Shane Van Boening (Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport)
Shane Van Boening will begin the defense of his World Pool Championship title against Japan’s Masato Yoshioka in Kielce, Poland from February 1-5 live on Sky Sports in the UK, Viaplay in Poland, Scandinavia and the Baltics, DAZN in the USA as well as Matchroom.Live and networks worldwide.
The American will look to become only the second player in history to defend the title following in the footsteps of Earl Strickland in a packed arena at Targi Kielce. 46 countries will be represented in the 128-player field as it is whittled down to the Last 64 over the first two days of action before it’s straight knockout to the end where one will claim the $60,000 first-place prize and the world crown.
The draw was completed with the top 64 players from the Nineball World Rankings against an unseeded player from the other 64 in the hat. Standout first-round ties include 2015 world champion Ko Pin Yi facing James Aranas of the Philippines whilst 2022 semi-finalist Abdullah Alyousef faces the tricky prospect of Johann Chua. 2004 world champion Alex Pagulayan was unseeded and will meet Michael Schneider.
World Cup of Pool winner David Alcaide takes on Billy Thorpe and Shane Wolford‘s mission for a spot on Team USA at the 2023 Mosconi Cup takes on Pia Filler. Francisco Sanchez Ruiz had a year to remember last year and will begin his Nineball campaign against So Shaw of Iran.
Double elimination matches are all race to 9, with all matches from the Last 64 a race to 11 except the final, which is a race to 13.
Table 1 will be live on broadcasters worldwide including Sky Sports in the UK, Viaplay in Poland, Scandinavia, Baltics, and the Netherlands, DAZN in the USA, Canada, and Italy, as well as on Matchroom.Live and networks worldwide. See where to watch here.
Table 2 will be live on Viaplay in selected territories as well as on Matchroom.Live and the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel.
Table 3 will be live on Viaplay in selected territories as well as on Matchroom.Live and the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel.
Zielinski takes top prize in 16-entrant Kamui Invitational
Poland’s Wiktor Zielinski has been on something of a roll over the past couple of months, and we all know how important ‘rolls’ are in any billiards game you care to name. He defeated the male half of the Killer Fillers (Joshua) in the finals of the Dynamic Billiard Lasko Open in February and then came across the ocean to down Aloysius Yapp in the finals of CSI’s Alfa Las Vegas Open in March. Last weekend (May 13-15), chalking up his flight miles, he headed back east and landed in Bucharest, Romania, where he claimed the 16-entrant, single-elimination Kamui Invitational title, defeating Boznia-Herzegovina’s Sanjin Pehlivanovic in the finals.
He also appeared in the finals of the concurrently-run, 256-entrant Predator Bucharest Open, but had his winning streak stopped by Taipei’s Ko Pin-Yi, who went undefeated through four rounds of double elimination and five rounds of single elimination play to snatch what would have been Zielinski’s third straight title from him in the finals. Though he’d been cashing in major tournaments all over the world (also on something of a roll and also chalking up his flight miles), it was Pin-Yi’s first recorded major victory since he laid claim to the 2018 China Open Men’s Division title.
Both events were hosted by the 20-year-old IDM Club in downtown Bucharest, about a mile or so east of the Dambovita river, which flows through the city for about 13 miles and is its main water supply. The IDM is a multi-functional sports club that offers members everything from fitness, body-building, swimming pools (a children’s leisure and a “semi-Olympic”), locker rooms, bowling, billiards, snooker, table tennis, darts and a restaurant, bar and children’s playground. US venues, take note.
Each of the 42 Brunswick Gold Crown IV pool tables in the IDM club was employed six times (+4) to get through the event’s opening round. Pin-Yi got through his opening rounds against Levent Kurtulus, Adi Petruscu and Michal Olech with an aggregate score of 27-4 to arrive at the winners’ side qualification round for single-elimination play against David Alcaide. Zielinski, in the meantime, found himself battling increased challenges. He allowed his first opponent, Albert Gabos, only a single rack but gave up six to Maor Shalom, before getting caught up in a double hill battle against Kevin Lannoye, which did eventually send him to the qualifying round versus Mustafa Alnar.
Among those also advancing to the qualifying round on the winners’ side were Shane Van Boening, Oliver Szolnoki, Denis Grabe, Thorsten Hohmann, Alex Kazakis, Mario He and Ko Pinc-Chung (who played each other), and Ralf Souquet and Nick Economopolous (who also played each other). There were 16 who advanced on the winners’ side to be among the 32 who would compete in the first single-elimination round. They were joined by the final 16 on the losers’ side of the bracket.
Two rounds later, the field was down to 8 in the quarterfinals. Ko Pin-Yi faced Souquet, who’d won his only loss-side match and come back to defeat Ko Ping-Chung. Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz faced Dimitri Jungo, Zielinski drew Petri Makkonen and Van Boening took on Mario He.
Ko Pin-Yi got by Souquet and Sanchez-Ruiz downed Jungo, both 11-3. Zielinski eliminated Makkonen 11-8 and Van Boening defeated He 11-9. In the semifinals that followed, Ko Pin-Yi defeated Ruiz 11-7, as Van Boening and Zielinski locked up in only the fourth double hill fight since the opening round of single-elimination play, with Van Boening involved in two of them. Zielinski advanced to face Ko Pin-Yi in the finals.
Pin-Yi had come to the finals with a 70% game-winning average (79-34). He won 72% of the games he played in the race-to-13 finals against Zielinski, claiming the Predator Bucharest Open title 13-5.
Two out of four matches for Zielinski go double hill in Kamui Invitational
The Kamui Invitational, which required less than 20% of the 42 Brunswick Gold Crown IV’s in the IDM Club, once, to complete its 15-entrant opening round, featured 12 competitors who participated in the open event, Zielinski, Van Boening and David Alcaide among them. Ko Pin-Yi, however, was not on the roster.
Zielinski got by his opening opponent, Davy Piergiovanni well enough, but ran immediately into a double hill match against Naoyuki Oi in the quarterfinals. From the bottom half of the bracket, Zielinski’s eventual opponent in the finals, Sanjin Pehlivanovic, who’d gotten by Alex Montpelier, drew Alex Lely. Ralf Souquet, who’d drawn a bye in the opener, faced Ko Ping-Chung, while Van Boening and Alcaide rounded out the quarterfinal matchups.
Zielinski survived his double hill encounter with Oi and in the semifinals, drew Souquet, who’d eliminated Ping-Chung 8-3. Van Boening defeated Alcaide 8-4 to pick up Pehlivanovic, who’d shut Lely out.
Zielenski walked right into his second straight double hill match, against Souquet, but did advance to the finals. Pehlivanovic dropped Van Boening 8-5 to join him. Zielenski defeated Pehlivanovic 8-5 to claim the Kamui Invitational title and his third victory in as many months.
Jan Keller (DEN) booked a seat in the semi-finals in 9-ball today, eliminating defending Champion Henrique Correia (POR) 8:7 and then Jim Telfer (NED) 8:3 one after the other. Telfer will go up against Sanne Azar (SWE) in the semi-final. Azar took down Marcello Valoroso (ITA) 8:3 and then Tomi Ahonen (FIN) 8:5 in the quarter-finals.
The other semi-final in the seniors division is played between Manuel Pereira (POR) and Vegar Kristiansen (NOR). Pereira made his way over Markku Toivonen (FIN) 8:4 and Marinus Gennissen (NED) 8:5 while Kristiansen got the better of Davy Piergiovanni (ITA) 8:3 and Alex Habo (HUN) 8:1.
In the ladies division, the semi-finals are played between highly favored Ulrika Andersson (SWE) and Tuuliina Panula (FIN) in the first match and Karin Michl (GER) versus Susanne Wessel (GER) in the other semi-final.
Today, the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies continue with the semi-finals and the final of the 9-ball individuals competition. The final match is scheduled for 15:00 CET.
The Championships are played on 24 tables which are all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be purchased at www.kozoom.com. Once a premium membership is held, all events for the respective period of time can be viewed LIVE. Additionally, a huge video gallery is contained in the website.
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, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press officepress@epbf.com.
Jim Telfer (NED) subdued Marcel Schaerer (SUI) 7:2 in the first winner’s round of the 8-ball individuals at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania.
Telfer started the match with his break shot but had no ball down. So Schaerer had the first chance to win a rack since all balls were widely spread. But he snookered himself on his last colored ball and committed a foul so Telfer ran the table and drew first blood. In the next rack, Telfer almost committed the same mistake as Schaerer earlier. He pocketed all striped balls but fell out of position for the 8-ball. He attempted to pocket it over one rail into the side pocket but he failed. Now Schaerer got to the table with all the solids nicely spread out for him. But he missed his second shot already and Telfer made the 8-ball to take a 20 lead over Schaerer. As the match went on, things continued as in the first two racks. Telfer simply made less mistakes than his opponent which finally and consequently brought him the 7:2 victory over the Swiss player.
Other remarkable results include defending Champion Sanne Azar (SWE) winning his first match 7:1 over Jorgen Nilsen (NOR). In the next round, Azar will go up against Csaba Nagy (HUN). Nagy took down Davy Piergiovanni (ITA) 7:2 in the first round and then squeezed past Stefan Ericsson (SWE) by a whisker with 7:6. The draw this year is pretty tough for Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER). His first two matches were no challenge to him. He clobbered Onur Abdik (TUR) 7:1 and Tero Kaivonen (FIN) also 7:1. But his next opponent will probably give him more resistance. He will have to deal with Fabio Petroni (ITA), experienced senior player from Italy. Petroni overmastered Dag-Joran Aralden (NOR) 7:4 in his first match.
In the ladies division, Ulrika Andersson (SWE) wasted no time with Monika Oeschger (SUI). 5:0 was the final result in favor of Andersson who will go against defending Champion Barbara Bolfelli (ITA) in the next round. Patrizia Ingest (ITA) got the better of Karin Michl (GER), winning the match 5:2. Ann-Sofie Löfgren (SWE) showed nor mercy with Anne Nieminen (FIN), sending her to the loser’s side with a clear 5:1.
This afternoon at 17:00 local time, the semi-finals of the 10-ball individuals will be played with the final matches scheduled for 19:00 today.
The Championships are played on 24 tables which are all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be purchased at www.kozoom.com. Once a premium membership is held, all events for the respective period of time can be viewed LIVE. Additionally, a huge video gallery is contained in the website.
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, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press officepress@epbf.com.
The 10-ball individuals have started at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania, today.
In the ladies division, the defending Champion Cristina Moscetti (ITA) had a walk-over and will play Ann-Sofie Löfgren (SWE) in the next round. Löfgren defeated Monika Oeschger (SUI) 5:2 in her first match. Also Nathalie Rohmer (FRA) won her first encounter over Tuuliina Panula (FIN). She whitewashed the Finish with 5:0. Hildegard Kasper (GER) will face Ulrika Andersson (SWE) in the winner’s qualification round tomorrow. Kasper squeaked past Anne Nieminen (FIN) 5:4 while Andersson took care of Patrizia Ingest (ITA) 5:3. The other match in that round will be played between Susanne Wessel (GER) and last year’s runner-up Karin Michl (GER).
In the seniors division, defending Champion Henrique Correia (POR) had a masterful appearance inches first match. He took down Davy Piergiovanni (ITA) 7:5 and is now already in the round of the final 32 players single elimination. Piergiovanni then met Jim Telfer (NED) on the loser’s side and got knocked out 7:1. Jimmy Worung (NED) got the better of Marco Devruscian (ITA) 7:5. Multiple European Champion Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) who surprisingly lost last night in the single elimination round of the last 16 players straight pool to Sandor Tot (HUN) has also made his homework today and clobbered Jouni Nykanen (FIN) 7:2. Sanne Azar (SWE) event handed a doughnut to Rienus Gennissen (NED) 7:0. Sandor Tot (HUN), Vegar Kristiansen (NOR), Dino Cerimagic (BIH), just to name a few of the „hot“ favorites for the title have all won their first matches and proceeded to the single elimination of the last 32 players. That round will be played tomorrow at 12:45 CET.
Today at 15:00 local time, the quarter-final matches of the straight pool discipline will be played with the semi-finals and final to follow straight after.
The Championships are played on 24 tables which are all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be purchased at www.kozoom.com. Once a premium membership is held, all events for the respective period of time can be viewed LIVE. Additionally, a huge video gallery is contained in the website.
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, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press officepress@epbf.com.
