Jasmin Ouschan goes for the Gold

Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) Foto: EPBF/DK

Jasmin Ouschan (AUT), Dominic Jentsch (GER) and Daniel Luton (GBR) are the 2012 European 10-ball Champions!

Jasmin Ouschan had to deal with youngster Natalya Seroshtan (RUS) in the women's final. That was the exact rematch from last year, when the encounter was a clear affair for Ouschan. Seroshtan, 14-years old at the time, lost 1:6. This year, Ouschan still seemed to be the high favourite for the title. But the match turned out into an unexpected thriller. Seroshtan played much better than last year. "She was already playing well last year but she became much stronger now. She played extremely well", said Ouschan after the final match. Ouschan seemed to struggle much and could not get her momentum going. "I just returned from Taiwan before I came here and I feel like I have not enough power at the moment", Ouschan stated. Seroshtan was even able to get a 4:2 lead over Ouschan. But then Jasmin focussed and grew stronger. Safety battles took place and both of them played on an equal level. In the 10th rack when Ouschan was leading 5:4, she was aiming on the 10-ball but missed it and gave Seroshtan another chance. The youngster pocketed a long and difficult 10-ball and tied the match at 5:5. Then, the match again developed into a safety battle with Seroshtan to make the wrong choice first. She went for a combination instead of playing a safety shot and missed it, leaving an open door for Ouschan. The Austrian defending champion took the chance and won the rack and the match with 6:5.

In the men's division, Dominic Jentsch (GER) defeated defending champion Stephan Cohen (FRA) with 8:5. Jentsch played rock solid throughout the whole event. He never seemed to let anyone even think of beating him. He took a comfortable 4:1 lead in the match before Cohen got his game going. However, 4:5 was the best Cohen could do before Jentsch shifted into overdrive and snatched almost all remaining racks, winning the match with 8:5

In the wheelchair division, Daniel Luton (GBR) won unexpectedly clear over Fred Dinsmore (IRE) with 6:3. Luton was dominant throughout the whole match and Dinsmore did not find a way to stop his opponent.

Top 8 Men

1. Dominic Jentsch (GER)

2. Stephan Cohen (FRA)

3. Vitaly Pavlukhin (RUS)

Nick van den Berg (NED)

5. Konstantin Stepanov (RUS)

David Alcaide (ESP)

Artem Koshovyi (UKR)

Manuel Ederer (GER)

Top 8 Women

1. Jasmin Ouschan AUT

2. Natalya Seroshtan RUS