From top: Bruno Bernardo, Juan Antonio Pina and Emil Andre Gangflot
MEZZ CUES, in its renowned support of deserving pro-pool talent, has recognized three more competitors in its ever-expanding roster of sponsored players.
Promising Portuguese Bruno Bernardo, their latest rising star, is a talented 28-year-old whom Mezz has had their eye on as he has risen thru the rankings.
Bruno commented on the sponsorship, “I want to thank Mezz Cues that they decided to invest in me and trust in my dedication, method, and discipline that I exercise in our sport. I will do everything not to disappoint.”
Bruno’s social media page has an interesting quote, “Practice till your idols become your rivals.”
Juan Antonio Pina, having secured the 2021 Spanish 9-Ball and 10-Ball titles, is Spain’s current National Absolute Ranking Champion.
Hard work is the key as 36-year-old Pina’s multi-disciplined career advanced on the Euro Tour. His improvement is no surprise.
Pina is inspired by their support. “It is a dream come true for me as a player. MEZZ equipment and professionalism are of the highest standard in the world.”
Joining Juan on TEAM MEZZ is Norwegian 10-Ball Champion Emil Andre Gangflot. Emil’s accolades have earned him the greatest achievement that a sportsman can win in Norway, the King’s Trophy.
No stranger to the national competitions, the 18-year-old Emil is certainly spoiled by success as he has battled thru the ranks with multiple Norwegian Junior Champion titles and, as a World Junior Silver Medalist and 3-time Bronze Medalist.
Inspired by the MEZZ CUES offer, he reported, “I am honored to be a MEZZ Cues Team member. I look forward to the journey towards more titles and levels with the best equipment on the market,” he responded after his sponsorship was announced.
His pro career is well underway and MEZZ is seriously optimistic about his future success.
Friday the 13th is unlucky for some, none more so than Norway’s Mats Schjetne. For some unknown reason, Mats failed to show up for his 2nd match today and gifted fellow Norwegian Emil-Andre Gangflot the win.
In what could arguably be the best match of the day, Spain’s David Alcaide beat former world champion Russia’s, Fedor Gorst 9-7. The match had everything you could want as a pool fan as David steamed into a 5-0 lead before anyone could catch their breath. Fedor took a time out and lost the next to trail 6-0 and seemed to accept he would lose this match. This helped to relax the Russian and at 7-2 up David also took his foot off the gas and before you knew it, Fedor had clawed back a couple of racks to trail now by 7-4. The next rack went to David, putting him on the brink of victory at 8-4 but Fedor had the crowd dreaming of a hill-hill match as he kept plugging away. With the score now 8-7 and David’s break, the fans held their breath again as David got hooked behind the 4-ball with the 1-ball close to the pocket and nowhere to hide.
Fedor is known for his wicked jumping ability and was ready to pounce from anywhere but a clever shot from David left only a kick possible and forced Fedor to pass it back. David played a brilliant kick shot leaving Fedor in trouble. Out came Fedor’s jump cue for what was a very tough ask and after contact with the 1-ball the cue-ball dropped into the pocket giving David the run-out and a place in the last 32.Fedor himself had one last chance when he played Norway’s Emil-Andre Gangflot to see who would join the elite in the single elimination and he did not let the Norwegian have it as easy as Mats did earlier in the day winning 9-7 to enter the fray once more.
Fedor will not be booking any holidays in Spain though as the last 32 draw paired him with another Spaniard in Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz. This time there was no close encounter as the Spaniard ensured a last 16 place at the expense of the Russian, winning that match 9-2. David Alcaide’s good form was ended by Poland’s Wiktor Zielinski 9-7 as fellow countrymen Konrad Juszczyszyn and Tomasz Kaplan joined Wiktor in the last 16.
Other notable results saw Estonia’s Mark Magi beat Germany’s Ralf Souquet while Greece’s Alex Kazakiz beat Europe’s number 1, Albania’s Eklent Kaci.
