Kelly Fisher came to Rothschild, WI on the long weekend of November 20-24 in search of her first 2019 win and knew almost immediately that she might need to defeat some adversaries she’d faced before. There were, at the WPBA’s Aramith/DR Pool Classic, the usual array of suspects in that regard; Allison Fisher, Jasmine Ouschan, Jennifer Baretta, LoreeJon Hasson, Janet Atwell and Line Kjorsvik, to name just a few. And though she wouldn’t have to face China’s Siming Chen, who did not compete and who’d defeated her in the finals of the WPBA Masters last February in Michigan, she knew she might have to face Chinese Taipei’s Tzu-Chien Wei, whom she’d defeated in the semifinals of that WPBA Masters and then, been defeated by in the semifinals of August’s Sondheim Diamond Invitational in Iowa. She did face Wei this time around, twice as it turned out, losing the first, but coming back from the loss side to win the second and claim the event title. The $20,000-added event drew 48 entrants to the Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center in Rothschild.
The importance of chalking up her first win of the year at this event was not lost on Fisher. As a professional, she’s not inclined to dwell on a given event’s individual importance, lest it interfere with the game(s) at hand, but having been on the mend since surgeries sidelined her for a few years, she was getting a little antsy.
“I was getting a worried for a moment there,” she said. “I’d had numerous semifinal wins (since last May; 3, to be exact), so I’m very pleased to have gotten this title.”
“I’m finally feeling that my game is back to where it was a few years ago,” she added.
Fisher was one of 16 seeded competitors who were awarded opening round byes, as the other 32 squared off against each other. Fisher drew Shanelle Loraine out of that original 32, defeated her and joined 12 other players who’d been awarded opening round byes in advancement to the third round. Only Gerda Gregerson, Melissa Little, Line Kjorsvik and Jenna Bishoff from that group of 16 seeded, went to the loss side, sent by (in order) Jeannie Seaver, Dawn Hopkins, Jasmin Ouschan and Teruko Cucculleli.
Fisher went on to defeat Monica Webb 8-1and then survived a double hill battle versus Jennifer Baretta to draw Tzu-Chien Wei in one of the winners’ side semifinals. Jasmin Oushchan, in the meantime, got by Joanne Ashton 8-1, survived her own double hill battle versus Kjorsvik, and downed Dawn Hopkins 8-2 to pick up Jia Li.
Wei defeated Fisher 8-5 and in the hot seat, faced Ouschan, who’d sent Li to the loss side 8-4. A double hill battle ensued for possession of the hot seat. Wei prevailed, sending Ouschan off to a second straight, double hill semifinal matchup against Fisher.
Over on the loss side, there were some top-notch matches brewing as the tournament’s elites moved toward picking up Fisher and Jia Li, coming over from the winners’ side semifinal. After losing to Jeannie Seaver in the second round, Gerda Gregerson embarked on a six-match, loss-side streak that saw her eliminate Eugenia Gyftopoulos, Catherine Tschumper and, moving into the early money rounds, Caroline Pao and Emily Duddy. She went on to down Brittany Bryant 8-5 and young Atlantic Cup Challenge competitor, April Larson 8-4 to draw Li.
Fisher drew Tamara Peeters, who was working on a six-match, loss-side winning streak of her own and fresh off something of an 8-1 upset over Teruko Cucculleli. Cucculleli had defeated Allison Fisher on the winners’ side, before being sent over by Jia Li in a winners’ side quarterfinal. She proceeded to eliminate Jessica Barnes, Beth Fondell and jumped into the money pool with an 8-4 win over Loree Jon Hasson. She downed Gail Eaton and Dawn Hopkins, both 8-6 and then, eliminated Cucculleli to reach Fisher.
Fisher gave up only a single rack to Peeters in advancing to the quarterfinals. She was joined by Jia Li, who’d sent Gregerson home 8-6. Fisher won a second straight 8-1 match, eliminating Li 8-1.
That little 16-2 run wasn’t destined to last, as Fisher squared off against Jasmin Ouschan in the semifinals. It was Ouschan’s second straight double hill match, and proved to be the second one in a row that she lost.
With lingering echoes of previous matchups and a nagging little voice that kept telling her that since she’d earned herself a second chance against Tzu-Chien Wei, she’d damn well better take advantage of it, Fisher launched into the finals, in search of her first 2019 win. There are, she noted, generalities about such endeavors, and specifics, related to particular opponents. You have to play ‘your game,’ regardless of opponent, while awareness of specific opponents can inform decisions about approach.
“My main thing,” said Fisher, “is to come out of the gate strong, to keep control of the table.”
“Looking back at previous matches against Wei,” she added, “it was about not allowing her to come back. She’s capable of coming back from behind, so I knew once I had (the lead), I had to keep it.”
As noted in a Biblical proverb – “The heart of Man (Woman) plans his/her way, but the Lord establishes his/her steps.” Fisher lost the opening four racks and immediately switched roles to become the person “capable of coming back from behind.” She allowed Wei only one more rack, before she chalked up 10 to claim that first 2019 title.
“I’ve been practicing quite hard,” she said a few days later from her home in Scotland. “It came down to being patient. I knew I was close (to getting back into previous form), and that there was room to grow.
“I want to win the big ones,” she added, “and it really is just a matter of practice.”
She’ll spend a few days at home, more than likely find time to do some of that practice and then head for China and competition in the 2019 Women’s World 9-Ball Championships, to be held from December 13-20.
WPBA representatives thanked the ownership and staff at the Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Diamond Billiards Products, Aramith, Outsville and Simonis Cloth.
Oliwia Zalewska (POL) wins the Predator Antalya Open 2019 with a fortunate victory over Tina Vogelmann (GER) in the final match.
Zalewska, before she married known as Czuprynska, took her second Euro-Tour title in a row since her marriage in October this year. After her impressive performance in Klagenfurt, she was back to Antalya so she could take her good from up and see who would be able to stop her here. In fact, she lost her first match against Kateryna Polovinchuk (UKR) with 4:7. Being sent to the loser’s side, she defeated Elise Qiu (NED) 7:2 and Yvonne Ullmann-Hybler (GER) 7:3 to get back to the single elimination stage. There, Zalewska took revenge of Kateryna Polovinchuk and won 7:5 to oust her Ukrainian opponent. The next victim was Melanie Suessenguth (GER) who fell 7:4 to Zalewska. In the semi-final, Zalewska eliminated favoured Kristina Tkach (RUS) with 7:5. That booked her a seat in the final match where she met Tina Vogelmann. The German was playing her first final match and also showed some strong performance here in Antalya. Among others, she overcame Tamara Peeters (NED) 7:6, Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) 7:4 and Christine Steinlage (GER) 7:3. The odds in the final match were clearly in favour of Zalewska. But Vogelmann clung to her chance. In the early stage of the match, Vogelmann even took a lead over Zalewska. After six racks, Vogelmann was 4:2 up. Then Zalewska took three racks in a row to take a 5:4 lead herself. It came to 6:6 with rack #13 having to be the decider. Here, Vogelmann opened the rack and had no ball pocketed. Zalewska played a push-out which was answered by Vogelmann with a nice safety shot. Zalewska had no straight shot on the 1-ball. She went rail first and fortunately made the 1-ball in the side pocket of the opposite rail. Then, Zalewska attempted to pocket the 2-ball in the other side pocket but also missed it. However, the 2-ball went into the corner pocket, leaving an open layout for Zalewska. The Polish ran the table and won the match with the help of lady luck with 7:6 over unlucky Tina Vogelmann.
This concludes the coverage from the Predator Antalya Open 2019.
The Predator Antalya Open were played in the Limak Atlantis Resort in Belek, Turkey, on up to 20 tables which were all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be obtained 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 was 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.womeneurotouronline.com or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
Kateryna Polovinchuk, Ana Gradisnik and Kristina Tkach
The four top seeded athletes at the Predator Antalya Open 2019 presented themselves today in top form.
Kristina Tkach (RUS), the #1 seeded player has shown no mercy with her opponents today so far. First, she overpowered Aleksandra Guleikova (RUS) 7:1, then she defeated Sinem Kokten (TUR) 7:3. None of her opponents had a realistic chance during their respective matches. Tkach has booked her seat in the single elimination stage of the last 16 player which will be played tomorrow morning at 10:00 local time.
Tkach is joined by #2 seed Marharyta Fefilava (BLR). The Belarussian stormed off today to a 7:0 victory over Lynn Pijpers (NED) and 7:2 over birthday girl Yvonne Ullmann-Hybler (GER). Ana Gradisnik (SLO) and Kateryna Polovinchuk (UKR) were the next two seeded players who also took clear victories today. A remarkable fact is that out of the eight players who made it to the single elimination over the winner’s round, four are from Germany. Pia Filler, Melanie Suessenguth, Tina Vogelmann and Diana Stateczny (all GER) complete the list of the contestants who booked their seat in the round of the last 16 over the winner’s side.
The Predator Antalya Open 2019 will continue tomorrow morning at 10:00 local time.
Every day, up to two matches will be streamed LIVE over the EPBF Facebook page and on the EPBF YouTube channel. Check for updates and announcements.
The Predator Antalya Open are played in the Limak Atlantis Resort in Belek, Turkey, on up to 20 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 obtained 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.womeneurotouronline.com or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
The two top ranked players of the EPBF Euro-Tour rankings, Kristina Tkach (RUS) and Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) are right on track at the Predator Klagenfurt Open 2019.
#1 ranked player Kristina Tkach had no problems in her first match. She wiped the floor with her opponent Milena Murha (BLR) and easily won the match 7:1. Her second match was definitely more of a challenge. She faced Ine Helvik (NOR) and managed to overpower the Norwegian with 7:5 needing a lot more performance and action than in her first round match. Jasmin Ouschan had two walks in the park today. She took down fellow countrywoman Lena Primus (AUT) 7:2 and the Diana Stateczny (GER) 7:1 to book her seat in the round of the last 16 players single elimination.
Other remarkable results from today include Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL) winning 7:5 over Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) with 7:5 in the first winner’s round. Then, Kamila Khodjaeva fell for Kristina Zlateva (BUL) with 3:7 in the next round.
Tomorrow, the Predator Klagenfurt Open 2019 will begin at 10:00 CET with matches from the last 16 players single elimination. The final match is scheduled for 16:30 CET.
Every day, up to two matches will be streamed LIVE over the EPBF Facebook page and on the EPBF YouTube channel. Check for updates and announcements.
The Predator Klagenfurt Open are played in the Sportpark Klagenfurt Arena in Klagenfurt, Austria, on up to 20 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 obtained 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.womeneurotouronline.com or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
One more time, Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) won a tournament in her home country. In the final match of the Predator St. Johann im Pongau Open 2019, she smashed Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) with 7:1.
The final match started not so bad for Fefilava. She missed the 9-ball and almost gave the first rack away to Ouschan. But since she left a tough shot, Ouschan also missed and gave the present back to Fefilava who then pocketed the 1-ball to get a 1:0 lead. In the next rack, Fefilava once again missed an easy shot. This time the 3-ball hung in the corner pocket. Ouschan got to the table and cleared it in her special style, leaving no room for doubt or errors. Ouschan had arrived in her usual tournament mode. If a player wants to have a chance against Ouschan, one must play focussed in the beginning and use the chances that are given if any. Committing mistakes against the Austrian exceptional player is almost like surrendering. At 3:1 for Ouschan, Fefilava got to the table next time when Ouschan came up with an illegal break. After an exchange of safety shots, Ouschan committed a foul and allowed Fefilava to get to the table with ball in hand. To the horror of the audience, Fefilava hooked herself behind the 6-ball straight after her first shot. She was completely off track in that match. Ouschan stayed cold as ice and ran another rack for a comfortable 4:1 lead over a shaking Fefilava. The next time Fefilava got to the table, the score was already 5:1. Ouschan again had an illegal break. Fefilava ran all balls and again missed the 9-ball. What a drama for the player from Belarus! She made her way into this final with some great performances just to totally collapse in the final, not getting going at all in this match against Ouschan. Jasmin Ouschan however, stayed focussed and played her game, taking the title by winning 7:1 over a devastated Fefilava.
In the semi-finals, Ouschan defeated Sara Rocha (POR) after a tight match with 7:5. Fefilava took down surprise player Veronika Hubrtova (CZE) with 7:4. Worth mentioning are also the 5th place finishes of Monika Margeta (SWE), Ina Kaplan (GER), Tamara Peeters (NED) and Diana Khodjaeva (BEL).
Top Eight Finishers
1. Jasmin Ouschan AUT
2. Marharyta Fefilava BLR
3. Veronika Hubrtova CZE
Sara Rocha POR
5. Ina Kaplan GER
Tamara Peeters NED
Monika Margeta SWE
Diana Khodjaeva BEL
That concludes the coverage from the Predator St. Johann im Pongau Open 2019.
The Predator St. Johann im Pongau Open were played in the Sporthotel Alpina Alpendorf in St. Johann im Pongau, Austria, on up to 22 tables which were all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be obtained 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 was hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organised by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.womeneurotouronline.com or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
Feldmann, Larsson and Fortunski won the 10-ball titles
The 10-ball discipline at the Dynamic Billard European Championships 2019 is over and the medals have been awarded.
In the men’s division, Mieszko Fortunski (POL) won the title after a fierce fight with Casper Matikainen (FIN) in the final match. Matikainen had the better start and stormed off with a 3:0 lead over Fortunski. The Finish played pretty confident and displayed no weakness until that stage in the match. Then suddenly he started committing mistakes. Fortunski capitalized from them and gained strength from his opponent’s errors. Then, Matikainen was also very unlucky with his break. While it worked pretty well in the beginning, it did let him down during the match. He scratched three times in a row on his own break shot and it could be witnessed how his confidence left him and he had no trust in himself anymore. Fortunski got stronger and stronger and in the end succeeded in sealing the deal with a comfortable 8:4 victory over Matikainen.
In the women’s division, Christine Feldmann (SUI) surprisingly took the title against highly favoured Kristina Tkach (SUI) with 6:3. Feldmann had performed outstandingly throughout the discipline so far and rightfully booked her seat in the final match, winning 6:3 over Tamara Peeters-Rademakers (NED) in the semi-final. Tkach ousted Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) 6:5 in the same round in a monster clash. Tkach was highly favoured for the title but Feldmann simply played better and kept her nerves together. The final match was not even close with Feldmann dominating it throughout the whole course of the match. In the end, Feldmann won her third European title after winning 1993 in the girl’s 9-ball division and 2005 in the women’s 8-ball.
In the wheelchair division, there was one new face in the final match. Kaspars Turks (LAT) had to play against multiple Champion Henrik Larsson (SWE). Being in the final was already a huge achievement for Turks. He ousted favoured Fred Dinsmore (IRL) in the semi-final match and wass ready for more against Larsson. But the Swede is very experienced with many titles underneath his belt already. After having defeated his biggest rival, defending Champion Jouni Tahti (FIN) in the quarter-final already, Larsson did not want to allow anyone to take that medal away from him anymore. So the match turned pretty much into a one-man-show from Henrik Larsson. The Swede pulled rack after rack from Turks and managed to win the title with a clear 6:1 result over Turks.
The medal table displays a clear lead for Poland, having won both Gold Medals in the men’s division so far.
RANK
Nation
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1.
POL
2
1
1
4
2
RUS
1
1
2
3
SUI
1
1
2
4
SWE
1
1
5
NED
1
1
2
6
FIN
1
1
LAT
1
1
8
AUT
2
2
9
BLR
1
1
GBR
1
1
GER
1
1
IRL
1
1
POR
1
1
The Dynamic Billard European Championships 2019 for men, women, U23 and wheelchair athletes will commence tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with matches in the 8-ball individuals competition Men and Under 23.
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 obtained 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 or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
In the quarter-final round of the men’s 10-ball individuals at the Dynamic Billard European Championships 2019 in Treviso, Italy, Casper Matikainen (FIN) eliminated Tomasz Kaplan (POL) with 8:7.
It was the third tough match for Matikainen today already. In the 15:30 round, he defeated Eklent Kaci (ALB) with 8:6. Then, in the next round he went ahead and ousted Daniele Corrieri (ITA) 8:7. These close results prove that Matikainen has to be a good fighter. He was already trailing 4:7 against Kaplan and things did not look at all promising for him. When Kaplan had the chance to finish the match, he snookered himself and ran out of position with the cue ball, hiding it behind the 9-ball when the 8-ball was still on the table. That situation gave second life to Matikainen who hung in there and kept his nerves under control. He made shot after shot and forced Kaplan into a hill-hill match at 7:7. With Kaplan’s break shot coming up, the Polish again had the better odds. He pocketed a ball on his break shot but could not really use the position he found for the 1-ball. He attempted to play a push-out but the result was very poor. Matikainen accepted the table, ran it and advance into the semi-finals tomorrow where he will face Joao Grilo (POR) who won 8:5 over Mariusz Skoneczny (POL).
One round earlier, Thorsten Hohmann (GER) eliminated the defending Champion Joshua „Killer“ Filler (GER) from the field, winning with 8:7 over the newly crowned US Open Champion.
In the women’s division, one semi-final will be the clash between the two most dominating athletes in European women’s pool, Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) versus Kristina Tkach (RUS). Both of them won their quarter-final matches but Tkach took the straight way into the semi-final while Ouschan had lost one match and needed to come back over the loser’s side. The other semi-final will take place between Christine Feldmann (SUI) and Tamara Peeters-Rademakers (NED) who already took a silver medal in straight pool on Sunday.
In the wheelchair division, Henrik Larsson managed to overcome his long-time rival, defending Champion Jouni Tahti (FIN) with 6:5 to proceed into the semi-final of the wheelchair division. The other semi-final will be played between unheralded Kaspars Turks (LAT) and favoured Fred Dinsmore (IRL).
The semi-final matches in all disciplines will be played at 18:00 CET with the final matches to follow at 20:00 CET.
The Dynamic Billard European Championships 2019 for men, women, U23 and wheelchair athletes will commence tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with matches in the 8-ball individuals competition women and Under 23.
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 obtained 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 or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
Russia & Poland start the Dynamic billard European championships with gold medals in the straightpool discipline which came to an end tonight in Treviso Italy. Kristina Tkach was the star of the Russian team here in Treviso, making up for last year’s disappointment of silver with an emphatic win over Tamara Peeters-Rademakers (NED) in the final. After the 2018 title holder Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan went out earlier today, it was a great chance for Kristina to claim her second women’s straightpool gold in the last three years.
A comfortable victory over Belarusian Marharyta Fefilava in the semi-final meant Kristina was one more win away from that coveted trophy. Standing in her way was the Dutch lady who had come through a tight semi-final match with Jasmin’s earlier conqueror, Claudia von Rorh from Switzerland. That tight and tense semi-final seemed to have taken the energy out of Tamara and so it was Kristina, with the skill & determination to see it through and claim the gold medal winning the final 75-23.
In the men’s division, Austria’s Mario He spoiled the Polish medal whitewash. Being the only non-Polish in the Semi’s, he was on a mission to really spoil the party but Karol Skowerski, the elder-statesman in the Polish team, made sure it would be an all Polish final with a superb display shutting out Mario 125-32. Tomasz Kaplan continued his great shooting and his amazing record at the same time. Tomasz has now been in the medals in this discipline six times in the last nine years and he made sure it was going to be brighter than the bronze by beating fellow countryman, Mariusz Skoneczny 125-69 in the other semi-final.
Tomasz last won this discipline in 2011 and Karol was still looking for his first individual gold medal of his career. Tomasz looked to be in control after some early exchanges but a mistake after he had made only 23 points saw Karol come back to the table. With the score at 3-23 Karol made a hard fought 106 but drew too much on his next shot forcing him to go airborne with his jump stick. Tomasz was again back at the table, but he missed a crucial break shot to allow Karol to close out the match and take the gold medal winning 125-45 and claim his first European individual title.
The 10-ball starts on Monday morning and the draw and results can be found at www.epbf.com with all matches streamed live via our media partners, www.kozoom.com
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 or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
The European pool championships kicked off here in Treviso Italy today with the straightpool discipline and we’ve had plenty of high runs to satisfy the crowds. A match that got everyone talking about was reigning men’s champion, Niels Feijen up against his old adversary, Nick Van Den Berg (pictured) in the winner’s qualifier. Arguably the best two players of this discipline over the past 17 years, winning a staggering 10 gold medals between them during this period, it was a match to savour.
Nick won the lag and sent Niels in to make the opening shot, this turned out to be his only shot of the match as Nick rolled back the years with a superb century break that sent Niels to the loser’s side with a score 100-0. While Nick could take a short rest, Niels found another Dutchman in Ivar Saris who wanted the champs scalp and duly took it with an emphatic win 100-65. Niels tried everything to stay in the match, including twice taking a deliberate minus 15 penalty while Ivar Saris was hovering high in the nineties, it was not to be though and Ivar joins Nick in the single elimination while the ex-champ has time to reflect before his quest of the 10-ball starts.
Finland’s Casper Matikainen also found his potting rhythm in the 1stround with some great shooting to defeat the experienced Serbian, Zoran Svilar 100-0. This may have got the better of the youngster as he came up short in his next match losing to Denmark’s Christopher Lentz. This sent Casper into the loser’s side of the draw where he won his next two matches and scraped into the single elimination starting Sunday.
Austria’s Max Lechner was looking to emulate these high runs and made it to 99 before a bad position meant he had to wait for the next visit to finish the match 100-0 against Slovenia’s Mitja Gradisnik. Another Gradisnik was sent to the loser’s side as Klemen Gradisnik lost out to Sweden’s Christian Sparrenloev-Fischer 100-8 with Christian running the final 77 to clinch a spot in the single elimination. Klemen eventually made it to the last 32 single elimination with a last gasp victory over Italy’s Tonini Gianmarco 100-92.
It was not all bad news for the Gradisnik family as over in the women’s division, Ana Gradisnik saw off last year’s bronze medallist, Switzerland’s Christine Feldmann with a comfortable score line 75-8 and then followed that with a tighter victory over the Netherlands Elise Qui 75-55 to book her spot in Sundays single elimination of 16 players.
Reigning women’s champion, Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan came through the preliminary rounds unscathed. First beating Russia’s Natalia Seroshtan 75-35 and then the Netherlands Tamara Peeters-Rademakers 75-32 which puts Jasmin into the single elimination slot as well.
Last year’s silver medallist, Russia’s Kristina Tkach has also booked her spot into the last 16 by beating Ukraine’s Viktoria Nagorna 75-26 and then Germany’s Tina Vogelmann 75-31 and will be back at the table on Sunday 11am local time.
Draw and results can be found at www.epbf.com with all matches streamed live via our media partners, www.kozoom.com
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 or visit us on Facebook for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
Fedor Gorst (RUS) has just won the Dynamic Billard Treviso Open 2018 with a thrilling 9:7 victory over Mateusz Sniegocki (POL) in the final match.
It was Gorst’s first appearance in a final match of a Euro-Tour ever today. He made his way over elite players like Petri Makkonen (FIN), Mieszko Fortunski (POL), Ivo Aarts (NED) and Maximilian Lechner (AUT) into the final match. His opponent Mateusz Sniegocki had just played a really tough semi-final against his teammate Tomasz Kaplan (POL) and just sneaked over the finish-line with 9:8. So the clash in the final match was experience versus youth. Sniegocki has already three Euro-Tour titles under his belt and today was his fifth appearance in a final match. Gorst was the newbie. „I had nothing to lose really,“ stated Gorst after the match. „The odds were all in favour of Sniegocki so I could play my game and enjoy the final match“. It seemed as if Gorst was as calm as one could be. „I was nervous“, admitted Gorst, „but I managed to keep my focus on the match and not think about winning my first Euro-Tour title.“ The match was really tight with both players changing in leading the scoreboard. At 7:7, SNiegocki missed an important shot. That brought Gorst to the table who showed no mercy to the experienced Polish and ran two racks, winning the final match with 9:7. „Tomorrow I will probably be happy about my 2nd place today,“ mentioned Sniegocki after the final when asked. „But today I’m suffering because I had my chances to win the match“.
The new Euro-Tour rankings are pretty much dominated by Austrian players. Mario He (#2), Albin Ouschan (#3) and Maximilian Lechner (#8) have all conquered or defended a top ten position. Leader of the rankings is still Eklent Kaci (ALB).
Earlier today, the women started their tournament as well. The EPBF Treviso Open began with a big upset. Current #1 ranked player Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) lost her opening match against Monika Zabek (POL) with 5:7. Zabek was already up 3:1 and 5:3 when Fefilava took her time-out. When she came back, she played better and more focussed and managed to put some pressure on her Polish opponent. But Zabek kept her nerves together and put the match into her account when it was on the razor’s edge at 6:5. After that match, Zabek lost a heartbreaker with 6:7 to Ine Helvik (NOR). She then went to the loser’s side to play Elise Qiu (NED). In that match Zabek played up to her limits. After 12 racks, the score was 6:6. It was Qiu’s break shot coming up. The match was open but Qiu was not able to close the book. She missed the 8-ball and left a long shot for Zabek. The Polish pocketed both 8-ball and 9-ball and proceeded to the single elimination stage. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) wasted no time with her first opponent, Annika Nilsson (SWE). 7:2 was the clear result in favour of Ouschan at the end of the match. Then she went on and handed the same defeat to her next opponent, Ewa Bak (POL). That victory put Ouschan through to the single elimination stage. She is joined there by current #2 of the Euro-Tour rankings, Kristina Tkach (RUS). In former times, Tkach had less problems to go into the single elimination stage. Today, she found two worthy opponents in Tamara Peeters (NED) and Vania Franco (POR). Tkach was still a bit better than these two and won both matches 7:4 and 7:5 to go to the single elimination stage.
Friday through Sunday, EPBF will show two feature matches LIVE on the EPBF Facebook page. The complete tournament is shown on kozoom.com for premium pass holders.
That concludes the coverage of the Dynamic Billard Treviso Open 2018. Tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET, the EPBF Treviso Open, will continue with matches of the last 16 players single elimination.
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organised by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website eurotouronline under the Eurotour tab. You can also visit us on our Facebook page or check out the EPBF YouTube channel for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
