Yannick Pongers
19-YEAR-OLD Dutchman Yannick Pongers claimed his first-ever Euro Tour title as he got the better of Mario He (Austria) by 8-6 to capture the DYNAMIC BILLARD Podčetrtek Open. Pongers has got all the pedigree as junior, having won a host of European Youth Championship titles as well as being a WPA World Junior Champion but this was his first big title in the men’s game and fully deserved.
Pongers had suffered defeat early on in the event at the hands of Wojciech Szewczyk and had to battle through the one-loss side. He recorded good wins in the single-elimination over Mikael Oegaard, Marc Bijsterbosch and an 8-1 semi-final victory over fellow WPA Junior Champ Szymon Kural (Poland).
Mario He though was the toughest of propositions in the final, coming into the Euro Tour off the back of a 9-ball gold medal earlier in the week at the Dynamic Billard European Championships.
Playing 10-ball, Pongers got the final underway but his break was fruitless. He’s visit lasted just the single shot before Pongers cleared the table to take the opener. They both had visits in the next before Pongers left the 5 ball showing and from there Mario cleared to level the match.
Another loose safety from Pongers allowed He in and he worked his way through the table before running out of position on the 6 ball. He redeemed the situation with a jump shot and that left the 8 and 10 balls and he chose the safety option. Pongers though, cut it in and then deposited the 10 ball for a 2-1 lead.
It was He’s turn to come up dry on the break but with nothing available, they both exchanged safeties before He missed a 1/5 combination which Pongers himself made. From there he free-wheeled through the remaining balls for a 3-1 lead.
A miss from Pongers in the next put the brakes on but He’s weak safety saw the Dutchman wedge the cue ball right behind the 5.He escaped but a
long pot on the 4-ball got Pongers back in it and he cleared for an ominous 4-1 advantage.
A great break from He saw three balls drop and a clear view of the low-numbered ball but he got out of position again and missed the 6 ball. Pongers needed no hesitation to move it to 5-1. In the next, Pongers played all the good shots but missed a straightforward long 5-ball into the top right pocket. It was a life-line for Mario who had started to look a little out of sorts. What should have been 6-1 was now 5-2.
Another superb break from He saw five balls drop and he banked the 1 ball in to give himself a real chance. A simple run out took the score to 5-3. Nothing dropped for Pongers on the next break and He was back in. From what looked like losing position, Mario was now just a single rack behind.
He got a ball down off the break in the next rack but the 1 ball was blocked. He pushed out, barely moving the cueball to leave Pongers a short jump shot. It was a strategic error from He as Pongers made it and proceeded to clear the table.
When he needed it, the break came good for Pongers as he dropped a ball and with a good spread, ran the table to reach the hill at 7-4. There was more jump shot magic from Pongers as he potted the 2 and 3 with consecutive table-length efforts. He sensed his chance, but missed the bank on the 3 ball, though. He didn’t let the opportunity slip as he ran out for 7-5.
Pongers stayed at the table following the break but a weak safety gave He a look with the jump cue. He made the shot but hooked himself behind the 8. His bank escape was a little clumsy and left the object ball on for Pongers. The Dutchman looked set again but it came to nothing, and Mario ultimately closed out the rack for 7-6.
He’s dry break gave Pongers a chance and a fortuitous snooker saw Mario miss the 3 ball off the rail to give ball-in-hand to Pongers and a golden opportunity to finish the match off. Looking a bundle of nerves, he held himself together for a terrific victory.
A delighted Pongers said, “I’m completely over the world! I really didn’t expect to win the Euro Tour, especially after my bad results at the European Championships so I can’t really describe how I feel.
“I felt more comfortable with each match but I know that everyone can win, especially after the last 32 and last 16. It was just a bit of luck but also well played. I beat four big players on paper in a row and then into the final then it’s like ‘why not one more?’ I knew it would be difficult, I knew it would be hard but it happened.”
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