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 (14 years old)

Wins / High Finishes In Last 12 Months: Winner 2010 Mosconi Cup, winner French Open, winner Players Championship 10-Ball, winner Italy Open, winner World Pool Masters, winner World Cup of Pool, induction into Hall of Fame.

Career ahievements: 2-time World Champion (1996 9-ball, 2008 8-ball), 2-time US Open Champion (2000 straight pool, 2002 9-ball), 6-time World Pool Masters Champion (1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2010), 4-time Mosconi Cup Champion (2002, 2007, 2008 and 2010), 3-time Player of the Year (2002 Pool and Billiard Magazine, 2006 Billiards Digest, 2008 AZ Billiards), 2009 Gold medalist World Games (9-ball), 2011 Induction into Hall of Fame

Biggest Disappointment: Losing in the finals of the 2006 World 9-Ball Championships, losing the finals of the 2009 US Open 9-Ball and not being chosen as MVP in the 2008 Mosconi Cup.

Favourite Mosconi Cup memory: When I made the final 9-ball to win the Mosconi Cup for Europe in Las Vegas in 2007 and Las Vegas in 2010.

Favourite Pool Player: Efren Reyes

Favourite Pool Venue: Matchroom arenas

Sporting Hero: Michael Schuhmacher, Steffi Graf, Sebastien Vettel and Dirk Nowitzki

Cues Used: Universal cue with Predator Z2 shaft, Predator BK2

Hobbies: Borussia Moenchengladbach, Music, Cinema, Table tennis, watches

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, 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