Kuckherm defeats Bijsterbosch in a heartbreak match to advance to final 8
Monday, 01 August 2011: In a very close match in the juniors division 10-ball competition, Lars Kuckherm (GER) managed to turn the match against Marc Bijsterbosch (NED) and win with a margin of 7:5. Both players have played the semi-finals in straight pool last night with the difference that Bijsterbosch made it to the finals while Kuckherm lost and had to settle for 3rd place. So both of them knew about each other that they were facing a tough player. In the beginning, Bijsterbosch seemed to destroy Kuckherm, taking a comfortable 5:1 lead. “I was not thinking about my opponent” stated Kuckherm, “when I am at the table I only focus on my own game.” “Marc played very good in the beginning, making hardly any mistakes. I have missed two easy 1-balls which opened up the opportunity for him to get that big lead over me”. Being 5:1 down, Kuckherm changed his tactics and played more safety shots. That worked for him. He was able to close the gap and even tie the match at 5:5. “I suddenly managed to win the racks where I had the break shot while Marc scratched on his break. I was totally focussed and played very solid,” says the young German. At the score of 6:5 in favour of Kuckherm, Bijsterbosch played a very offensive push out which Kuckherm handed him back straight away. Bijsterbosch tried to hit the cue ball over one rail but again scratched. “I would not have played that push out”, said Kuckherm, “I think he should have left me a jump shot. But I was on the role; probably I would have made that anyway”, smiles Kuckherm. He ran the final rack to win the match with 7:5
Other notable results in the juniors division include Jakub Koniar (SVK) turning the match and winning over favourite Wojciech Szewczyk (POL) with 7:6 after having trailed 1:6. Alain da Costa (FRA) defeated Dutch hope Ivar Saris with 7:6.
In the pupils division, Mikael Oegaard (NOR) unexpectedly lost to Gergely Papp (HUN) with 4:6. Berk Mehmetcik (TNC) surprised the spectators with a clear 6:2 triumph over Tobias Bongers (GER).
The rest of today, the Team matches in the juniors and pupils division will be played.
The European Championships are 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.epbf.com , follow us on twitter @EPBF_News or contact our press office
