Cue Sport Group

Thorsten Hohmann is also known as The Hitman. He is a German pool player who became a professional in April 2003. He was born in Fulda, Germany on July 14, 1979 and became a very distinct player for his being precise in his games. He also turned out to be very popular in the world of pool when he beat the amazing Filipino player Alex Pagulayan during the WPA World Nine-Ball Championship in 2003.

He has gained numerous recognitions which include USA Sportsman of the Year for Pocket Billiards in 2005 and the Best Dressed Player award for the same year as well. In 2006, the Pool and Billiard Magazine hailed him as the Player of the Year.

His accomplishments in the world of pool include:

IPT North American Open Eight-ball Championship (2006)

World Straight Pool Championship (2006)

World Pool League (2005)

BCA Open Nine-ball Championship (2005)

Sudden Death Seven-ball (2005)

WPA World Nine-ball Championship (2003)

New Jersey 14.1 Championship (2003)

Photo via insidepoolmag.com

Mika Immonen also known as the Iceman is a popular professional pool player born on December 17, 1972 in Finland. He has already reached the level of being one of the most successful European pool players as he won many pool tournaments and also serving as a regular member of the Mosconi Cup – Team Europe.

With the young age of 35, he has already proven his worth to compete against the top players of pool all around the globe like Efren Bata Reyes and Earl Strickland. He is currently ranked number 10 by the World Pool-Billiard Association.

His recent accomplishments in the world of pool include:

Derby City Straight Pool Challenge (2007)

Korean Pro Tour Championship (2007)

Atlanta Open (2004)

On Cue; Philippines vs. Europe (2003)

Philippine Open (2003)

LG Flatron Challenge (2002)

WPA World Nine-ball Championship (2001)

Sudden Death Seven-ball (2000)

He is surely a great force in the world of pool to compete with.

Photo via nycgrind.com

It could be really so impressive each time we get to hear about a snooker player who have had numerous accomplishments at such a very young age. Jamie Jones is another one.

Jamie Jones is a professional snooker player from Neath, Welsh. At 22, he already has a very impressive amateur record and he was able to qualify for the main tour of 2006/07 by finishing top during the Welsh rankings of 2005/06. Unfortunately he was not able to maintain his place there. The best he could get in his first season being a professional player is to reach the last 48 of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix.

By year 2002, he turned out to be the youngest player ever to make 147 in an event that is official beating the record of Judd Trump.

He is yet to be known in this world and let us all just watch out for this young yet incredible player.

Photo via  prosnookerblog.com

The table in the world of billiards has always been an important part of every game. Without it, where would you actually play the sport? This is where the actual game is played and it is placed inside the recreational room. To search for the right type of billiard table can be daunting at times especially with the many options available already in the Internet today.

One important reason why the tables should look presentable is because they also serve as the centerpiece of the entire room. So it should matter that it is done well and created out of the highest quality of materials. This is so you could use it for a long period of time.

You should find the kind of finish you prefer and the color of the fabric used for the surface of your table. You can search the Net for recommended websites which you can buy good quality billiard tables from.

Photo via mercuryleaisure.co.uk

To be able to master the game of billiards is not something that will not require any given set of accuracy and skills. You may be able to get some knowledge of the basics from those you know who already has some background about the game. Still, they might miss to teach you the most essential tips.

The only drawback that you might experience with learning the not so formal techniques is that you would get use to it already. By the time, you learn the right techniques already, you might find it too complex to adjust. You can get a formal coach or trainer to help you out but this might cost you big time.

So the best way to learn the interesting sport is to search online for ebooks and even DVDs. You can be sure to find lots of websites that feature such affordable manuals and guides to help you through with learning and mastering the entire sport.

Photo via infibeam.com

In every game of billiards and pool, the billiard balls are considered to be an important part. These are the ones hit by the cue stick and also with the others balls and hence it is important that they are made to be highly durable. They should be manufactured out of good quality materials.

It cannot be helped but to encounter sometimes that they go off the table and into the floor. The balls should be able to endure all these constant punishing. But if you use the balls occasionally, then it won’t matter much even if you purchase the cheaper ones and just maintain its colorful appeal.

There are wide varieties of billiard balls made available in the market today that they do not necessarily have to be the ones with the boring stripes and the solid color blocks. There are even those that glow in the dark or the ones colored in screaming neon colors.

Photo via americansupersports.com

Brian Morgan is a known English professional in the world of snooker being a player and coach. He used to be a World Under-21 Champion and became one of the top 32 players in the world rankings for numerous years.

In his career record, he was able to reach 16 in 1994’s World Championship. He also was able to qualify for tournaments in 1993, 1995, and 1997. By year 1996, he was able to take part in the finals of Asian Open when he beat Stephen Hendry. It happened before a close 9-8 loss against Ronnie O’Sullivan. During the same year, he also emerged as the winner in the Benson & Hedges Championship.

This entitled him to have a wild card place in the Masters. He was able to beat again Hendry during the 2000 Grand Prix. At the Irish Masters of 2004, he was also able to reach the last 16.

Photo via cuesport.net

Ben Woollaston, at the young age of 22 is already a professional snooker player. He is from Leicester. He started entering the professional tour for the 2004-05 season but he was not able to keep up with his place for the consecutive season’s tour. He was able to just regain it for the 2006-07 for his win at the European Under-19 Championship.

He was then given the award for the concessionary place for the tour of 2007-08. He was also able to reach the stages of the final groups of the Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007. He was able to enjoy more the 2006 tournament for there he won two matches compared to winning nothing in 2007.

He was also able to reach the final stages of the Welsh Open in year 2007 by beating David Gray. He was able to reach the second round where he then lost seven times to Stephen Hendry.

Photo via 147.com

Alfred Burden also known as Alfie is a popular English professional player of Snooker. He was born in December 14, 1976 and currently lives in London. He originally wanted to be a professional footballer but due to badly broken leg, his ambition was put to a halt. He was with the Arsenal F.C. during his schoolboy days and he spent with Swindon Town F.C. when he was badly injured.

He showed above average snooker playing skills and was able to qualify for the 1998 World Championship. It was in the 2006-07 season of the China Open that Alfie had his good streak of good luck for success. He was able to defeat Shokat Ali, Rod Lawler and David Gray just to get himself qualified for the tournament.

Last November 25, 2009, he was the winner of the IBSF World Snooker Championship in India. Due to this, he now earned a place at the upcoming 2010/11 professionals main tour.

Photo via billiardpulse.com

Another prestigious nine ball tournament is the Mosconi Cup. This always features one of the best ever players coming from Europe and the USA. It was founded after the name of the legendary pool player Willie Mosconi. This tournament was also always compared to the Ryder Cup. Competitions usually always run between the US teams and the Europeans. It started in 1994 and was held already in a variety of locations.

Their formal website features a lot of latest events and happenings about the tournament. Such includes rules and the format so that visitors and readers of the site will be well informed. There you can also get to know about the history of the tournament and its featured players.

It also has helpful links which can help a lot of people interact and share knowledge about the sport along with the sharing of other updates as well. Be heard and share your opinion at the Mosconi Cup site!

Photo via alltombiljard.nu