Albin Ouschan (AUT) Foto: EPBF/DK
Albin Ouschan (AUT) defeated Karlo Dalmatin (CRO) by a whisker with 8:7 and made his way into the final 16 players of the Dynamic European Championships 10-ball event.
The tension before the match was definitely there. Both players know each other very well and even seem to like one another. But when the referee asked them to lag for the break, they just turned into “tournament mode” and everything else vanished.
Dalmatin definitely had the better start. Ouschan got the first break but the cue ball scratched. Dalmatin then took that rack and the next one off Ouschan and took a 2:0 lead. Ouschan won his next rack, but so did Dalmatin: 3:1 for the Croatian. In the 5th rack, Ouschan went for the 1-ball after Dalmatin had played a push-out but missed it. Dalmatin penalized that without any mercy and went ahead 4:1. It looked like Dalmatin would be the one to get momentum first in this match. But then the tide turned. Dalmatin started missing balls and positions while Ouschan got stronger from rack to rack. That finally led to the hill-hill situation at 7:7. Ouschan broke the balls and pocketed the 2-ball but had no shot on the 1-ball. He played a push-out which Dalmatin passed back to him after having a close look at the situation. The match could not get any more exciting. Then Ouschan played a safety shot but the 1-ball was open to Dalmatin. The Croatian tried a safety himself but accidentally pocketed the 1-ball. He left a situation for Ouschan where Albin could see the 3-ball but not really pocket it. However, the 10-ball and the 9-ball were lying close together in front of the side pocket. Ouschan wanted to play a kick shot and come off two rails into the 10-ball. So he called it in the side pocket. He played the shot but came a bit too short. However, the cue ball touched the 8-ball which made the cue ball bounce into the 9-ball and made the 10-ball into the called side pocket. What a dramatic finish of a thrilling match. Ouschan won with 8:7 and will now face the winner of Ederer v Leisen in the quarter-finals.
Other notable results include Stephan Cohen (FRA) eliminating Oliver Ortmann (GER) with 8:3. Ortmann, who suffers from spinal problems, might not be able to continue his appearance at the Dynamic European Championships. Another big gun was eliminated in the early single elimination rounds today. Tony Drago (MLT) fell to the sharp blade of Evgenii Buslaev (RUS) with 8:6. Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) ended Mario He's (AUT) medal hopes with 8:6.
In the women's division, Petra Stadlbauer (AUT) defeated Junior World 9-Ball Champion Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) surprisingly clear with 6:1. Defending Champion Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) is right on track. She beat Ana Gradisnik (SLO) 6:1.
In the wheelchair division, Daniel Luton (GBR) and Henrik Larsson (SWE) made it to the semi-finals with victories over Fred Dinsmore (IRE) and Roy Kimberley (GBR).
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.epconline.eu , follow us on twitter @EPBF_News or contact our press office.
