Thomas Engert
The Lean Machine

Current Ranking #3 Euro Tour
Major Titles 2004: European 9-ball Champion
Italian Open Champion
Challenge of Champions Winner
World Pool Masters Champion
24 European Championship Medals
7 Euro tour Titles
Bronze Medal at the 2001 World Games
Birth Date October 23, 1965
Birth Place Neuss, Germany
Sponsors McDermott Handcrafted Cues
Turned Pro February 1995

Breaking Keep your playing arm loose. Do not tense up. A free motion is better.
New Players Buy a new McDermott. And play against players better than you. Have fun.
Preparation Slow down your breathing in order to focus better.

Food Italian and Sushi
Sports Team Bayern Munchen (Munich)
City/Country City: New York Country: Japan
Movies Seven, Night Moves, Silence of the Lambs

Tom Dr. Cue Rossman started playing at age 10; competed in all levels of pocket billiards and 3-cushion billiards; Professional 8-ball, 9-ball, bank, one pocket, straight pool, and 3 cushion, plus "artistic pool" disciplines since 1977;

2000 - 2006 Over 21 Artistic Pool Discipline Titles, with wins in all 8 disciplines
2004 Wing-Shot Personal Record - 7 out of 7 at the WPA Las Vegas Open Championship
2005 Wing-Shot Personal Record Duplicated -- 7 out of 7 at the WPA World Championship
Over 200 "artistic pool" entertainment shows per year
Author of Rack Up A Victory training book, videos, and DVD's
Considered ?founding father? of modern day "artistic pool" movement
Creator of Banks, Tricks, & "Kicks" training products for ?artistic pool? worldwide

It all started back in a musty old pool hall in Sanford, Florida. A skinny 7-year old boy stacked two soda crates atop each other so he could shoot his first game of pool. It was a game long-remembered by that skinny little boy, who is now a retired Marine after 20 years of service known by many as ?Okinawa Slim?.

His father owned a Billiard Parlor, Restaurant and a Tavern, it was there his brothers and he used to imitate the styles of famous pool players. Combining and perfecting these first attempts at the game, Slim later refined and sharpened these bona fide styles into his own unique style. By spending so much time stooped over the felt-covered tables, Slim became quite proficient at the game. When he was 10, he played his first money game. Although that first game was performed for only a quarter, it was a quarter that slim won. He would beat players that came into his father's Billiard Parlor that were twice his age. It was also the onset of a long series of winnings that would eventually reach a higher level

As he reached his mid-teens, Slim had a hankering to travel. So he and his older brother set out. They traveled from town to town, from table to table, searching for their fame and fortune. To support their travels, Slim and his brother took jobs at the Oakland Recreation Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Several professionals frequented the center. They offered him pointers on how to improve his game. He learned a lot from them. He was labeled ?Iceberg Slim? while he was associated with the center. His peers were awed that nothing could distract his concentration at the tables.

The travel bug hit Slim again, but instead of rambling about the eastern seaboard, he considered another alternative. His brother, a Marine, dared him to join the Corps. At first I was going to join the Navy. But my brother said I ought to try the Corps?so I did. After completing boot camp, he was just called Slim.

In May 1979, Slim was transferred to Okinawa, Japan. At first he was a bit homesick, so he played pool to keep himself busy and take his mind off of being away from the states. Slim spent most of his time playing at the Schilling Recreation Center, located at Kadena Air Force Base. In late December of that year, the center sponsored a pool tournament, which Slim eagerly entered. After four hours of stiff competition, Slim emerged champion, clutching a 1st place trophy for his pool playing expertise. Not only did he leave the competition with a 1st place trophy, but also with the title of ?Okinawa Slim?.

?Okinawa Slim? continued to repeat this feat throughout his tour, taking on military personnel as well as local nationals winning 16 consecutive pool tournaments between the ages of 21 & 22 on Okinawa.

Achievements:

1979 Served as President of the "Okinawa Slim Pool Club" in Japan.
Rated as the number one pool player in Okinawa, Japan.
Armed Forces 14.1 Champion
1980 Armed Forces 14.1 Champion
Armed Forces 9 Ball Champion
1982 served as President of the Leatherneck Pocket Billiard of Camp Pendleton, California.
1986 Unofficial World Record Holder Timed Trick Shot:16 Balls in 4.5 seconds.
1988 Won 2nd Annual Coors Military Billiard Tournament.
1987-2002 Performed over 100 Trick Shot Exhibitions and won over 100 Billiard Tournaments.
2004 Second place finish in the Billiard Congress of America Georgia State 8 Ball Championship.
Appointed as the World Pool Billiard Association-Artistic Pool Division Sportive Relations Player Liaison for North America.
Technical Advisor for a Billiard scene with the film 'Nothing to Loose'.

2005 Appointed Vice President of the World Pool-Billiard Association-Artistic Pool Division.
2006 Appointed President of the World Pool-Billiard Association-Artistic Pool Division.