Ralf Souquet (GER) aka “The Kaiser” defeated Mario He (AUT) 8:7 after being almost out of the European Championship 10-ball competition. The match had one of the most dramatic finishes that we have seen. After neither player could take a lead of more than one rack throughout the entire match, the situation came to an unavoidable hill-hill at 7:7. Then, after a few safeties were exchanged, Mario He was the player who got the first chance. He pocketed ball after ball and he had only the 8-ball, 9-ball and the 10-ball left on the table, having a clear shot at the 8-ball. But the cue ball did not go the way Mario intended it to and he found himself on an awkward position on the 9-ball. The angle for the side pocket was too thin and he had to play a safety. He left Souquet the cue ball at the short rail on one end of the table with the 9-ball at the rail on the other end of the table. Probably the best safety he could have come up with in that situation. Ralf was sitting in his chair, with his eyes closed and seemed to be in a state of utter concentration After studying the situation, “The Kaiser” called the 9-ball in the side pocket and made the shot over three rails. He then pocketed the 10-ball and finished the match with a loud scream. “YES!”, shaking his fist and letting the tension leave his entire body. That was truly a Master's shot!
Men's Last 16:
Ralf Souquet (GER) v Mario He (AUT) 8:7
Marcus Chamat (SWE) v Radoslaw Babica (POL) 7:8
Konstantin Stepanov (RUS) v Kevin Becker (GER) 8:4
Aki Heiskanen (FIN) v Huidji See (NED) 6:8
Mariusz Skoneczny (POL) v David Alcaide (ESP) 6:8
Paddy McLoughlin (IRL) v Manuel Gama (POR) 3:8
Bahram Lotfy (DEN) v Henrique Correia (POR) 7:8
Fabio Petroni (ITA) v Stephan Cohen (FRA) 2:8
