at Hard Times Bellflower, and it was amazing how he was able to get out of some the tough situations he got himself into. :eek:
 
sounds like the Greg Norman of pool

TorranceChris said:
Welcome back Terry! Oliver is one of my favorite players; he won the qualifier for the IPT here at Hard Times Bellflower, and it was amazing how he was able to get out of some the tough situations he got himself into. :eek:
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I think that was the golfer's name. Got himself into mess after mess but could blast out of them onto the green often as not. Funny thing is that I don't like watching Ortman play for very long, too businesslike and mechanical to be entertaining although a great player. What is funny is that although I don't like to watch people like that, that is exactly the way I am competing! Not great, just stone faced and methodic.

Hu
 
TorranceChris said:
Welcome back Terry! Oliver is one of my favorite players; he won the qualifier for the IPT here at Hard Times Bellflower, and it was amazing how he was able to get out of some the tough situations he got himself into. :eek:
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Oliver has always produced the most amazing outs I've seen. He's totally fearless and won't shy away from offensive play. Ollie has always been one of my favourite players.
 
I had the pleasure of watching Oliver winning the European 14-1 Championship and the European 8-ball Championship in Germany in 2006. He played perfect pool all week, and he reached the quartfinal of the 9-ball division also. Who beat him? He lost 9-8 to his countryman Ralf Souquet, who then proceed to win the European 9-ball Championship.

I guess Ralf was the only one who could have stopped Oliver that year, from winning all three divisions in one year. No one has ever done that, and I am pretty sure that that fact alone was enough motivation for Ralf to win that exciting hill-hill thriller. I don't remember exactly, but I think Oliver failed a jumpshot on a great safety battle at hill-hill, allowing Ralf to run out the table with only a couple of balls left.

It it weren't for Ortmann's biggest rival, Ralf Souquet, Ortmann would have been European 9-ball, 14-1 and 8-ball Champ in one year.

Later that year, Oliver agreet to my invitation to come to the Norwegian 9-ball Challenge at my poolhall. It was a great event, with players like Niels, Mika, Drago, Hundal, Majid, Ouschan etc., but in the end it was Mika beating Oliver 9-4 in the final for $ 10,000 first prize money.

Ortmann was a complete gentleman all the way, and I got to know him during that stay, and I enjoyed his company. He is, just like Ralf Souquet, one of the best examples of pure class and a good ambassadour for our sport.

I wish he would have competed more internationally.

Marop said:
If you ever get to know Oliver you will soon find out that he has a great sense of humor. When he is away from the table he is a totally different person, he will keep you laughing all night. When hes playing he is all buisness. Great player, great guy.
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Once, a top player said to me: "Do you know how to tell that Oliver Ortmann is drunk? He's laughing!"

This is of course not true, because as you say, Oliver is a great guy. But when he is in the arena, either playing or just watching, preparing for a match or just finished, you will seldom see him laughing. He is just so focused on his job. If you meet him when he is relaxing he is extremely friendly, and very funny.

Celtic said:
Oliver is a fairly overlooked player, his countryman Ralf gets a heck of alot more fanfaire. That said when I see Oliver about to start a match I don't really care who in the world he is playing I am probably not gonna bet against him. He is flat out awesome.
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Ralf do get more attention, but that's probably because Oliver doesn't travel 1/5 of what Ralf is doing. I still feel that Ralf is the best European player, but if Oliver competed in the same amount of tournaments he would have won a couple of more major titles, that's for sure.

Oliver is instead a businessman, running www.ortmann-billiards.com, sponsoring other players (like Marco Tschudi from Switzerland), and just plays the events he feels like playing.
 
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Terry Ardeno said:
...Bottom line is I think Ortmann should be given serious consideration for induction into the BCA H.O.F. His credentials dwarf those of some of the inductees already enshrined.
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Most inducted in the BCA's HOF are there for a reason, some of which is quite political. As an industry organization, those inducted usually benefit the industry members. Credentials of players is not the top prerequisite for admission.
 
JAM said:
Most inducted in the BCA's HOF are there for a reason, some of which is quite political. As an industry organization, those inducted usually benefit the industry members. Credentials of players is not the top prerequisite for admission.
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"an industry organization"

Need more be said?

Bottom line seems to be that the HOF has nothing to do with pool as I think of it. It has to do with the Billiard Congress of America... an industry organization.

Politics. It's all spin and it's all crap.
 
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JimS said:
"an industry organization"

Need more be said?

Bottom line seems to be that the HOF has nothing to do with pool as I think of it. It has to do with the Billiard Congress of America... an industry organization.

Politics. It's all spin and it's all crap.
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Here's a great picture of the some pool players who are recognized for their talent, courtesy of Poolpics by Hoppe (Diana Hoppe).

Each one of these pool greats are heralded at events like the DCC. Fans and pool enthusiasts crowd around their tables to see them perform, ask them for autographs, and request their pictures to be taken with them.

If one were to ask those who are in the BCA's HOF how much income this great honor has brought to them for being recognized by the BCA's industry members, I think the replies would be surprising. Big fat goose egg.

Do you think any of these gentlemen, most of whom are NOT in the BCA's HOF, would have taken a different path in life, other than pool? Probably not. These are true champions. Their eyes seem to look on heights beyond our gaze. It is the look of a spirit that can soar. These are the American Road Warriors. God bless them. :smile:
 

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14.1 looks like the easiest game on the planet. It looks so casual but yet so perfect:o
 
Great to see Terry back and opening threads about great players.

One thing that amazes me about Ortmann is his fundamentals. The way he holds his grip hand is absolutely abnormal at first sight. And even now I sometimes wonder how he manages to shoot so straight holding the cue so crooked, lol.
Oliver is a real monster at the table. I've seen Stepanov facing Ortmann several times and Kosta always told me how hard it is to play against The Machine - psychologically first of all. He tends to put enormous pressure on his opponents with his attitude an composure.
 
Props out to Carl Semmes

He predicted and was even quoted in Billiards Digest back in 86-87 that Oliver Ortman would one day rule the 14.1 world. He has been singing the praises for years of the Billiard Club format (like they have in Fulda).

Great Call Cajun Fats!

Tuna
 
Oliver won a few tournaments in my club.
Infact he won the Eurotour Netherlands Open in my club a few weeks ago.
The Eurotour Portugal Open starts today, let's see if he kept his form.
www.eurotour.nu

He is a superb Straight Pool player just like Engert and Souquet.
But then again we play it more over here, like in the leagues for example.


MH
HOB Weert
 
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