Nicknames: The Kaiser & The Surgeon

Home Town: Manching, Germany

Date and Place of Birth: November 29, 1968 - Eschweiler, Germany

Family: Married to Illy, daughter Celine (12 years old)

Wins / High Finishes In Last 12 Months: Winner Mosconi Cup, Euro Tour Series Champion 2008, 2008 WPA World Ranking # 1, 2008 AZ Billiards Player of the Year, winner Turning Stone Classic XII 9-Ball, winner German Open 10-Ball,  gold medallist World Games 9-Ball, runner-up World Cup of Pool 9-Ball, runner-up US Open 9-Ball,

Career ahievements: 1996 World 9-Ball Champion, 2002 U.S. Open 9-Ball, 5 times World Pool Masters Champion ('94, '96, '00, '02, '06), 3 times Mosconi Cup Champion ('02, '07, '08), 2008 World 8-Ball Champion, 2009 Gold Medallist World Games 9-Ball

Biggest Disappointment: Losing in the finals of 2005 European Championships 9-Ball and the 2006 World 9-Ball Championships as well as the draw in the Mosconi Cup in 2006, losing the finals of the 2009 US Open 9-Ball.

Favourite Mosconi Cup memory: When I made the final 9-ball to win the Mosconi Cup for Europe in Las Vegas in 2007.

Favourite Pool Player: Efren Reyes

Favourite Pool Venue: Philippine Intl Convention Center, The SM City North Mall Manila

Sporting Hero: Michael Schuhmacher

Cues Used: Joss cue with Predator 314² shaft, Predator BK2, Predator Air Jump

Hobbies: Borussia Moenchengladbach, Music, Cinema, Table tennis

Other sports played: Badminton, table tennis, soccer until age 13

Sponsors: Universal cues, Predator cues, Brunswick tables, Simonis cloth, Stroke Sports cases, Q-Wiz shaft treatment

Favourite band/singer: Phil Collins, Madonna, Eros Ramazotti, Anastacia

Like About Pool: The variety of shots and situations at the table, every day you can learn something new

Dislike About Pool: Playing perfect but still losing the match, big pockets, the sport doesn't get the publicity that it deserves

Occupation Other Than Pool: None