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Predator Slovenian Open – Semi Final Line Up Is Set

Pia Filler

From 37 players, the Predator Slovenian Open is now down to the final four as three further rounds were completed today (Sunday). The tournament reconvenes on Monday morning with the two semi-finals set to start at 10.00 with the final starting at 12.00 midday.

Eyllul Kibaroglu, the No.1 ranked player on tour, is still in with a shout of winning back-to-back Euro Tour titles as she leads the field going into day three. A winner last time out in Petrich, Bulgaria, where she beat Pia Filler 7-4 for the title, Kibaroglu will be up against the rising young German talent once again.

Kibaroglu, like Filler, is undefeated in the event this far and today she enjoyed wins over young Norwegian, Nina Torvund by 7-2 and then took a 7-4 victory over Hannan Memic (BIH) in the quarter-finals.

Filler, who is looking for her maiden Euro Tour title, beat a brace of youngsters today to cement her spot in the final four. First, she despatched Alara Ghaffari (TNC) who had grabbed a silver and a pair of bronze medals at the recent European Junior Championships. Then she beat Austria’s talented Lena Primus by 7-2 in the last eight.

The second semi-final is an all-German affair, giving that nation three of the four semi-final players. Melanie Sussenguth, currently ranked No.11, will face Ina Kaplan (No.14) for a place in the final. Kaplan, who won on the Ladies’ Euro Tour in Austria in June, went to the one-loss side earlier in the tournament following a defeat to Chantal Stadler in the winners’ qualification round.

She bounced back though with wins over Anna Riegler (AUT), Bojana Sarac of Serbia and then local hero Ana Gradisnik in her quarter-final match. Sussenguth, who has already made her best finish of the year here in Slovenia will be hoping to carry today’s form into tomorrow.

She beat Poland’s Monika Zabek by 7-5 and then followed that up with a 7-3 win over Kristina Zlateva of Bulgaria. Both matches are played simultaneously at 10.00 with Eyllul Kibaroglu v Pia Filler a Facebook Live presentation. Melanie Sussenguth against Ina Kaplan will be available to Kozoom subscribers.

All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

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Predator Slovenian Open – Day One Complete In Lasko

Eylul Kibaroglu

Thirty-four matches were completed in Lasko on Saturday as the opening day’s play at the Predator Slovenian Open on the Euro Tour Women completed. Of the starting 37 players, nine players have departed the competition, eight players are undefeated and through to the last 16 single elimination knock-out stage, and the remainder are scrapping it out on the one-loss side.

Eyllul Kibaroglu (Turkey) who is currently ranked No.1 and was victorious in Bulgaria at the last ET event, made it through to the last sixteen stage with two wins. It wasn’t without a scare though as she fell behind in her opening match against Germany’s Karen Michl before prevailing 7-6. She then followed that up with another squeaker, again 7-6 against promising youngster Alara Ghaffari of Turkish North Cyprus.

The number two ranked player, Ana Gradisnik who is carrying home hopes, made it through on the winners’ side after a torrid two months in competition. Gradisnik easily got the better of Emília Bystrianska (Serbia) and then followed that up with a gritty 7-6 win over No.10 ranked player Kristina Zlateva of Bulgaria.

Commented Gradisnik, “It was really difficult as I was losing four zero and I was playing pretty bad and gave it all away. I took a time-out and it kind of got easier because I told myself that I’ve got nothing to lose and I can relax a little bit and if I make a mistake, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Ana Gradisnik

“Then I just went ball-by-ball and in the end, I just managed to win. It feels good to get through as at the last Euro Tour I did very badly and at the recent World Championships I also went two-and-out so mentally I was really down but after winning the first match here I gained confidence from that and I’m just trying to trust my technique and whatever happens happens,” she added.

The eight players on the winners’ side, which also includes the likes of Pia Filler, Sabrina Hammer, Melanie Sussenguth and Bojana Sarac will sit out two more qualifying rounds on the one-loss side before their opponents are set. Play commences at 9.00 on Sunday morning with the last 16 matches scheduled to start at 13.30 in the afternoon.

The quarter-finals get underway at 18.30 on Sunday, with the semi-finals and finals take place on Monday morning.

All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

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Predator Slovenian Open – Kibaroglu Looking To Maintain Her Top Spot

Eylul Kibaroglu

The Predator Euro Tour Women is back in Lasko, Slovenia as 37 players from across Europe ready themselves to do battle in the fifth event of a six-tournament season. In total, 17 countries are represented and the lady to beat this week is No.1 ranked player Eyllul Kibaroglu of Turkey, a winner last time out in Petrich, Bulgaria where she took her maiden Predator Euro Tour title.

The Turkish star, who celebrated her 34th birthday yesterday, had a little too much for Germany’s Pia Filler in Bulgaria as she ran out a 7-4 winner in the final. That propelled her to No.1 in the standing following a run of form that saw her ascend the rankings.

Six players are within 300 ranking points of Kibaroglu, including Slovenia’s Ana Gradisnik who is just 50 points behind, so a high finish here in Lasko is essential for the Turkish girl. Gradisnik heads a contingent of three players representing the host nation, so they will all be hoping to still be competing on Monday in the closing stages.

We caught up with Ine Helvik (Norway), a veteran of the Tour, having played in its earlier incarnation as well as being a part of its latter revival.

“I’ve been playing the tour in two parts really. I played in the first one in the beginning of the 2000s and then myself and Ina Kaplan started this tour going now many years ago and I’ve been playing almost every tournament.

“I still enjoy it and I always want to win my matches and to perform as best as I can. I would like to win but some of these girls do nothing but play pool and I have a day-time job and stuff so it’s not that easy but I always go into a match with the aim to win it.

“Looking at the players here, Eyllul Kibaroglu has become very stable. She’s always been good and a very good shot-maker but the last year or two she’s been more stable and she performs on that level almost all the time.

“No.2 Ana Gradisnik likes playing at home as she has her family here and has all the support of the locals who are very good at coming out and supporting her. Of course, there’s always pressure playing on home ground but she enjoys it. The pandemic did Pia Filler very well as she could focus only on playing pool and practice and that shows. Put the hours in and you get the reward.

“Of the younger players, we have my Norwegian team mate Nina Torvund. She’s going to be really good in a couple of years. She’s now getting all the tournaments in and practicing and she’s definitely a future top European player. Also, Bojana Sarac and Hanna Memic are both playing really well. There’s definitely a future here!” she added.

The ranking is calculated on a rolling six event series with each player dropping the event which yielded them the least points. Once an event is concluded, the first event from the six is dropped to be replaced by points from the current tournament.

Play gets underway at 9.00am local time tomorrow. All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

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Predator Petrich Open Day One

Alara Ghaffari

The Predator Euro Tour Women got underway today with the first rounds of matches at the Petrich Open. In attendance are 29 players representing  15 countries battling out over three days for the premier title in the  European women’s game. Taking place in the Petrich Arena, there are  eight left on the winners’ side of the draw and of those eight, four will make it straight through to the quarter-finals.

On the losers’ bracket, there are potentially four more matches to negotiate before the last eight single elimination. Germany’s Ina Kaplan, defending the title she won in Austria in June, fell at the first hurdle as she went down 7-5 to Alara Ghaffari (Northern Cyprus). Ghaffari entered the event off the back of a great week at the European Youth Championships where she collected three medals.

She now faces Melanie Sussenguth in a winners’ qualification match. Also through to the winners’ qualification with a single victory is Pia Filler (Germany) who came from behind to defeat Oliwia Zalewska of Poland. Filler faces the ever-dangerous Eyllul Kibaroglu of Turkey for a quarter-final spot.

Home hope Kristina Zlateva has it all to do after visiting the one-loss side courtesy of a defeat from the aforementioned Sussenguth. She squares off against Ana Gradisnik (SLO) and only a win will do. Other names still going on the winners’ side include Amalia Matas (Spain), Poland’s Monika Zabek and Tina Vogelmann (Germany)

Play gets underway at 9.00am local time tomorrow and plays down to the last four players who will return on Monday for the semi-finals and final which get underway at 10.00am. All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com

Results, live scoring and draw are available at
www.epbf.com/tournaments/eurotour-women/draw-results/

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Predator Euro Tour Women – Petrich Open Starts On Saturday

#1 Ranked Ana Gradisnik

The Predator Euro Tour Women reconvenes this weekend in Petrich, Bulgaria with the Petrich Open which gets underway on Saturday 6th August. It is the fourth tournament of the year on the Predator Tour and 29 players representing 15 countries will be competing over the weekend with the semi-finals and final set to take place on Monday afternoon.

Last time out in St Johann im Pongau, Germany’s Ina Kaplan surprised the field with a series of superb performances culminating in a 7-1 victory over Bojana Sarac (Serbia) to lift the title. It was Kaplan’s first Euro Tour triumph in over five years and she will be brimming with new-found confidence when play gets underway on Saturday.

No.1 ranked player Ana Gradisnik of Slovenia, will be looking to defend her position against a smaller field. She is will need to come with her best as her lead at the top is a slender 80 points ahead of second placed Oliwia Zalewska (Poland) and 150 points ahead of Spain’s Amalia Matas in third spot

The ranking is calculated on a rolling six event series with each player dropping the event which yielded them the least points. Once an event is concluded, the first event from the six is dropped to be replaced by points from the current tournament.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of strong contenders in attendance, all of whom have it within them to go all the way here in Petrich. With two semi-final appearances to her name, Pia Filler (Germany) will be hoping to go one better and reach the championship match. Also from Germany is Veronika Ivanovskaia who was the best placed Euro Tour player in the recent World Games. Sitting at a lowly 37th on the rankings, she can fire herself up the order of merit with a strong showing in Petrich.

Finally, Bulgarian hopes are carried by 10th ranked Kristina Zlateva. With a best finish of 3rd in the past 12 months, how dearly she would like to achieve her maiden Predator Euro Tour win on home soil.

Play gets underway at 9.00am local time tomorrow. All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

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Gradisnik claims Second EuroTour Crown at Ladies Treviso Open

Ana Gradisnik

Ana Gradisnik of Slovenia is the Predator Women’s Treviso Open champion following a hard fought 7-5 victory over Sara Rocha of Portugal. It was Gradisnik’s second Euro Tour title following victory in Austria last year and cements her position at the top of the women’s rankings. Taking place at the BHR Treviso Hotel, it was a game of two halves as Gradisnik built a significant lead, and then Rocha came back at her, before the champion closed the match out.

Said a jubilant Gradisnik; “I started pretty well but then I got nervous and when the momentum changed and it went to 5-4, I was very nervous. I just tried to stay calm and collected, kind of. I didn’t manage to but then, at the end it turned out good!”

Played out in the main arena, Gradisnik took the opening rack but broke down with three balls remaining in the next to allow Rocha to level the match at 1-1. Gradisnik though, confidently ran through the next to restore her one rack advantage. There was nothing off the break for the Slovenian in the fourth game but after visits from both players, Gradisnik asserted herself to increase her lead.

A push out from Gradisnik in the fifth game was handed back to her by Rocha and they both went back and forth before a tidy 6/9 combo sealed the rack for the Slovenian girl. Two balls went down for Rocha in the next but there wasn’t enough travel on the third ball and she lost the table to Gradisnik. Rocha had her opportunity but missed the 9 ball, leaving it hanging in the pocket for Gradisnik.

By this stage, Gradisnik held a 5 -1 lead and was cruising but Rochas stopped the rot in the next game as she reduced her deficit to three games, trailing 5-2 in the race-to-seven match. Gradisnik looked set in the next but missed the 7 ball and Rocha grabbed her chance with both hands to get to 5-3.

An illegal break from Gradisnik allowed Rocha an opportunity and she composed herself well to run out to move just one rack behind. Gradisnik, though, derailed the Rocha comeback as she took the next rack to put herself on the hill. Rocha showed some big heart in the 11th game as she ran out to move the score to 6-5.

A dry break from Rocha gave Gradisnik a chance but she missed a difficult 1 ball but the Portuguese’s one rail kick left the 1 ball out in the open. With the title at stake, Gradisnik took a deep breath and carefully cleared the table for victory.

Gradisnik added, “I have trouble sometimes in the final. I’ve lost so many times that it’s in my head a little bit and I was struggling with that. I’m very proud and it’s something you dream of (being European No,1) when you’re playing these tournaments so that makes me very proud and happy.

“Really, I’m just looking to practice and elevate my game. I don’t want to play on the same level, event though I’m No.1 currently, that doesn’t really mean anything in terms of my game, so I just want to improve my game.”

Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

Go to discussion...

Predator Euro Tour Women – Down To The Final Four In Treviso

Kristina Zlateva

The second event of the year on the Predator Euro Tour Women is well  underway at the BHR Treviso Hotel in Italy as 46 of Europe’s finest female players contest the Treviso Open. With just two rounds of play  completed on the opening day of the competition (Saturday), the full  field resumed on Sunday morning.

Following a solid day’s play consisting of six rounds, the field reduced  down to the final four who will be contesting the semi-finals on Monday.

It was Swedish veteran Louise Furberg who was first into the semi-finals  as she enjoyed a fine win over Veronika Hubrtova (Czech). It was yet another solid victory for Furberg who, whilst not a regular on the tour  of late, showed what a danger she can be.

Kristina Zlateva of Bulgaria was the next player to make her way into  the last four as she disposed of Oliwia Zalewska 7-1. The ever-dangerous Zlateva, who recently competed in the WPA World 9 Ball Championship,  will be tough to beat as the tournament enters the business end.

No.9 ranked player Sara Rocha (Portugal) booked a semi-final meeting  with Furberg as she got the better of Diana Stateczny (Germany) by a 7-2 scoreline. The final semi-final spot was taken by Ana Gradisnik, the  Slovenian European No.1. She will face Zlateva in what will be a  hard-fought contest.

With the semi-final line-up set, play resumes at 10.00 on Monday morning with the championship match scheduled for 12 midday.

All Predator Euro Tour Women tournaments are 9-ball and the field  contest a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 16 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches  are a race to 7 racks with alternate break.

All the matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com
Results, live scoring and draw are available at www.epbf.com

Go to discussion...

Dynamic Billard European Pool Championships – Medal Round-Up And Table

After 11 days of play, the 42nd annual Dynamic Billards European Championships for Men, Women and Wheelchair users concluded on Saturday 12th March. With 15 separate events to contend for, nearly 200 athletes from across Europe came to the picturesque Slovenian town of Lasko.

In the end it was the German squad who topped the medal table with five gold, three silver and three bronze to total 11 medals overall. They were some distance ahead of Finland in second place who secured five medals – three gold, a silver and a bronze. In total, 21 different countries were among the medals.

Individually, there were four multi-medallists in the men’s divisions. Veteran Niels Feijen (NED) headed the table with a gold medal in the 9 ball plus two bronzes. Sanjin Pehlivanovic (BIH) grabbed a gold in the 10 ball plus a bronze in the 8 ball.  Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk took two silvers in the 10 ball and team event respectively. Finally, Mario He of Austria took a silver and a bronze.

In the ladies’ events, it was the fast-improving Pia Filler of Germany who led the way. She collected gold medals in the 8 ball and the team competition as well as a silver in the straight pool. In total, seven other players collected two medals each. Amalia Matas (ESP), Oliwia Zalewska (POL), Tina Vogelmann (GER) and Eyllul Kibaroglu (TUR) all won a gold plus a bronze while Ana Gradisnik (SLO) took two silvers. The other two multi-medallist women were Line Kjorsvik (NOR) and Sara Rocha of Portugal.

In the wheelchair division, it was once again Finland’s Jouni Tahti who came out on top with two gold medals. The other gold was won by his long-time rival Henrik Larsson who also left with a silver and a bronze. Ireland’s Fred Dinsmore came close twice but had to settle for two silver medals and a bronze. The remaining double-medallist was Britain’s David Beaumont who collected a brace of bronzes.

MEDAL TABLE

Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Germany 5 3 3 11
2 Finland 3 1 1 5
3 Poland 1 2 1 4
4 Norway 1 1 4 6
5 Sweden 1 1 1 3
6 Bosnia Herzegovina 1 X 2 3
6 Netherlands 1 X 2 3
6 Spain 1 X 2 3
9 Turkey 1 X 1 2
10 Austria X 2 1 3
10 Ireland X 2 1 3
10 Slovenia X 2 1 3
13 Czech Republic X 1 X 1
14 Great Britain X X 2 2
14 Portugal X X 2 2
16 Belgium X X 1 1
16 Croatia X X 1 1
16 Denmark X X 1 1
16 Serbia X X 1 1
16 Slovakia X X 1 1
16 Switzerland X X 1 1

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Zalewska, Tahti & Neuhausen Take Final EC Golds

Oliwia Zalewska

Poland’s Oliwia Zalewska won her third Dynamic Billard European Championships gold medal, this time in the Women’s 9-Ball, as she enjoyed a surprisingly easy win over Slovenian hope Ana Gradisnik, running out a 7-0 winner. The Polish girl had won the 8-ball title in Antalya last year.

Having not really showed in the other disciplines, Zalewska saved her best till last. She lost her first match in the 9-ball division but battled her way through the one-loss side to reach the single elimination last 16. Wins over Silvia Lopez Fibla (Spain) and Sweden’s My Nguyen left her a semi-final pairing against Spain’s dangerous Amalia Matas. A 7-0 win put her into the championship match which she cruised through for the gold.

“During the final, I wasn’t thinking about winning the title; I’m thinking about the game and my level of playing. Of course, I love this feeling of winning and yes, the whole of the time spent practising and the emotions that go into it are all a big part of this victory,” said Zalewska.

The gold medallist is the mother of an 18-month-old child and added, “I’m sorry my baby can’t be here with me and my husband but it would be too long to spend away from home so we will all enjoy this title when we get home.”

WOMEN’S

Final
Oliwia Zalewska (POL) 7 – 0 Ana Gradisnik (SLO)

Semi Finals
Oliwia Zalewska (POL) 7 – 0 Amalia Matas (ESP)
Ana Gradisnik (SLO) 7 – 4 Sara Rocha (POR)

WHEELCHAIR

Jouni Tahti

In the wheelchair division Jouni Tahti made it an unbelievable 28th Dynamic Billard European Championship gold medal as he came from behind to outpace Ireland’s Fred Dinsmore, winning 7 – 6 in a battle royale. The Finn collected his first ever EC gold in 2002 and 20 years later, he is still the wheelchair games dominant force.

Dinsmore, who had already won bronze and silver in the 10-ball and 8-ball respectively, looked on his way to a gold medal, holding a 6-3 lead but Tahti, showed why he is a serial gold medallist as he dug in and pipped the Irishman at the post.

Commented Tahti, “When I was 6-3 down, I didn’t give up as there is always hope and I knew I could turn it around. To win gold medals you often need to overcome very tough situations and I’m pleased I had what it took to achieve that. I’m really looking forward to defending my title in Tampere next year and I’ll be going all out for three gold medals in my home country.”

Final
Jouni Tahti (FIN) 7 – 6 Fred Dinsmore (IRE)

Semi Finals
Jouni Tahti (FIN) 7 – 5 David Beaumont (GBR)
Fred Dinsmore (IRE) 7 – 5 Henrik Larsson (SWE)

UNDER 23

Moritz Neuhausen

Moritz Neuhausen, the 2019 Under 17’s and 2021 Under19’s WPA World 9 Ball Champion, added another trophy to his cabinet as he won an all-German final 9-7 to take 9-ball gold at the Dynamic Billard European Championships. His opponent Luca Menn gave him a tough battle but it was Neuhausen who prevailed to add to his credentials as a potential new German superstar of the game.

Neuhausen, 21, had survived a gripping hill-hill thriller in his semi-final match against another star of the future in Norway’s Emil Andre Gangflot. There is an overflow of top young talent in Europe currently and Neuhausen may just be the pick of the bunch.

“That’s my first title in the Under 23 division. I had two titles previously, one in teams so I’m really happy with this win. I’ve won some big titles in my age group and hopefully I can take that forward into open tournaments but there’s a lot of space for improvement and I’ll keep working hard,” said Neuhausen.

Final
Moritz Neuhausen (GER) 9 – 7 Luca Menn (GER)

Semi Finals
Luca Menn (GER) 9 – 3 Haris Trtovac (SRB)
Moritz Neuhausen (GER) 9 – 8 Emil Andre Gangflot (NOR)

The 2022 Dynamic Billards European Championship sees 15 separate events across four disciplines – 8, 9 and 10 ball as well as straight pool – plus the men’s and women’s team competitions. In total there are four divisions; men, women, under 23 men and wheelchair users.

All matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com

Results, live scoring and draw are available at
www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/

Go to discussion...

8-Ball Golds For Filler, Larsson & Gangflot

Pia Filler

Pia Filler of Germany won her maiden gold medal at the Dynamic Billard European Championships as she triumphed in the 8-Ball division, over-turning local hope Ana Gradisnik in Lasko, Slovenia. Having won silver in the Straight Pool earlier in the week, Filler cemented her rapid ascent to the top level of ladies’ European pool and she can now look forward to the 9-ball division with renewed confidence and a realistic hope of another gold.

It was disappointment for Gradisnik who was looking to give her host country their first gold medal of the Championships but she will have to regroup for the final division of 9-ball. Bronze medals went to perennial podium finisher Line Kjorsvik (Norway) and 10-Ball gold medallist Eyllul Kibaroglu of Turkey.

Filler said post-match, “I’m absolutely over the moon right now! I’ve been working so hard over these past two years with my husband and coach Joshua, and our common coach Gunter Geisen. All that work paid off and I’m just enjoying the moment right now.”

“It was tough to really find time to prepare for the Europeans as Joshua was playing a lot of world ranking events but I think we made the best out of it and we always try and prepare for whatever is up next. We don’t always have that much time but it obviously worked out!” she added.

WOMEN’S

Final
Pia Filler (GER) 6 – 3 Ana Gradisnik (SLO)

Semi Finals
Pia Filler (GER) 6 – 1 Eyllul Kibaroglu (TUR)
Ana Gradisnik (SLO) 6 – 5 Line Kjorsvik (NOR)

Henrik Larsson

WHEELCHAIR

In the wheelchair division, it was that man again, as Sweden’s Henrik Larsson added to his overall medal tally with another gold in the 8-Ball division, his 12th gold on his European Championship journey. With just the 9-Ball division to play out, the multi-titled Swede has a great opportunity to top his long-time rival Jouni Tahti as the two of them continue to dominate the gold medal positions at successive Dynamic Billard European Championships.

Larsson had too much in the championship match as he defeated Ireland’s Fred Dinsmore, himself no stranger to gold medals, by 5-2.

He said afterwards, “I’m really happy about this final and happy to have a full field. We have 22 players and we have absolutely the strongest players here, and that makes it worthwhile. The standard and the level in wheelchair have been rising and rising, and in this event Jouni got knocked out in the quarter finals by Matej Brajkovic who is a phenomenal player so I think it’s just a matter of time before you finally get rid of us! 9-Ball is my favourite game; a lot of cue action, so I’m really looking forward to that and we’ll see what happens.”

Final
Henrik Larsson (SWE) 5 – 2 Fred Dinsmore (IRE)

Semi Finals
Henrik Larsson (SWE) 5 – 1 Kurt Deklerck (BEL)
Fred Dinsmore (IRE) 5 – 4 Matej Brajkovic (SLO)

Emil Andre Gangflot

UNDER 23s

With a system in place that continues to produce the best players in the world, the Under 23 events at the Dynamic Billard European Championships are a terrific pointer to tomorrow’s global stars of the game. This week, Emil-Andre Gangflot of Norway made his mark as he took the gold medal in the 8-Ball division, defeating Finland’s Arseny Sevastyanov 8-4 in the decider.

Gangflot, from Fredrikstad, turned 19 just two weeks ago and was playing in his first Under 23 division at the Euros, having tasted success in the juniors. As one of the youngest players in this age category, the win was a testament to his maturity as a player as well as his red-hot prospects for the future.

“I’m really surprised. I didn’t think I could win this one in my first year but I’m really happy. It was a great tournament as usual and I’m obviously delighted. In the whole tournament, I was just trying to stay focused and take one game at a time and one ball at a time and to win this title is amazing. I’m going to just try my best in 9 ball and see what happens,” said Gangflot.

Final
Emil-Andre Gangflot (NOR) 8 – 4 Arseny Sevastyanov (FIN)

Semi Finals
Arseny Sevastyanov (FIN) 8 – 6 Nemania Micic (BIH)
Emil-Andre Gangflot (NOR) 8 – 4 Albert-Roman Stensrod (NOR)

The 2022 Dynamic Billards European Championship sees 15 separate events across four disciplines – 8, 9 and 10 ball as well as straight pool – plus the men’s and women’s team competitions. In total there are four divisions; men, women, under 23 men and wheelchair users.

All matches can be viewed live at www.kozoom.com

Results, live scoring and draw are available at
www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/

Go to discussion...