Hofstatter-Gregerson, Gerda

Few players in the history of professional pool have traveled a journey as remarkable—or as global—as Gerda Hofstätter-Gregerson. A world champion, multiple European champion, and member of both the WPBA and BCA Halls of Fame, the Austrian-born star carved out a career defined by talent, discipline, curiosity, and an unmistakable love of the game.

Born and raised in the small Austrian town of Trebesing in Carinthia (Kärnten), Gerda grew up in a lively household that included her parents, Werner and Wilma, three sisters, and even two grandmothers under one roof. Her father owned a butcher shop and meat store, where the young Gerda occasionally helped—sometimes assisting with sausage production in the family business. The household was heavily female, with Werner the lone man among seven women, but sports were always part of daily life.

From an early age Gerda displayed exceptional athletic ability. She tried virtually every sport available and quickly developed strong hand-eye coordination and competitive instincts. Before pool ever entered her life, she had already achieved considerable success in another sport: fencing. Beginning at age ten, she trained rigorously in the foil discipline, practicing several nights a week and traveling across Europe for competitions. By her teenage years she had won Austrian youth championships and even captured a European youth title in Hungary, demonstrating the kind of focus and natural ability that would later define her pool career.

Pool entered her life almost by accident.

Gerda’s older sister Ingrid helped form a local billiards club in their hometown. The club played on small coin-operated tables in local bars—hardly the environment Gerda’s father initially envisioned for his teenage daughter. Fascinated by the quiet intensity of the game and the respectful atmosphere around the table, Gerda began sneaking away to practice at age fifteen, learning from more experienced players at the club.

Her improvement was immediate and dramatic. Within a year she was competing in leagues and national events, quickly rising through the Austrian ranks. At sixteen she faced a pivotal moment when her fencing coach forced her to choose between the two sports. Though fencing had already brought her international success, Gerda chose pool—a decision that would shape the rest of her life.

The results came quickly. By the late 1980s she had begun winning Austrian national championships, eventually capturing an astonishing 17 Austrian titles across multiple disciplines. Her talent soon extended beyond national borders. In 1989, Gerda won her first European Pool Championship gold medal, becoming the first Austrian to achieve that distinction. When she returned home, her small hometown celebrated the achievement with a reception worthy of a national hero.

Seeking stronger competition, Gerda moved to Sweden at age 19, where she worked in a poolroom run by top European players and trained under Swedish instructor Jörgen Sandman. There she also attended intensive training camps featuring American great Mike Massey, who introduced structured practice routines and drills that would permanently shape her approach to the game.

Sweden proved to be the gateway to a professional career.

Through Sandman’s connections, Gerda traveled to the United States in 1993 to test herself on the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) Tour. The plan was modest—play a few tournaments, stay with pioneering European star Ewa Mataya, and return home. Instead, Gerda shocked the field by winning her first American tournament, announcing herself as an international contender almost overnight.

Throughout the early and mid-1990s she split time between Europe and the United States, competing on both tours. By 1995 she had relocated permanently to America, joining a growing international wave of players that included Sweden’s Helena Thornfeldt and Britain’s Allison Fisher. Practicing regularly in poolrooms such as Mother’s Billiards in Charlotte, Gerda continued to sharpen her skills among an elite group of players.

Her breakthrough moment came in 1995, when she captured the WPA Women’s World Nine-Ball Championship in Taipei, defeating Vivian Villarreal in a dramatic hill-hill final. The victory elevated her to the very top tier of women’s professional pool and cemented her reputation as one of the sport’s most fearless competitors.

Throughout the 1990s Gerda remained a consistent force on the WPBA Tour, winning numerous events including the Brunswick Billiards Atlanta Classic the Leisure Bay Classic, the McDermott Austin Classic, and several others. Her success also continued in Europe, where she accumulated more than ten European Championship titles across eight-ball, nine-ball, and straight pool.

Known among her peers for her creativity and fearless shot-making, Gerda possessed an especially dangerous ability to execute thin cuts with heavy spin—shots that many players would never attempt. At the same time she maintained a relentless practice routine built on disciplined drills and measurable progress.

Beyond tournaments, Gerda also played a role in developing the instructional side of the sport. Alongside Allison Fisher, Mike Massey, and Paul Potier, she helped launch some of the earliest professional pool schools, teaching aspiring players in locations ranging from Hawaii to Vancouver.

In 2000 Gerda took a brief step away from full-time competition to pursue another long-held goal—education. She moved to New York City and enrolled at New York University, where she earned a business degree with magna cum laude honors. During this period she practiced at the legendary poolroom owned by Jean Balukas and her family in Brooklyn.

Even while balancing academics, Gerda continued to compete successfully, winning the 2000 BCA Open Nine-Ball Championship after an extraordinary run through the one-loss side of the bracket.

Her final WPBA victory came in 2010 at the San Diego Classic, demonstrating that her competitive instincts remained strong even late in her career.

Shortly afterward, life took her in a new direction. Gerda married Dan Gregerson, whom she had met through one of the instructional schools, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Sophie and Maddie. Motherhood gradually replaced tournament travel, and Gerda stepped away from professional competition to focus on family life.

In 2018, her extraordinary career received its highest recognition when she was inducted into both the WPBA Hall of Fame and the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.

Today Gerda lives in the United States, where she works in real estate, enjoying family life while still occasionally playing pool on the table in her home. Though she modestly describes herself as a “former so-and-so,” her legacy in the sport remains unmistakable.

From a small Austrian village to the pinnacle of world billiards, Gerda Hofstätter-Gregerson’s story is one of talent, courage, and passion for the game—a journey powered by what her friends simply call “G-Force.”