Thorsten Hohmann - US-based Career

US-based Career

In 2004, Hohmann signed on to be managed by US- and South Korea-based event promotions company Dragon Promotions, who transplanted the German-resident champion to Jacksonville, Florida, as a base of practice and preparation for US competitions. Hohmann then signed with Florida-based sponsors Lucasi Cues and Universal Smartshaft as their official representative and spokesperson. He remains a German citizen, but a US permanent resident. Thorsten has since been featured on the cover of many pool magazines.

In 2004, Hohmann reached the finals of the US Open Nine-ball Championship. However, he was lost to Gabe Owen, 3–11.

The year 2005 was his most successful to date as he dominated a number of tournaments, including the BCA Open Nine-ball Championship, the Sudden Death Seven-ball event and the World Pool League.

In 2006, he won the inaugural World Straight Pool Championship by defeating Thomas Engert 200–80. Later, he defeated Marlon Manalo 8-7 to win the IPT North American Open Eight-ball Championship with a first prize of US$350K. The IPT prize set a record as the largest first prize ever won in a pool tournament at that time. However, Efren Reyes beat the record shortly afterwards winning $500,000 in the 2006 IPT World Open Eight-ball Championship, the second major IPT event. But because IPT had financial difficulties, 200 players including Reyes were not able to collect their money thus Hohmann is still on record as the biggest purse winner in billiards history to actually get paid, as of early 2007.