Q: When and where were you born, Mr. Schmidt?

Schmidt: Keokuk, Iowa on April 12, 1973. Just turned 35.

Q: Where do you live today?

Schmidt: Pensacola, Florida.

Q: When were you first introduced to pool? By whom?

Schmidt: 30 days before I turned 18 by my younger brother.

Q: When did you achieve your high run, earning you the alias “Mr. 400”? Is that still your high run today?

Schmidt: I ran 400 four years ago in Florida, and 403 last year in Q Masters the week of the US Open 9ball.

Q: Do you have a coach?

Schmidt: No, does my girlfriend Racheal count? LOL

Q: What’s in your cue case?

Schmidt: An OB cue, Bungee break cue, gloves, shaper, towel, Master chalk.

Q: What is your regular practice routine? Where do you play?

Schmidt: My practice routine varies, depending on the upcoming event in which I’m playing. As of two weeks ago, my house.

Q: There is a lot of pressure in pool….how do you get your head in the game before a match?

Schmidt: The way I deal with pressure is I try to remember, I’m alive, have my health, have a good woman, and good friends. Life is not going to end if I don’t win today.

Q: What kind of music do you like?

Schmidt: All kinds 60's, 70's, 80's hair bands, some R&B but lately my friend Bill has introduced me to the 60's hits and love songs, and the music then was great.

Q: What are your favorite pastimes besides pool?

Schmidt: Golf, but the thing I like doing more than anything is riding dirt bikes. I don’t do it anymore though, because it’s so dangerous. If I was guaranteed to not be injured, I would have about 10 dirt bikes. I also love RC cars and airplanes and deep sea fishing. I tried weightlifting one time, but soon found out the weights are heavy and hard to lift, so I quit that hobby. LOL.

Q: You have traveled the world. What is your favorite cuisine?

Q: What do you normally eat for dinner at home?

Schmidt: Chicken, seafood, vegetables, etc…sometimes I BBQ in my backyard and bass fish, as I live 10 feet from a spring fed pond. I do, however, eat too many almond M&M's…they are my favorite! LOL

Q: What is the worst place you have ever had to sleep while on the road?

Schmidt: That’s easy— it’s in the same room as a backer who just lost a lot of money betting on me. To all you players out there, you know how brutal that can be.

Q: Who inspires you in pool? Outside of pool?

Schmidt: Bob Hunter, Tony Robles, Rodney Morris, Archer, Owen, Deuel…I could go on forever. All the guys on the tour I consider good guys and my friends. Outside [of pool], people that are in the position to help those in need and do so. Those people greatly inspire me, and I hope some day I’m in the same position to help people less fortunate than me.

Q: Did you go to college?

Schmidt: Yes, in Southern California, only to play golf though.

Q: Where do you hope to be in 5 years?

Schmidt: I hope in 5 years to still have my health, have my house paid off, and possibly be a pool league operator or pool room owner, and give lessons. Also, I would love to see pool get bigger so all the guys who have climbed this mountain as pros, myself included, can make a living doing what excites them most—that is playing against the best players in the world.

In Hind Sight with Mr. 400: How He Operated The Machine

Q: Mr. Schmidt, how did you feel going into the IPT Straight Pool Match facing World Champion Oliver “The Machine” Ortmann?

Schmidt: I felt tight because I know how great he plays, but we are friends so that relaxed me a bit.

Q: After leaving Mr. Ortmann an open shot after the break, how did you feel?

Schmidt: I figured I would lose because I left that shot. But in fairness to me, I have not played on that cloth at 14.1 and did not know how hard to hit the opening break.

Q: When Oliver left the cue ball frozen to the 2 ball, did you feel it was a bad roll or a careless mistake on his part?

Schmidt: It was a bad roll. Sometimes it happens.

Q: Did you find the slow nap cloth difficult to adjust to?

Schmidt: I found the nap cloth extremely difficult to adjust to, as Oliver and I practiced just under an hour on that cloth, prior to the match.

Q: In your opinion, do you feel Mr. Ortmann played to the best of his abilities? Did you?

Schmidt: Under the circumstances, I thought we did the best we could.

Q: What was your overall experience at the IPT Ultimate 8 Ball Challenge Match?

Schmidt: My overall experience was absolutely great. It was fun to be treated like a movie star for a couple of days. Mr. Trudeau, Mr.Sigel, Mr.Andrews, and Mrs. Erazo all made me feel very welcome and important, it was fun and refreshing. I was impressed with the prep and behind the scenes stuff. The producer, Mr. Jon Denny, definitely knows what he’s doing.

Q: How do you feel about the possibility of facing Mike “The Mouth” Sigel in the next IPT event on June 24?

Schmidt: I am honored and flattered to have a chance to play my pool hero, Mike Sigel. Frankly, to mention my name as a worthy match for Mike is quite humbling and something I don’t take lightly. I know Mike is still a great player, and I’m going to seriously have my hands full playing him. Make no mistake though, I want to play well and win, and show that I am a capable opponent as well. I learned a lot watching Mike on film, and hopefully I can handle the pressure as well as he has his whole career!!

“In closing, thank you to the fans who are tuning in. Without you, guys like me would not exist. Take care.” John Schmidt