Thomas Engert – Germany

Age -                     40 (Born 23 October 1965)

Based -                 Duren, Germany

Nickname -            The Lean Machine

Hobbies -               Golf

Cue Used -             McDermott

Achievements -      2005 Swiss Open Champion. 2004 World Pool Masters Champion. 2004 European 9-Ball Champion. 2004 International Challenge of Champions winner. 2004 Italian Open Champion. Bronze medal at 2001 World Games. 16 European Championship medals in various disciplines. 7 Euro Tour titles. Currently ranked No.11 in Europe.

Engert has plied his trade among the upper echelons of European pool ever since he emerged in 1992 with victory in the Dutch Open. Since then the 40 year-old German has maintained his position, but enjoyed his most lucrative and successful year yet in 2004. Following some dispiriting defeats against relatively lowly opposition in the early part of that year, Engert vowed to take the game seriously and give it his full attention.

Very shortly after, he claimed the European 9-Ball Championship and then followed that up with victory in the Italian Open in April. The best was yet to come for Engert though as took the International Challenge of Champions in Connecticut, USA and with it the $50,000 top prize.